Master Lap/Backing Plate for Ameritool?

[James D. Farrow]

O.K. Need some assistance on the specs of an 8" , 1/2" arbor,
backing plate (Master lap).

The ones I got with the Ameritool are 9.52mm thick.

Would it make a difference if the thickness was only
6 to 7mm thick?

I am asking because I an not sure if the bolt would
screw in far enough for the thickness.

Also, the thinner backing plates are made of aluminum
and supposedly weigh 1.6lbs.

I read somewhere that we have to watch the weight
of a plate on the Ameritool, but can't find the info again.
Something about to much weight not being good for it.

Can someone tell me the weight of the regular plastic
ones that came with the Ameritool?

Thanks,

James

[Hummingbirdstones]

I have some that I have to stack a few washers in order to get it screwed on good.  Works fine.

[James D. Farrow]

Thanks!

Didn't think of adding washers if need be.

Still looking into the weight of the master lap. Did find
that the extra weight cuts down on vibration at higher
speeds but need to find that info I saw on the weight
limitation.

James

[Talusman]

I've been trying to find a way to use other discs on my 8" as well. I weighed an Ameritool diamond disc (with plate): 17.1 oz. I did read somewhere that heavier discs are not good (overloads the light-duty motor and mounting).

I bought a Kent 8" disc and will probably buy an Ameritool plastic plate and look for a tacky substance that will let me swap toppers as needed. IMO throwing away backing plates every time you need a new sanding disc is expensive and wasteful. I'm sure they last a long time if you're only cutting cabs, but I use mine for flats and contouring specimens so they wear a bit faster.

One of the competitive laps has magnetic discs - a neat touch. I'd like to see a magnetic backer plate that you could just swap thin steel discs onto. Wouldn't even need to take it off the machine.

-Jeremy

[James D. Farrow]

17.1oz with the metal disc attached would be less that a pound for just the plastic.

I have the Kent thin metal discs and they are fine just placed on a plastic backing plate
with the bolt holding them in place. They seem to be good. The lower grit ones
are probably not as good as the Ameritool ones but the finer grits are fine.
And for $18.00 CAD (about $13.00 US) from a place in Montreal, they are a good deal.

I read somewhere (I know, I am bad for reading things and then forgetting where I
read it) that with feathering glue you can soak them in water and the glue will soften
up and you can pull off the old mesh discs when they need to be replaced.
Hopefully someone here can confirm that. Carol would know but I have not seen her
post in a long time.

I avoid the PSA stuff as that sticks like crazy. Put a PSA sponge disc on slightly off
center and it tore trying to get it off.

Anyway, all I need them (backing plates) for is the mesh discs (if I find I have to glue
them) which obviously weigh less that the metal disc. So I think they would be fine.

Where do people get there master laps (backing plates)?

The only ones I can find on Amazon are aluminum by Hans and are shipped from
China. Shipping to Canada is nuts (more that the cost of the disc).

I can get them from JS Gems where I got the Ameritool. He has the sponge pads
as well. But the shipping from California to Canada is expensive as well.

Where do you people get your backing plates?

James

[Talusman]

I bought my Ameritool and other equipment from Kingsley North.

[Hummingbirdstones]

By mesh discs do you mean the resin sanding discs?  If so, you don't even need to soak them.  Just peel them off carefully if you want to reuse them and stick another one on.  Feathering adhesive will let you peel and stick back on a number of times before you have to put new adhesive on.

[James D. Farrow]

Thanks!

Will check out Kingsley.

Yes, the soft resin mesh discs.

BTW, Found these on Amazon while searching for sponge pads:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_17?srs=8542904011&rh=i%3Aspecialty-aps%2Ck%3Alapidary%2Ci%3Atools&keywords=lapidary&ie=UTF8&qid=1460299365

By Yihao, but probably Hans discs. Looks like free shipping to the US from China. Would
take a while to get them probably. Some as cheap as $10.26 US. Not an endorsement as
I never dealt with these people, so buyer beware.

James