Re: ATM Best lap-making methods

[Dave Sopchak <das@po.cwru.edu>]

You wanna know what I do? I just get some pitch and pour it onto aluminum
foil, (turn up the edges if you're worried it will flow out) so that you
get a sheet of pitch about 1/4 inch deep. Then I get a bowl of very warm
water (cool enough so your hands can tolerate immersion) and when the pitch
is cool, peel off the aluminum foil and break into 3/4" square pieces or
thereabouts. Then I mold them into little chicklets in the warm water with
my hands, dry each one and put it on the tool. It may seem like a tedious
exercise, but you can do it watching TV and you'll finish a 6" tool in less
than half an hour. It's much less messy and maddening than cutting
channels. You do have to press the lap and trim a bit, but it beats cutting
channels with a stick, IMHO.
        For bigger mirrors, I'm going to try John D's method.

Am I obsessive compulsive or just particular? Hey, it works for me.

Dave

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"spontaneity has its time and its place"