January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
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 Post subject: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:31 pm 
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We started selling sintered laps in a variety of sizes and grits. This is our first time doing this so we are doing a preorder that ends on Halloween and then the laps will be available for pickup at the Tucson show in the first week of Feb 2022 or else I'll ship right after Tucson. Shipping from USA and France to keep the shipping costs low (for most people at least)

Announcement video with closeup shots of laps and a test stone at each stage:


Product info:
https://www.magusgems.com/product-page/sintered-laps

Let me know if you have questions.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:40 pm 
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How's the quality? Anyone used any of them? That can give a review?

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:11 pm 
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If you know anyone that bought the last sintered laps with an aluminum base that Gearloose used to sell, these are exactly the same. I know several people here on the forum use them.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:15 pm 
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Are these made in Russia? I bought one of the sintered laps from Gearloose a few years back and had to ship it back to him. It was so warped and out of balance my desk would shake if I turned the machine on.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:59 pm 
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Yes from what I remember they were hit and miss and many ended up in Jon's scrap heap. I was not aware any of his had Aluminum bases.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:31 am 
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Here is a review from the man himself. He just posted this on my post on Facebook. I haven’t had any problem with balance or shaking and I have 4 of them. It could be that you tried the steel based laps he was selling early on. These are totally different.


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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:25 am 
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I think you are right, mine might have been a steel base. It did weigh a ton. I have one of his original 6 inch steel base in a 600 grit, that one is fine, but I never use it since it's only 6 inch. The 8" I had to send back as it would just knock a stone off the dop it was so warped.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:34 am 
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I have two with the steel bases. They look to be dynamically balanced by drilling in the base so are vibration free. The coarser one is fine.

However the finer two zone lap although well balanced has an uneven cutting surface. This causes the facets not to be absolutely flat. This results in too long a time achieving polish because you have to cut through the unevenness. Consequently, I don't use it. To bed, because other that that it is a fast and efficient lap.

It seems to me that consistent quality control may be lacking from this provider. I will wait to see reports on how Justin's version of this lap performs before making decisions.


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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 1:23 pm 
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I was only aware of the steel base laps. So I am now informed of the other. So based on these posts, your saying these are the exact same laps Gearloose sold and your going to be offering them?

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 8:23 pm 
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It seems that sintered laps tend to have a lot of issues, at least based on my limited experience with them.

I bought an Inland 1200 sintered about 10 years ago, and it performs well, is flat, balanced, it does seem to kick up places that will produce a deep scratch. Sometimes dressing it solves the issue but lately there are a few areas on it that I need to avoid. About $500

Picked up one of Gearloose's Russian 600 grit sintered laps with the steel backing. It's really thick, a huge cut out in the center, so not that much surface to work on. Runs flat and balanced cuts like crazy. Don't remember what it cost.

Picked up another one of the Russians with steel backing, it was way out of balance and had to return it.

2 years ago I bought an Inland 600 lap that was a little out of balance, but not too bad if I ran it at slow speed, but for a 600 it cut more like a 1200 nuBond. I talked with the company and they said to send it back and the would dress it. Well it came back and seemed to have maybe 5 piece of diamond on it. It would cut garnet about as fast as a 14,000 charged lap. So back that one went. About $500

Next I tried a Crystalite Sintered 600. A much different looking lap, no backing and only about ¼ thick. Way out of balance and not flat, but cut great. I returned that one, and they replaced it with another that runs smooth and cuts very nice. About $600

Sintered are certainly the way to go, but it seems they can have issues. It would be good if the suppliers would pop them on a machine for a quick test spin to at least see if it's balanced.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:11 pm 
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I have 3 Crystallite Sintered 360, 600, 1200.

360 Balance sucks, good for roughing a flat on a large cab. So needless to say do not use much, dressed it a few times but not much help. Was discontinued so replacement wasn't an option just return.
600 works great, no problems, just a lite redress every once and a while.
1200 balance is good but sporadic scratching and has a small bad oval-lish section that appeared after several dressings.

To tell you the truth my inexpensive import 600 & 1200 Solid steal PolyPros @70-80$ each are just as good in many ways. I am sure they are hit or miss as well.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:34 am 
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Precision Gem wrote:
Sintered are certainly the way to go, but it seems they can have issues.

This is my experience too. I have two Inland 8" sintered laps, a 600# and 1200#. The latter I bought second-hand off Gearloose because Jon was unhappy with the speed of cutting. Often I go straight from it to polish, so it does cut finer than expected. Four years ago a friend bought through Ultra Tec an "unbacked" sintered Crystalite 1200# lap that literally cracked up with use. Crystalite and Ultra Tec replaced it with no argument and at no cost, and now she has no complaints with it. So it can be a bit of a gamble. My advice is to buy through a reliable retailer with good after-sales service.


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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:51 am 
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Duncan Miller wrote:
Precision Gem wrote:
Sintered are certainly the way to go, but it seems they can have issues.

This is my experience too. I have two Inland 8" sintered laps, a 600# and 1200#. The latter I bought second-hand off Gearloose because Jon was unhappy with the speed of cutting. Often I go straight from it to polish, so it does cut finer than expected. Four years ago a friend bought through Ultra Tec an "unbacked" sintered Crystalite 1200# lap that literally cracked up with use. Crystalite and Ultra Tec replaced it with no argument and at no cost, and now she has no complaints with it. So it can be a bit of a gamble. My advice is to buy through a reliable retailer with good after-sales service.


I too like cutting on a 1200. If you have a good one, they cut very smooth, and quick for being a 1200. Seems they are prone for kicking up scratches however.

It's a shame that these expensive sintered laps are a hit and miss. When you get a good one, treasure it.

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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:17 pm 
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A Halloween themed photo of the 6” lap. :lol: Preorder ends on Halloween night.


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 Post subject: Re: New Sintered Laps available for preorder
PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:32 am 
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The original heavy bronze-on-steel started out well, but as time went on, the vendor lost interest in quality. It appeared they did not bother cleaning the molds between grits, at the end of the adventure, and did not care about balance. Here are the last two shipments:


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