Is there a reason why you couldnt use paper rather than grit to work a groundglass?
i.e. something like wet & dry / Aluminum Oxide sheets
Is there a reason why you couldnt use paper rather than grit to work a groundglass?
i.e. something like wet & dry / Aluminum Oxide sheets
Try it and report back.
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
a reasonable suggestion
sourcing the grit/compound seems a little tricky here, so was just considering alternatives
There is a big difference in the texture from "free abrasive" as compared to "fixed"; the former rolls and makes pits, whereas the latter slides and makes scratches. I think that you could probably make a useable groundglass using abrasive paper, but if you get scratches from large particles it will take forever to hide them.
As a kid, I wanted to try "lapping" because I had read about it in a book. The only abrasive that I could find was automotive valve grinding compound, which was a bit coarse for optical purposes. But I found that I could burn sandpaper to ash, wash the residue, and recover some pretty fine abrasive.
I haven't kept up with all of the voluminous posts on making groundglasses, so in case it hasn't been mentioned: consider using a second piece of glass to work the abrasive. Anything that can "embed" abrasive particles can lead to scratches just as sandpaper will. Use lots of lubricant, for the same reason--sticking abrasive will act like sandpaper as well.
Good luck!
Harold
There is a big difference in the texture from "free abrasive" as compared to "fixed"; the former rolls and makes pits, whereas the latter slides and makes scratches. I think that you could probably make a useable groundglass using abrasive paper, but if you get scratches from large particles it may take forever to hide them.
As a kid, I wanted to try "lapping" because I had read about it in a book. The only abrasive that I could find was automotive valve grinding compound, which was a bit coarse for optical purposes. But I found that I could burn sandpaper to ash, wash the residue, and recover some pretty fine abrasive.
I haven't kept up with the many posts on making groundglasses, so in case it hasn't been mentioned: consider using a second piece of glass to work the abrasive. Anything that can "embed" abrasive particles can lead to scratches just as sandpaper will. Use lots of lubricant, for the same reason--sticking abrasive will also act like sandpaper.
Good luck!
Harold
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