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bugbear

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Something's wrong!

As some of you may be aware I have an eensy teensy obsession with accuracy. One of my favourite workshop items is a 9x12 granite surface plate, imported from the USA where it was on a sale offer.

But look at this:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/recno/3/prod ... -20297.htm

APTC grade 'A' 18x24 (aka 450x600 mm) 4" thick surface plate. Yours for 86 quid.

<cockerny>Now this is top quality gear, my son. Grade 'A', and large enough to reference a #8 straight up, none of yer' diagonal messin' abaht.</cockerny>

Even the famously cheap Enco in the USA only have these at
84 dollars, and theirs is thinner at 3" (aka 75mm)

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAK ... TPG=INLMK3

APTC are BY FAR the cheapest source of these in the UK. Googling led me to machinery stores selling second hand, uncertified plates at double APTC's price!

BugBear
 
bugbear":4gatkoni said:
<cockerny></cockerny>
<looks over shoulder, under desk etc>Is Dick Van Dyke here? Is he? Ooo, it's uncanny, that's what it is...

Sitting as I am, in a granite house, built on granite, surrounded by granite quarries, the idea of paying Axminster to send me some more - however flat - just strikes me as very funny. But then it's been one of those days today. :roll: :lol:

Cheers, Alf
 
Alf":mpihyhq3 said:
Sitting as I am, in a granite house, built on granite, surrounded by granite quarries, the idea of paying Axminster to send me some more - however flat - just strikes me as very funny. But then it's been one of those days today. :roll: :lol:

Cheers, Alf

Heh. I had flatness shipped to Norfolk!

BugBear
 
So, Alf, that's how you get that atom-splitting sharpness on your blades - diamond paste on your granite kitchen floor :shock: I'll be round :)

Paul
 
BB
I bought their smaller granite plate for £29 the other month. Very handy-and a great price.
Guess I won't be lapping a #8 on it though :lol:
Cheers
Philly :D
 
bugbear":14cavev6 said:
Heh. I had flatness shipped to Norfolk!
ROTFL! Hadn't thought of that! :lol: :lol:

Paul, I think TPTB would have something to say if I started honing blades on the kitchen floor - probably "don't cut the Rhino!" (sheesh, without the link that conjures up a weird possibility... :shock: )

Cheers, Alf
 
Chris,

Jest ye not. It started out, erm, high according to the NRPB's testing kit. We've followed all the advice, and every time it's got, erm higher... ](*,) One thing, a fan of some sort that was supposed to stop it rising (yeah, right - we've only got a middle wall with a hole right up the middle of it, and along its whole length, funnelling any gases from below nice and conveniently throught the whole house :roll: ) where was I...? Oh yeah, well this thing was "guaranteed to work". The reading doubled. We had it removed and all the money back, which was something I suppose. Honestly it's a farce. In theory the next step is to dig a big hole under the floor (or rather each area of floor individually, 'cos the whole ground floor is solid concrete #-o ) and pump it out. In practice you can't physically get the necessary length of drill into the side of the house in any of the right places, so it's a total non-starter.

Heigh ho. When I start glowing in the dark, then I'll worry... [-(

Cheers, Alf
 
Alf":edp8iz5c said:
Sitting as I am, in a granite house, built on granite, surrounded by granite quarries, the idea of paying Axminster to send me some more - however flat - just strikes me as very funny. But then it's been one of those days today. :roll: :lol:

Cheers, Alf

Anywhere near Bodmin and the Cheesering?
 
Philly":1ykqe7m7 said:
BB
I bought their smaller granite plate for £29 the other month. Very handy-and a great price.
Guess I won't be lapping a #8 on it though :lol:
Cheers
Philly :D

Now get some "blue", and you can find out how wobbly every rule you have really is. Trust me. They're wobbly.

I spent a happy coupla' days with files and abrasives when I got my plate.

In particular, my combo square rule(s) were very worn in the middle; given the way a combo square works this not only meant my lines were curved, but they weren't square either.

But with a true reference surface I was able to improve matters.

The <i>certainty</i> a surface plate brings is wonderful.

BugBear
 
But Bugbear to fully check your reference plate you need another two, then you can fully flatten them.

Bean
 
Bean":18xtt6ru said:
But Bugbear to fully check your reference plate you need another two, then you can fully flatten them.

Bean

Heh. Or I can accept the certificate...

My surname isn't "Whitworth"

BugBear
 
mudman":1s61kpfl said:
bugbear":1s61kpfl said:
My surname isn't "Whitworth"
But I bet you're a close relation. :wink:
rotfl.gif
 
In case anyone wants their own lump of radon-emitting flatness, I see Rutlands have jumped on the cheap granite surface plate bandwagon. I dunno, you wait for years and then two come along at once... :roll: Also a rash of other hand tool goodies, which is encouraging.

Cheers, Alf
 
Alf - I noticed that one today too. I have trouble believing it can manufacturered to within 0.0001" for that price. Wonder if they got carried away with the 0's ;).
Cheers
Gidon
 

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