got my MKII and I love it!

You're not in the...

Eric Hedberg

>bottom 1% of the group as a woodworker (We are all always beginners at something). But, you are at the TOP 1% lucky enought to own a MKII. I envy the advantage that will give you as you add to your "edge" collection (start saving for that Veritas LA Jack I hear it's to die for). Well, better get back to my sandpaper and glass. I still haven't achieved Chris's trance like state, but if I can't I've got a good ale in the frig ;-)

Eric

Disc holders *LINK*

Robin Frierson

>I got mine recently too and also love it. I also found a neat accessory to hold your discs, called a lap holder. You gotta to keep your discs uncontaminated from the other grits and most use a plastic bag. But these holders seem like a better idea. Its about half way down the page:


disc holders

Re: got my MKII and I love it!

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Sounds like a great aquisition! Did you get ALL the grits and spare platters? Are you using any ultra-fine-grit, third-party, sharpening film?

BTW, is that the manual for the VMkIIPSS?

I already did!

Mike in Mystic

>well, not the LV low-angle jack - I went with the LN version :) I'm not disappointed and I used a few coupons and saved enough to make it an easy decision.

As for getting into that trance, I think I'll be too excited using the MK.II for that to happen hehe.

Mike

Re: Disc holders

Mike in Mystic

>Interesting idea. I'm a little unsure of why absolute separation of the grits is so essential. All the grits were shipped to me in one big pile - not separately packaged. I put 2 grits on each platter except for the 0.5 micron one, and then put them each in zip lock bags. Do you think this will cause me problems in the long run?

For the few tools I've done so far, I haven't seen any indication that this set up will be problematic, but then again, I'm perhaps not quite as astute and evaluating these things as others may be.

Mike

Re: got my MKII and I love it!

Mike in Mystic

>I did get all the grits that LV sells specifically for the machine. I also bought 2 extra 3 mm platters and 1 extra 4 mm platter. I then got some sheets of 5 micron silcon carbide PSA paper and 0.5 micron chromium oxide PSA paper. For the 0.5 micron sheets I used the LV green honing compound on the sheet for final honing. I'm aware of Lyn Mangiameli's concerns about inconsistent particles in this, but for me it seemed to be more than adequate.

So, that gives me 80/120 (grit); 100/60, 40/20, 9/5, and 0.5 (micron) combinations on my platters.

And, yes, that is the manual for the MK.II PSS. The manual is great, excerpting a lot of the material from the Sharpening Bible. It has great info for machine set up and sharpening info, including info on microbevels, back bevels, various rationales for different angles for different applications, etc.

Mike

Re: got my MKII and I love it!

kees laan

>It's a pity I'll never own one; need 240 volts

Seen another brand 595 USD which motor is switchable 110/220

kees

you don't need 240V

Mike in Mystic

>I'm not sure why you think you need 240V power for this - it's only a 1/4 HP motor. It runs off of standard 110/120 outlets.

Mike

Re: Disc holders

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Mike,

I think your approach to putting two numerically adjacent grits on each platter and storing them in a zip lock bag will be adequate. I do much the same, though over time I now have aquired enough platters to pretty much dedicated each grit to its own platter (I keep a "used" disk and a relatively "new" disk on each side of the platter, replacing the oldest one with a fresh one as needed). When trouble will result is if folks store them all loose together, or leave the finer grit sizes sitting near the machine when the coarser grits are being used. Contamination does occur then and will result in random coarser scratches on the finer disks, particularly if you use honing compounds that provide a surface that makes it easy for them to stick to.

I greatly appreciate Robin's research on the containers and have ordered some for myself (but at $5 a pop, one for each of my 10 platters was expensive). I'll report back later if they have proved to be worth the expense to me, but I suspect I will like them and find them easier label and keep clean, compared to the much cheaper zip lock back approach.

Re: you don't need 240V

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Kees likely lives in a country (like most of Europe) where 240 volt is the standard mains supply.

If one were really interested, I would think a message to LV might be in order, as it seems conceivable that the motor is capable of dual voltage, or that a special order motor configured for 240 might be able to be substituted. Not speaking for them, just saying it might be worth the inquiry.

Re: you don't need 240V

Jonathan Ronnow, Sweden

>Well, I for sure would appreciate if a 240V would pop up. Otherwise Id have to get myself a converter/inverter/whatever the thing is called....

Wonder what shipping to Sweden would be =)

Re: Disc holders (discounted) *LINK*

David Barnett - Venice, FL

>Rob Kulakofsky is selling 6 of the lap containers for $24.00 right now:

http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishinglaps.shtml

Although I store a few laps in these containers (especially my BATT laps and ceramics), I find the metal disc racks much more convenient than opening and closing the plastic containers. And when you use over 30 6" laps like I do, this begins to matter. I have not had any contamination problems, and believe me, I'd know. It's pretty easy to see a scratch on sapphire polished to 100,000 grit diamond on ceramic.


Lap racks

Re: you don't need 240V

Michael Kieta-near Ramstein, Germany

>Transformers to convert European current to American current are common around the American military bases here in Germany. I can usually find them used for $15-$50 depending on how many amps they can handle. They're fairly expensive to buy new, but of course we can also buy new ones. If that's the only thing keeping you from buying the MKII, let me know. I can find one for you.

Michael

Re: you don't need 240V

kees laan

>michael,

You know there are a lot for sale which are 100 Watts?

1/4 HP is about 200 Watts.

I don't know why LV isn't thinking about converting-opportunities.

But Ramstein is about 80 miles from Maastricht so transport is not the problem.

kees

Re: you don't need 240V

Michael Kieta-Ramstein, Germany

>Kees,

They start around 100 watts and go up to at least 2000 watts. I haven't seen any bigger than that, but they might exist. 300 watts is common. I think I could find one for around $20-30. Let me know if you want one and I'll check around. Remind me to get you some extra fuses because those tend to be fragile. I'll ping you offline too.

Michael