DTek WW lapping complaint

[cupidr17]

The documentation that comes with the Dtek WW says that it has been machined lapped at 600grit. The one I got was horrible. It had ugly grooves and valleys in it that 45mins of 400grit couldnt take out. My wrists are sore and I have thrown the towel in for the night. Anyway, I suspect that theres probably about 30-45 mins left in making it 400grit flat before i can move onto 600.

This seems to be reoccuring with the commercial WW blocks. But i am determined to give this thing a shiney finish. I will post my final result when Im finished. Sorrie I couldnt post what it looked like before.

 

[NeoMoses]

yeah, that's the most common complaint. I know mine's about 0.003" concave, and I just haven't worked up the gumption to lap it yet, 'cuz I know it's gonna be a monumental task! And, with a baseplate less than 0.020" thick , I'm reluctant to take it to a machinist and have him facemill the base to reduce the lapping time. (call me lazy for not wanting to lap it, but I always measure first, cut second...) Really, does DTek lap these on a belt sander?

I really liked the base finish on my TC-4 much better. It appeared to be a machined surface, but at least it was flat. Why would DTek take a step backwards, when I know they can make flat, smooth bases?

 

[FIZZ3]

Seen more reports of bad bases on DTEK WW's lately. A shame to 'tarnish' a good block like that...

I get to gloat about my great WW-original base done by Cathar though.

 

[cupidr17]

i envy those with the Cathar block. Any way, i went back to sanding this morning and after about 45 mins at 400 grit, im almost there. I suspect about another HOUR or so. This is horrible.

 

[#Rotor]

Time is money... people, time is money...

there is no TLC in commercialism, for one reason.... TLC takes time, and TLC does not bring in money... Sorry to have to say it...

 

[CGR]

And I was all excited about getting my WW block this week. You people have taken all the excitement away and replaced it with despair... THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Since87]

i envy those with the Cathar block. Any way, i went back to sanding this morning and after about 45 mins at 400 grit, im almost there. I suspect about another HOUR or so. This is horrible.

It would have been much easier to start at 200 grit or even 100.

I'm no expert on lapping, but I'd say (as a rule of thumb) that if you spend more than 10 minutes at lapping with one grit, and it looks like it's gonna take more than 20 minutes more using the same grit, then it's time to step down a level (or two) in grit size.

Spending hours at 400 grit is masochistic.

 

[FIZZ3]

Time is money... people, time is money...

there is no TLC in commercialism, for one reason.... TLC takes time, and TLC does not bring in money... Sorry to have to say it...

That doesn't explain why their previous 'lesser' blocks do get properly lapped, and their premiere and most expensive block does not...

 

[Mac]

That doesn't explain why their previous 'lesser' blocks do get properly lapped, and their premiere and most expensive block does not...

they finally realised "hey if we stop lapping it so good we can make even more money!"

 

[CGR]

Its simple really.... They know OCers will keep buying them if they are lapped or not..

 

[SnComet2]

I got mine last week and it looked just fine. I lapped some more with 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500 grit though.

 

[CGR]

Thats high, usually 800 is more than enough..

 

[cupidr17]

Another thing i forgot to mention. The worse/deepest part of their factory lap was in the middle where the cpu die makes contact. I will probably head down to autozone and pick up some 200 grit.

 

[juliendogg]

Thats high, usually 800 is more than enough..

Yeah, we all know that. But man that mirror shine after you're done with the 1500 or 2000 is just soooooo pleasing isn't it? .


lol, J.

 

[squeakygeek]

Any sandpaper 600 grit and rougher will probably be cheaper at a hardware store than autozone. A big chain like Menards or Home Depot is probably best.

 

[cupidr17]

do they sell 200 grit in wet/dry version?

 

[Soja]

Yep, a lot of the hardware stores here carry a lot of 600 > grit or > 1200 for cheap prices on individual sheets.

 

[Cathar]

I personally found that industry paint supply stores have the cheapest, and also higher quality brands of, sand-paper.

Avoid auto-stores. Hardware stores tend to carry the mass-market low-medium quality stuff, and it still isn't that cheap.

Basically, when you want to find the "good stuff", in most anything, you need to find your local industry specialist supply store, being the sort of store that serious trades-people use.

 

[VballCoach]

so is 2400-6000 overkill?

I use MicroMesh kits to lap. I get it thru my work.....

 

[squeakygeek]

so is 2400-6000 overkill?

I use MicroMesh kits to lap. I get it thru my work.....

Definately.