Ground GLASS manufacture/supplier

[Albrecht Namatdurer]

This post is mainly for an AUSTRALIAN LF member.

Am trying to locate a supplier 600 grit Carborundum so that I can grind my own glass.
Can anyone suggest a supplier in NSW- prefearbly Newcastle/Sydney area?
Having a bit of trouble locating anyon and advise would be greatly appreciated.
I have tried, with average results, using valve grinding paste, but the tubes available are miniscule and expensive for what you pay for.

THANKS

[Richard Wheat]

Hi Albrecht,
I got mine from a local lapidary supplier. I'm in WA so I won't include his address.
If you get stuck I can post you some :)
HTH,
Richard.

[IanG]

I'm not in Australia but try a Google search, there's plenty of suppliers there, you need to find Lapidary suppliers.. Try this link (http://www.lapidaryworld.com/clubs_australia.html).

I'm making my own screens while I'm here in the UK and the Slicon Carbide 600 grit is quite cheap £6.50 for 250gms. I've mad one using valve grinding paste and it's useable, but I can do better.

Ian

[SaveBears]

Most lapidary stores carry various grits of polishing compound for tumbling rocks, I have used ruby, silicon, aluminum oxide, basically anything that is harder than the glass itself will work..

[Maris Rusis]

My ground glass abrasive comes from Naxos Australia Pty Ltd. I have a variety grit sizes in silicon carbide, alumina, and cerium oxide. After a dozen or so ground glasses my routine has come down to 1000 grit alumina wet ground between two same size glasses.

In practice I have found valve grinding compound and 600 grit SiC too coarse, too slow, and too difficult in achieving a "even all over" ground surface.

A little abrasive goes a long way. My original 25 gramme sample of 1000 grit Al2O3 is probably enough for 50 or 60 ground glasses 8x10 size.

[Albrecht Namatdurer]

Thanks- for the tips and pointers, its got me started in the search. MT

[lilmsmaggie]

Hi Albrecht,

Maybe this might help ya ...

Crystalite lapidary products.

WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Lewis Center, Ohio U.S.A.
Ph. 1.740.548.4100
Fax: 1.740.548.7617

EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS
London, UK
Ph. 44.20.7471.0200
Fax: 44.20.7471.0202

ASIAN HEADQUARTERS
Singapore
Ph. 65.62706878
Fax: 65 62706877

Dwain

[tim o'brien]

I would find out if there are any local clubs for people who make their own telescopes. They would know the cheapest, reliable sources for your grit.

tim in san jose

[emo supremo]

Hello from USA. I just bought a 1 lb paper bag of it for about 10 US last year from an artists supply store. I think it was Daniel Smith here in the US. We use it to rough up the glass plate and glass muller when we make up traditional oil paint recipies.

Why wouldn't sandpaper glued to another sheet of glass work?

[lilmsmaggie]

I would find out if there are any local clubs for people who make their own telescopes. They would know the cheapest, reliable sources for your grit.

tim in san jose

Actually there are. You can try here: http://www.atm-workshop.com There are several Amateur Telescope Making organizations (ATM)

Also, Obsession telescopes publishes a book on building dobsonian telescopes:
http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/index.html Look under their publications link.

And in the Bay Area - Chabot College has a class which teaches you how to grind and polish your own mirror.

Dwain

[lilmsmaggie]

Here's another possibility for supplies:

http://www.amateurtelescopemaker.com

[bvstaples]

I would find out if there are any local clubs for people who make their own telescopes. They would know the cheapest, reliable sources for your grit.

tim in san jose

I would agree, as just this weekend I was using 500 grit to grind away at an 8" telescope mirror.

AU has a large amateur astronomy population and looking for their resources might yield many suppliers.


BVS