Float Glass Question:

[memzey]

How thick does it really need to be for sharpening purposes? I know most mention 10mm as the standard sort of thickness but my local supplier only stocks it in thickness's up to 6 or 8mm (can't remember which). Does this make a big difference? I'm planning to back one side of it with fairly coarse wet and dry and use the regular "scary sharp" lapping films on the other but always with plate, one way up or another, flat against my bench. Is there any reason why 6 or 8mm float wouldn't work ok?

 

[AndyT]

I reckon you'll be just fine with 6 or 8mm. Rest it on a flat bit of MR MDF rather than making a long bridge over a canyon and the amount of deflection will be negligible.

I have a bit of mirror from a skip which is probably 6mm and it's fine. (Then again, I mostly use oilstones, but that's not what you asked about!)

 

[memzey]

Cheers Andy

Ssshhh - don't bring up the sharpening technique thing - it's been quiet on that front for a few days!

 

[Glynne]

If you're flipping the plate over, just make sure there is no debris on the lapping film as it is easy to tear when you sharpen - guess how I know?

 

[Harbo]

As Andy says

Rod

 

[memzey]

Cheers guys. I was thinking about making a framed base for it out of MDF or ply (whatever I can get my hands on TBH) something that the plate will sit in while I use it and hopefully afford it some protection as well. Has anyone else done this as well?

 

[Eric The Viking]

I quite agree - 6mm or 8mm ought to be fine.

The piece I normally use is from an old TV, and it's about 10mm thick, but in a crisis I've used thinner bits. As long as it's on a flat base so it can't bend and shatter, there won't be any problem.

 

[Peter Sefton]

6mm is probably fine for chisels and plane irons but we stock 10mm as customers may use it for lapping the soles of planes and I feel more confident of no deflection over the 600mm long pieces.
Peter

 

[Graham Orm]

Here ya go.......picked mine up from Aldi for £15, it works perfectly.

400mm x 300mm x 15mm thick.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Justin-Capp-N ... 51bad3e59a

 

[memzey]

Well I popped in to the glass merchants yesterday and they just happened to have an off cut of 10mm float which I picked up (1' x 2' so a very good size). Cost me almost £20 though which struck me as quite a lot! Still a bit less than WH charge for a piece almost half the size so shouldn't really complain I suppose. Does anyone know of a cheaper source for the lapping films than WH? I've looked on eBay but not sure if they are comparable.

 

[Eric The Viking]

It is expensive. I had a piece in the 1980s cut to cover a coal hole (turning it into a small skylight). 1ft diameter approx 20 quid back then.