Poor man's surface plate? Alternatives?

[1982fxr]

Oh about 18" x 12", just something I'd like to have but can't spend big bucks on. Any decent alternatives to the real thing?

 

[helterskelter]

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=640-0120&PMPXNO=949402&PARTPG=INLMK3

How much cheaper than $65 were you looking? Used they're nearly free...

There's no alternative that's worth screwing with IMO.

 

[M6erfan]

Get a granite slab remnant from a local tile shop

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I concur, the enco plate is a good deal for a grade b plate. I have a my sink cut out from our new counter tops, as well as a 2x3 foot slab of black granite counter top. Obviously not a real surface plate but probably within a few thou.

 

[1982fxr]

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=640-0120&PMPXNO=949402&PARTPG=INLMK3

How much cheaper than $65 were you looking? Used they're nearly free...

There's no alternative that's worth screwing with IMO.

Ok had no idea they could be had that cheap, I only ever see used Starrett for $$$$

 

[firworks]

Well you could have gotten it even cheaper before... I want to say it's been as low as 35$ from Enco with a coupon in the past.

But those days are behind us now ;_; Enco is dead.

 

[drivesitfar]

82: i found a used granite one 18x12x3 inch on CL for about a Benjamin maybe a year ago that is Starrett quality and has a different name on it that came with a plywood top with foam under it so top doesn't get scratched when not in use.

I had a big cast iron steel one that i ended up selling because it was 3x4 foot and about 1300 pounds and my garage was too small for it. that style comes in smaller sizes, but unless it was taken care of they are not always accurate.

 

[Ctkelly]

Grizzly also sells some in various sizes cheap, well last time I bought one it was cheap.

 

[yhprum]

plate glass or granite tiles

 

[Adam.C]

I bid $10 on a 12x18 Starrett crystal pink stone on eBay and won it. The seller listed the shipping at $100 and the stone was local.

The larger surface plates get, the cheaper they sometimes are. Shop around.

I too have a cheap ENCO stone. It's a 9x12. I've always wondered if those stones would actually calibrate. If the cone from China, they could be no better than a floor tile from Home Depot.

 

[extropic]

Yep, discount coupon + free shipping from ENCO was the ticket for surface plates.

Keep an eye on MSC, but don't hold your breath.

 

[ibedayank]

http://www.shars.com/products/measuring/surface-plates

Shars

 

[pendragon1998]

I have a granite cutoff that is flat to within 1 to 3 thou, IIRC. Not great for machining, but I use it for sharpening, and it works fine.

 

[zmotorsports]

They are cheap enough to not worry about alternatives. I bought mine about 15 years ago off locally used and think I paid $25.00 for it, new at that time if memory serves they were about 2-2.5 times that. Mine is 18"x24" and I use the hell out of it.

Mike.

 

[Packard V8]

I'd been using a piece of granite countertop for years. Then, I got a chance to buy an 18" x 18" crystal pink Sunnen with stand and cover for $100. I found it's a very rare occurrence when I can tell the difference. Most of my work and probably my talent just isn't that precise.

jack vines

 

[sberry]

What would I do with one?

 

[Wes J]

I've run a machine shop for 6 years and just bought a surface plate. I only bought it to do some scraping. I've never really needed one to measure anything.

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

Yep, discount coupon + free shipping from ENCO was the ticket for surface plates.

Keep an eye on MSC, but don't hold your breath.

ENCO is now MSC... good luck

 

[shortykorte]

How about a piece of slate from pool table?

 

[Craptain]

How about a piece of slate from pool table?

Don't even think about it. They are usually not flat enough, they are (relatively) flexible and they are soft.

 

[PCustoms]

Working in VT we have the luxury of having granite readily availible.

Most of our plates at work come from or are serviced by a quarry 3 hrs away. When they come on site to inspect and tune they have a master setup and the lap the plates into spec.

I'll have to pay attention next time sround, as the sam lapping could be used to flatten concrete.

The problem with thin pics (i.e. countertop or glass) is they flex. You need the thickness to maintain stability of the playe.

 

[Mr. T]

Obviously not a real surface plate but probably within a few thou.

A blind man on a fast horse wouldn't notice that...

 

[Jim Johnstone]

A blind man on a fast horse wouldn't notice that...

Exactly, I don't use my counter top "surface plates" for precision inspection, I use them more for a "clean bench" for assembly work on stuff I don't want getting dirty on my clean bench.

 

[Mr. T]

Every once in a while I wonder in to our tooling dept. at work and ask if it's okay to use their nice granite anvil...

 

[ctb]

I went down to the local stone dealer and sourced a piece of gravestone granite (18x12x11/2) that they used as a display. Got it for free. Amazingly flat to within .00 something. Use it to sharpen my woodworking tools and flatten plane soles.

 

[Adam.C]

A few thou (.00X") isn't flat enough for a surface plate, or even a sharpening plate. I think a piece of float glass is flatter than that. Cheap B grade stones are around 2 tenths per 4" or so (.0002"/4"). A grade is half that. AA is half A grade.

 

[Coach James]

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-x-18-x-3-Granite-Surface-Plate-No-Ledge/G9651?utm_campaign=zPage


Coach

 

[BadSpellar]

There is a Woodcraft store in Phoenix.

http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/search.aspx?query=surface plate

 

[ttpete]

I picked up a nice used 12X18 black granite ledge type plate that's accurate to .00003" over the whole surface. Cost $50.