Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tuesday Tips Rotary Grind And A BlogAward


Last week I mentioned that if you had a grinder you could get an adaptor to turn it into a flex shaft tool. It fits where the grinder bit usually attaches, and uses the power of the grinder motor to turn the shaft. Very convenient!

I have a grinder, but I decided to go ahead and get a rotary engraving tool instead of the adaptor for the grinder. Why?


My grinder (I've had it several years, the model and style isn't made any more but it still works great) has a top built so that I can bevel the edges of the fused faux gemstones. See the glass faux gems, the 45 degree angle on the edges? Getting the beveling top aligned just right and tightened up is a trick sometimes. Once it's on there, I don't like to take it off again.


So rather than take the beveling top off to put the flex shaft adaptor on it, I went ahead and got this cool set when it was on sale at Delphi Glass. Coupons and discounts are a wonderful thing! Go Go Gadget Tools!

It came with a whole set of cutters, engraving bits and grinders too. I'm using it to drill metal, polish pewter and grind holes in glass with a diamond drill bit. Lots of uses for it.

It hangs on a stand to keep it off the work surface and has a long reach. I like it a lot, but it's a little noisy, so if you get one be prepared for that surge of power that comes with a little racket.


If you've never had or used a grinder, here are some tips for making it last a long time.

1. Before putting your bits on the shaft, put the appropriate lubricant on it and on the set screw that holds it on tightly. You don't want it to seize up on you and get stuck, hard to remove.

2. Check your coolant water supply and remove the glass dust residue often. It will build up as you work, and you need fresh coolant water to protect your diamond drill bit and your glass.

3. Be sure to use the liquid grinder coolant in your coolant water to make your diamond drill bits last a long time.

4. Don't put your coolant water down the sink, it's okay to dump it in the toilet and flush. Putting it down the sink drain might stop up your drain, causing a plumbing problem you'd rather avoid.

5. At the end of the day, give the whole grinder, coolant trough and even the bits a good wash-down, so the glass dust residue doesn't stick to them and they'll be ready for you the next time you need to grind some glass.

6. Some stained-glass or fused-glass local supply stores will let you have studio time and use their grinder for a minimal hourly fee if you don't have a grinder of your own and just have a few things you need to grind. Give them a call!

7. If you have a flex-shaft adaptor, dremel or rotary engraving tool, invest in four sizes of collets. Those are the inserts that let you use several sizes of attachments, drill bits and having all four sizes means you won't stretch yours out and you'll always have the size you need for the attachment called for at the tip of your fingers.

8. Don't use your glass diamond drill bits to grind metal, it will ruin the diamond bit coating.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got a nice surprise from GAEA, she shared a blog award. Secretly I'd been wanting it, because it's in french. I have some blog links on my sidebar that are in french, I can read it and almost sorta speak it. Now I have a blogaward in french, too!

The rules of the award:

Mention the blogger that awarded this to you. (hi, Gaea!)
Name 5 things you love.
Choose 10 blogs to receive this award.

5 things I love...


1. My family ( especially kissing grandbaby girls, of course)
2. Sleeping late on weekend mornings
3. Reading a book outdoors on the deck until twilight on weekday evenings
4. Home baked bread and homemade ice cream, made by my hands and recipes
5. Learning new ways to create art and express ideas

If they would be interested in participating, I pass this award on to:

Nancy Schindler at the Rabbit Muse
http://therabbitmuse.blogspot.com/

LeAnn Weih at Summers Studio Pottery
http://summersstudio.blogspot.com/

Julie Haymaker Thompson
http://juliehaymaker.blogspot.com/

Melissa J. Lee at Strands
http://strandsofbeads.blogspot.com/

Cindy Gimbrone the Lampwork Diva
http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com/

J'adore ses blogs!

5 comments:

The Joy of Nesting said...

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for the info. I'm sure you are right on the "metal" in the charms, because when we ask what they are made of we are always told "pewter" I have figured out here that pewter is a catch all name. :)

Oh and no, no other parcels have come. Most likely is in Round Rock and will come down the end of next month when Jackie come down.

My post today will be all about these beautiful pewter focals pieces an Artist freind made ;)!!!!!

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Pattie, the whole thing about alloys can be confusing. Fine silver is .999 silver without anything else, but sterling silver is .925, with usually copper added to provide strength to the alloy.

Pewter is usually an alloy with tin, sometimes copper or silver, sometimes bismuth or antimony.

Nickel silver (or german silver, it has different names) doesn't have any silver in it at all. It's copper with neckel and sometimes zinc.

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, and brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

Those pesky alloys are interesting and challenging!

The Joy of Nesting said...

Funny Lynn,

That's exactly what LW (my little electrical engineer) is always saying :) If you have time I posted your pieces on my blog tonight. I hope it conveys a bit of how much I am in awe and respect your incredible talents & gifts!! :)

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

SharDon Exclusives said...

Pattie raved so about you that I HAD to come to see what she was talking about! NOW I know! Your work is wonderful and so detailed. Where are the metal pieces? She made up these wonderful romantic stories about each piece...Must go back to your post to see if I over looked them... Sharon

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Pattie, you inspired me to do some more research and create a Tuesday Tips post about alloys!

Welcome, SharDon! My Studio Saturday post at the Art Bead Scene blog is about the cast pewter, and a chance to win a charm, pop over there if you want to participate.