Really good video on sharpening with diamond lapping film

[Encore Pianos]

I stumbled on this demonstration video on YouTube, using diamond lapping films.  What strikes me about it is the utter simplicity of the setup and the technique.  It is explained in such a way that a relative novice could acquire a minimum of tools and do really good sharpening.  Impressive.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZ8446KqkM

 

There is also a preceding video about prepping chisel backs

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhO08NVbsPw

 

 

Source for PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) backed diamond lapping film in micron size 125, 74, 45, 30, 20, and 9

 

http://www.psidragon.com/products/ML/GRINDING/DMFFS/DMFFS%20PSA.aspx

 

another source, for micron sizes 15,3, 1, and .1

 

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,43072&p=68943

 

All these cover grit sizes from about 120 grit to 50,000

 

Will Truitt

 

 

[Isaac OLEG]

I use those 3M microfinishing papers.
I was told they are used for materials as stone. Certainly they may be good for sharpening. Need to be changed regularly probably. They use oil on that demonstration

?

[Isaac OLEG]

The 3M 15-30 micron are good for final work on hammers.
I also use the back side to "iron" the crown without filing.

Those films are efficient where the hammers have "rails" of fluffed felt, I don't know why but they clean that very well.
Last long
I always wondered if when filing crown with thin grades sole of the abrasive powder do go within the felt hence the high brightening (when filing with glass nail files, thé brightening is not as large)

[Isaac OLEG]

For hammers, non sticking films of course. I use straps. As they are rigid, no need to back them as with standard papers.

[David Skolnik]

Will -
Thanks for link.  I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I'm sure it will be useful.  I've been using a combination of the lapping films and Tormek for some time (though I haven't done any sharpening recently, so maybe the video will be motivating).

The only thing I'd add is a link to a local (to NYC) purveyor, as I'm always looking to support local 'brick&mortar' businesses when possible.  This one is in Brooklyn, NY.
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/

Of course, now that I'm in Hastings, actually going there would be a personal pilgrimage (I was born there), but still...

Thanks -

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY

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[Will Truitt]

Let me be clear - you are using the diamond lapping film for filing hammers, yes? I have wondered about that use but have not tried it yet.

Will

[Will Truitt]

The diamond lapping film is not the same thing as the 3 M microfinishing films or papers.

I have not used them yet for sharpening, but I am told that they should last a good while using proper technique. Let the grit do the work. If you use too much pressure you will wear the abrasive out much faster. Some people use oil, other are using mineral oil as the lubricant to carry away the swarf and not clog the stone.

Will

-----Original Message-----
From: pian...@googlegroups.com [mailto:pian...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Isaac OLEG
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 9:17 AM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [pianotech] Really good video on sharpening with diamond lapping film

[Encore Pianos]

Thanks for the link to toolsforworkingwood.com. 

 

There are some differences, however.  The materials I am showing are all diamond lapping films, what is on the toolsforworkingwood site are aluminum oxide and silicone carbide lapping films.  Since I have no direct experience with the diamond or the others yet, I cannot offer any comparisons between the two.  Suffice it to say, though that they are all the highest quality abrasive materials. 

 

I really like the simplicity of the system.  When I compare what I have spent over the years for water stones and flattening stones and all the other necessary paraphenailia, this would be a much cheaper system to set up and maintain at a high level of functionality, as well as wicked fast sharpening. 

 

Will

[Isaac OLEG]

Yes, but I talk of the 3M Imperial microfinishing films (adhesive or not) they are excellent for all the fine work on hammers. (and last long) 

Any abrasive is not to be used with pressure (much pressure) , because an abrasive is a CUTTING TOOL , when pressing hard you crate waves due to uneveness of pressure , and the abrasive is supposed to do its job alone due to its aggressive behavior, not the force you add on it.

Of course when sanding wood to level it you press a little more on hops (but the base of the process is to have strikes created in one direction by the stronger grit, erased by the next grip passed at  90° of the first, and creating finer strikes, themselves erased by the next grit until the last grits in direction of the grain (process to level the surface.

Using pressure when doing so create waves a little similar as when a plank is passing too fast in the planing machine.

[Isaac OLEG]

Indeed diamond lapping films are not the ones I use for hammers (aluminium oxyde or other minerals)

http://www.ussupplyinc.com/products/precabrasive.asp?menu=5_1

Here are the diamond coated "lapping films " (what does it mean ?

http://www.ussupplyinc.com/products/precabrasive.asp?menu=5_1#diamond

[Isaac OLEG]

here is a good video showing a nice 8 motion :

http://youtu.be/Q2p6nUi_xmg

[Will Truitt]

Here is a definition of a lapping film:

 

“A Lapping film is typically a polyester base sheet, coated with precisely graded minerals such as diamond, aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, cerium oxide. A Lapping film is designed to provide a uniform, consistent finish of optical fiber connectors end tips to insure efficient light/signal transmission. They are available in 0.01-45 μm grades, with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing.

Contents

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Along with the precision grading, there is typically a very high density of the abrasive particles, allowing the polishing to be done quickly and with a high degree of consistency.  It’s the top of the food chain for “sandpaper”.

 

Will Truitt

 

From: pian...@googlegroups.com [mailto:pian...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Isaac OLEG

Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 7:57 AM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com