Using a potters wheel

[Pete VanderLaan]

My friend Eveline is here from Hong Kong and we are trying to figure out putting together a small grinding shop there with three primary tools. First, is the saw which I have found an overhead blade from MK which will house a 7 inch blade. We have to find out how to have that motor run on 50Hz and 220V.

The second is a rougher using diamond at two grits. I want her to have an 18 inch wheel with removable disks. Since anything would have to be shipped there at great expense, I'm inclined to suggest a potter's wheel. She doesn't have big or heavy stuff. It's all for jewelry so shaft dimension etcetera don't create problems and I suspected that the potters wheel would be far more available there.

Third is a kiln. I built Mary Beth hers. That's not realistic in this case since there are no welders or grinding equipment needed to build tools I can access there. So, I'm inclined to a commercial kiln. It doesn't have to be deep and could have overhead elements as well as in the walls. It will be used to put a polish edge on the cabochons done at about 1375F over a short term. We run a program on ours that lasts about an hour. Mary Beth makes the big bricks of patterned glass her. Eveline will cut it up and edgework it there

Everything has to be 50HZ and 220V. I would prefer to buy it there and not to ship it.

I would appreciate suggestions

[Tom Fuhrman]

do some searches on Alibaba for everything related made in China, they have some stained glass grinders that are available in 220. I suspect they may have some saws as well. I'm certain that diamond blades are accessible from several Chinese companies.
and yes, some of the listed products only require an order of one.

[Tom Fuhrman]

Here's a company that seems to deal in lots of smaller glass equipment,
Tianjin Mande Industry and Trade Co.
Tianjin, China

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Tom Fuhrman

Here's a company that seems to deal in lots of smaller glass equipment,
Tianjin Mande Industry and Trade Co.
Tianjin, China

****
Too small regrettably. Mostly seems an outlet for bullseye. I'm on to a few in Hong Kong.

[Mark Rosenbaum]

When I first started on my own, I tried setting up my Shimpo potters wheel as a grinder. I got diamond wheels made that fit on the shaft. I found that there was just a bit too much give in the shaft to grind flat. If I could have extended the shaft and sandwiched the grinding plate on it, it might have been better, but I decided to just get something that was made for the task instead of trying to create one...

[Pete VanderLaan]

Well, it will be in Hong Kong and the work to be ground is really small and doesn't weigh much. Shipping a grinder to there will be seriously expensive and it still has to be 50Hz 240V. I have the same issues with the diamond saw but it has to be substantial. We're looking for a Dewalt overhead blade I think the 24000 series, but it needs an Asian motor. The kiln should be rather easy to obtain. No Hz issue at all. A big clamshell.

Bringing fine jewelry to the Asian masses,

I agree with you about the potters wheel not being the best solution for the same reasons. My Machines have 1.5 to 2" shafts and the wheelheads weigh up to 500 lbs. Chunky.

[Zach Jorgenson]

This may be a solution for jewelry scale work. https://lapidarytool.com/mall/lapida...g-machine.html

[Durk Valkema]

We have been using a shimpo potters wheel, initially with a glass disk glued on for 30 micron up to 9
Later mounted a cast iron disk fitting over the Alu potterswheel, runs realy true and smooth at the low speed you need for fine grinding, we have a set of three one for each grit before going to felt and cerium.

[Angelo Fico]

My wife has been using a Brent potters wheel as a lap wheel for about 30 years. She had a half inch steel disc made and mounted to the aluminum one. Grinding solid sculpture not light blown work no vibration yet if they can handle 50 lbs clay they can handle the grinding.

[Pete VanderLaan]

well this all sounds pretty good. I figured that finding a potters wheel in Hong Kong would not be that difficult. Eveline says that any heavy manufacturing has all moved out of Hong Kong leaving KFC's in their wake.

[Hugh Jenkins]

I also have used a Shimpo wheel for years, in addition to my larger grinder. I got a well cut 1/8 galvanized plate and literally glued it to the aluminum head. I used 14 inch discs on it for smaller stuff and polishing. Recently gave it to another beginner glass worker and will be looking to build another one in Honolulu for small work. I have made felt, cork and leather wheels with magnetic backing for different treatments. Easy exchange. I did make it direct belt drive since the clutch drive system was shot. It was not just a beginners tool.

[Pete VanderLaan]

"and will be building another in Honolulu"?

Are you thinking of moving?

[Brian Graham]

Idea - why not just mount a fat lap on the end of the diamond saw arbor? Lortone flat lap holder. Two for one machine.

[Pete VanderLaan]

It's all in the weight of the work, the diameter of the flattening tool and whether it flexes and the ease of use for the tool to do the job.

My machines are relative monsters, indifferent to all of it. I was terrified of the saws in Shanghai. 20 inch 1'4 Blade width huge hum , and all of the work coming incompatible. Rather scary at the start.

[Peter Bowles]

There are a number of jade and stone lapidary wholesale suppliers in Kowloon (HK) that would stock pretty much everything she would need for smaller work, machines also.

Also worth a conversation with Sunny Wang Head of program at HK Baptist University as she has set up a cold shop there.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Thanks Peter. That's a great help.

[Hugh Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Pete VanderLaan

"and will be building another in Honolulu"?

Are you thinking of moving?

Yes, already have, well sort of. We are now resident in Honolulu, but have the shop still on the Big Island. Seems crazy I know but we are now down to shorter work periods and smaller pieces. We are off right now until September and then on for a fall run when things cool down some. Most likely only a few months at a time.
We have a big recovery project for the old home in Honolulu. Lots of work but rewarding results. Way less driving for uw here.

[Pete VanderLaan]

So, back to Punaho? I did not get to see that shop when last in the islands for my niece's wedding, held up in turtle bay. Maybe I could fly back from Hong Kong via Honolulu.

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

Its not fair, I wanna go too

[Pete VanderLaan]

Both are overwhelming for entirely different reasons

[Hugh Jenkins]

When would you be coming through, Pete? The school shop has changed a lot over twenty-four years since I ran it. More machinery and larger tanks but still really serving the students well. I will be hanging around some but not wanting to be a PIA by any means. I helped wrap blanket on a new furnace last week and it was good to be back in there for a few hours.
Any way, let me know your plans.

[Pete VanderLaan]

It's a future call. I don't know when I would go to Hong Kong.

[Eben Horton]

Pete, it seems like you are trying to reinvent the wheel here. Why not purchases a nice piece of grinding equipment here to be shipped over there and then just replace the motor with something that works.

[Pete VanderLaan]

The type of grinding Eveline will be doing is really very light work chasing the edges on earrings before they go to be fired to a finish. I would not use a potters wheel myself and you know my grinding shop is weapons grade. She is not going to stress the shaft of a potters wheel.

The best I can find here is from Contempo and I don't think much of them. Shipping is really close to the cost of the tool and it then needs a different motor. Peter Bowles has indicated that there are two businesses in KowLoon that will have appropriate tools. I'm working at getting her together with about five potters in Hong Kong and we'll see what that yields. Currently, backorder time on any of this stuff is about four months. I can get diamond pads that David Patchen was using in China and ship to China so there is no tariff which David told me just wrecked the attractiveness of buying and reselling them .

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

Eh , thats what I said 37 posts ago