Flat lap/stained glass grinder?

[GaysieMay]

I just wondered if anyone out there could tell me which I might get most use out of.  I would like to be able to grind a flat surface on my beads to make a window.  I also do a bit of jewellery making and would like to make more of my own findings.  I have the offer of a loan of a stained glass grinder and just generally needed some advice about from anyone who has either of these items and how they use them? 

Thanks in advance 

Gay x

[mizgeorge]

I love my flat lap for cold working glass and especially for grinding glass cabs and doing a bit of gemstone cabbing too.

I'm not sure what findings you could make with either though.

[julieHB]

If you want flat surfaces you want a flat lap - if you want curved edges, go for a grinder... that's my simple view 

After i got my ring saw my grinder wasn't needed any more, so I converted it into a flat lap (I have the swap top system). Love both.

[Jennie Lamb]

I have a flat lap and I love it but you can't do clear windows with it (or if you can I don't know how to!) ;0)

[mizgeorge]

I have a flat lap and I love it but you can't do clear windows with it (or if you can I don't know how to!) ;0)

you need to work down through the grades of disc, and then polish (again working through the grades of grit/polish. A little time consuming, but worth it, especially if you can do a batch at a time.

[Zeldazog]

Seems like the most sensible option would be to get the swap top system - you can have  both the flat lap AND the grinder drums then! 

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

I loooooooooooooooooooooove my flat lap, it's my baby!  I have a special combo of discs from 60 to two felt ones, one for pumice and one for rouge. I have polished, i.e. from a 60 grit to shiny shine!, lead crystal, soda glass and boro on it and they all take ages, in fact days as I can't physically hold a piece for hours and hours at a time, but it it worth it!

However, I have a 12 inch flat lap from His Glassworks, so I don't know in comparison to the swap top how good the motors are for hammering through the grits.  The alternative would be to get to a good 300 grit and fire polish if you can too!

I also have a little drum grinder thing and can count on one hand how many times I've used it, it is good for internal curves though, which you simply can't do on the flat.

I saw on the Creative Glass website (in Rochester) that they hire out their coldworking equipment, so might be useful for a try out before investing any money.

[Nick]

I use a swap top system for crystals and glass great bit of kit

[Jennie Lamb]

Thanks George  Guess what I will be trying!!

[GaysieMay]

Thanks everyone - I had to post and run last night (face ache - literally)

I think its becoming clearer - if I get a swap top you can do both functions - that sounds good.

Thanks again

I'm going to check a few out - see if I can afford it right now (doubt it - but never usually stops me) 

[Zeldazog]

As far as I know, only one company makes the Swap Top, and that's Inland.

I'd agree with Rachel in that I find the flat lap far more useful, or far more used, than the drum bit, but it has its uses.

[jammie]

You got a sore face again Gay? 

[GaysieMay]

I'm afraid so, its been really bad.  At least I know why its happening - it is tmj disorder.  I don't have any clicking or locking of the jaw. I have some parafunction and I know I do, cos Kev is always telling me when I concentrate I move my jaw from side to side.  I also clench in my sleep (I wear a gum shield now - attractive ).  Anyway apparently what happens is the tmj becomes inflamed and then causes muscle spasms, these are trapping or somehow affecting the trigeminal nerve causing neuralgia type pain.  The pain is bareable most of the time but at least a couple of times a day I have anything up to hour long bouts of excruciating facial and or head pain.  I've been given anti epileptic pills and they should start to kick in about a week, I've been on them a week now and no relief yet - but I'm trying to remain hopeful! Thanks for asking and I wouldn't have spent so long explaining but I know you suffer too.  You have my sincerest sympathies I have never known pain like it.