For a watering system you can use a empty wine box. They already have a bladder and adjustable valve to control water flow. Just add your hose and #12 solid copper wire to direct the hose and you are done. Of course the fun part is draining the wine out of the box!

Hi Dave, you have been a great inspiration to me!!!!!!! I met Moonstone Bill up in wausau, wi. Loved your video at the tuscon gem show. It is a small world in the lapidary hobby.

I'm embarrassed to say that I've done this with a drill and did NOT think to do this with my press............GENIUS

Great video! I Don't want to go broke buying all this equipment, this is a means to work the stones at a very low cost. Thanks!

You've given this newbie so much confidence, in such a short time. Thank you kindly!

Dang! You are indeed a brilliant lapidary wizard! So cool, so fun, absolutely inventive!

I planned on doing the flat lap with the bucket version of this. Then.i saw the upside down drill press idea.... I think I'm going that way. Thanks Dave it's a pleasure knowing you!

Impressive!!! I am learning to work with semi-precious stones, and this is very helpful. Thank you.

Very creative. A tip: don't use two pliers to tighten the nuts as you will end up chewing up the nuts. Use wrenches. Yes, tape a length of at least 12 gauge copper wire to the watering tube before taping both to the drill. With the wire, you can direct the stream to exactly where you need it.

Just bought some cheap diamond plates and long bolts for my drill press. Thanks for the tip, This is easy and cheap way to start this hobby 👍 Also got bench grinder and some diamond pads for that.

I have had the parts for a few months now, but it’s been too cold to work in my little shed/workshop. Well, I set it up yesterday for the first time. Works fantastic. Had issues with the drip system which is a KFC plastic to go drink bag (bout 1/2 gal), but it worked out. I used a disposable aluminum roasting pan for my catch system. Flexible,adjustable, and CHEAP. I went with the fully threaded rods, but as you said, they don’t turn as true. After reading the comments, I’ll be grinding the chucked end tomorrow. Love the videos and the information. Keep up the good work.

This just gave me an idea to use my HF wood lathe as a cab machine.

Dave -- it's easy to add more threads to a partially threaded bolt. Get a die from HF and cut the extra threads you'll need. Love the idea of the expandable wheel mounted in a drill horizontally! Another possible source of long bolts with custom washers (and rubber bushings) is a sway bar link kit for autos -- if you have a friend willing to let you open a few boxes on the shelf in an auto parts store --- you may find something that will have the right measurements. I once fixed a broken differential mount on my Triumph TR-6 with a sway bar link -- worked perfect.

I made my own flat lap just like yours. Made a smaller version to fit my rotary tool in a clamp👌.. Works great, i make Jewellery, silversmith n stuff so started wanting to make my own cabs an thought how can i do it without spending loads! Where there's a will theres a way😉. Shout out from ireland Dave 👍🍀

Great video! If you can’t find a bolt that the threads won’t go all the through your lapidary wheels, you should see what the cost is for a tap and die set to extend the threads.

Lapidary Dave, I am so happy to find your video. You have single handedly saved my marriage. I have been using all kinds of machinery for more years than I would like to remember. In the future, to keep all your fingers attached to your hands, please roll up your sleeves and secure them safely away from your moving parts. As far as laying your drillpress down. Make a 2x4 wood "L" frame on the Vertical side drill 2 half inch holes measuring from the holes on the base plate. I think the slots aer 1/2" so using some shorter 1/2" bolts, washers and nuts secure the drill press to the frame. Ensure that the frame is wide enough to prevent rolling. Now, you have a way to either stand, or lay flat your drillpress without ever having to remove it from your "L" frame. Hope this helps. Tee

Nice vid man!! Quick tip on your fastener setup....good rule of thumb is at least two to three full threads should be showing to make sure that nylon lock (Nylok) nut is doing its job.

That is a fantastic idea there, guy! Outstanding!

Great idea. I have a lortone cabbing machine and trim saw but this will be a game changer for me. Thank you very much.

Thanks for saving me a boatload of money! Subscribed!

Thank you! You just saved me a BUNCH of money.

Just a suggestion, when mounting a wheel with a drill press, reverse the motor so the direction grinds away from you instead of towards you. Much safer that way. A knife makers trick

When I started out I tried this seeing it on you tube. Problem was is my little drill press from harbor freight, the motor got seriously hot and nearly burned up. The capacitor blew out first and I was able to get another one and it works again. So for the cheapies out there like mine beware the motor getting hot spinning that weight. I ended up getting a potter wheel for $99 on ebay. I drilled a small hole in dead center, put a thin 1/2" round washer as the arbor and screwed down and the flat laps hold on very well! Perfect speed, not too fast, not too slow and I have now done about 130 nice pendants on it. Just also get a couple small 6mm hoses and get 2 nuts and bolts. Drill down thru the center of them so water passes though. Drill at the lowest points in the plastic pan. Its very simple and drain into a bucket after you put a little drip system on it. Remember to get some rubber washers onthe inside and outside of those two bolts so it doesn't drip. You can make a couple if needed from the rubber out of the inside of a plastic coke bottle. The entire thing cost me like $108.oo. Try to get aluminum bolts at about 6mm round to use so they don't rust out from water passing through them all the time. Cool thing is you can switch plate sizes if you get the 11" pottery wheel. With not having to have any backing plate. The wheel is your backing plate.

What an amazing idea! My drill press is an upright floor type so I will have to get a bench top model. Thanks for show how to do this otherwise it’s 1-2k $ for a lapidary machine!!

Absolutely the best for the begginers starting out great effort but very appreciated Shane Fox Aust

What a cool idea , i was going to buy one, now i just use the drill press, brilliant idea....

I have four drill presses around and this was interesting . I have cabbing machines , polishing equipment and all kinds of purpose built tool s. Drill presses are easy finds at garage sales . And can change speeds by flipping the belts inside !

Very clever Dave. Thanks for the video.

I liked this idea, so I tried it and it has worked very good for me.

Love your videos. You now have an admire all the way from India.

I've used a cheap bench grinder, drill press a d a regular hand drill mounted to a two by four frame. With the bolt, you can also take a file or grinder and file three sides flat to fit in the drill chuck better. It just takes some effort to balance it.

Man i just found your channel and this is an awesome idea

Cool a Mcgyver style Lapiary wheel, Nice video . Keep them coming dave we love your videos.

Another great one my friend... thank you as always!!!

Very helpful thank you.

what a fantastic idea, thanks so much for sharing!!

Clever way to make due with simple tools!

Thanks👍 have to try this too 😄👍

An Idea. buy enough bolts that you can mount all your laps for easier switching.

This video saved me hundreds of dollars. . . at least for now!

That is one way to do it w?o spending a fortune-which is not possible. Good job!

Hey pretty cool man.👍

Hiya dave, Get a die and die wrench from your favourite big box store, maybe before cutting the head of the bolt off, use the correct die to lengthen the treaded part. Stay safe, Steve...

Really smart! Thank you

Ty Dave

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

I want to try this, I have a drill press that was my late husband's, and I think that he would want me to give it a try 😉

Loosen the table and spin it around to the side or back, then you can have more room for a deeper collection pan.

Awesome idea thanks

That is really Cool!!!

If no nylon or other locking nut, use 2 regular nuts to prevent the backing off od the nut.

Another option for the wheel mount is to chuck a length of all-thread of the right diameter into the drill press and use a file to remove the threads from one end.

Oil drain pan would be perfect for the water catch.

Nice video Dave👍

Nice video brother. For solving that wheels thread problem and shaking problem you can just go to your nearest lath mashen workshop and they make you a fitting size rod with desired threads in 5 minute. And it's would be very cheap. Thanks for video

I have a Shopsmith that’s been sitting around. Not only does it convert to a drill press, table saw, sander, etc but the whole thing is variable speed so I can use the lower rpm settings. Just need to figure out how to keep the motor dry. They freaking last forever. Ours is circa 1940 something and still runs great.

YOU ARE MY HERO! Thank you for posting this. I have been wondering how you make a decent lapidary using a hand held grinder. However, I HAVE A DRILL PRESS! What more do I need? I already have some lapping disks of various grits, bolts and nuts of all sorts, and even developed an IV drip system for my water source.

So David now I have to get rid of my spray bottle it works but not as good as the dripping water does😂 I like it I got all of it however one of my wheels is flat I think Johnson could fix it I hope

I'm surprised i haven't seen a cheap lathe adapted to a cabbing machine yet! it's already sideways and you could easily support a bar with a bunch of wheels!

So sick

Love this thanks for sharing, that setup is brilliant! Just gave your shop a favorite, I'm (Crimson Dragon Jewelry) :)

Great guy...love you

Excellent. Thanks.

Omg thank you so much. This was a great video. You da 💣kid

You should use correctly sized wrenches rather pliers as the pliers will mare the nuts. R.E.: Water collection. Turn the table 90 degrees out of the way and use blocks of wood to bring the collection pot to the required level. R.E.: Threading Bolts. Get a die with the proper threads and thread the bolts the distance you require.

Just a note; if you don't thread the bolt thru the nylon, it defeats the purpose. I would imagine you could use a spent 8" saw blade as a master lap. Grind off sharps of fine tooth luann blade. A colapsable camping water container has a valve, better control of your drip. A larger chuck would allow you to use your other wheel. I have $65 HF press, I can change chucks.

Fantastic information!!! I wonder if conical washers / Belleville Spring Lock Washers would be beneficial in addition to the fender washers.

🤩....from malaysia

🤯😀 you are very creative 💯🤩

Genius!

Good info thankyou

Can you show me the number of discs you are using? What brand and models? What brand of discs are good?

Awesome video! I recently aquired a bunch of turquoise rough , looks treated already. Ill be doing this project this week. My question is are you using the 6 inch or 8 inch flat disks ? I appreciate your time !

1/2 inch shoulder bolt

Dave- great video. I’m very new to this gem world. I recently dug some garnets in NC and would like to polish them up so you can actually see the their beautiful color. Could you please tell me what wheels I need to achieve this. Thank you!

Love this - what do you use for cutting? 😊

Perfect. ✌️

a 1/2 hammer drill on a vice might work better for the expandible wheel

Hopefully you’ve put the Nylock nut on far enough for it to actually lock. Unless you’re threading on the nylon part it won’t work as it’s supposed to 👍

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!

Interesting, but why must the wheel spin up ad down and not sideways as it spins?

You only need a drip, drip, system for the water, not pouring.

I missed it. What's the grit # on the flat lap, please?

so super glue will work for daub stick been curious about that.

Used a nylon cutting board for backer. 8" bolt, bottom of nylon nut sat perfectly in hole of base, water lubricating. Then developed heck of a wobble, turned down the rpm to 2200, but feels like bolt is bent. Going to try shortening. Thanks for the ideas. ✌️

Bolt threads never touched the nylon on the nut

Muito top amigo parabéns ótimas dicas tmjs amigo 👦

It's called a Ny-lock nut

You didn’t tighten that nyloc nut down far enough so it wasn’t actually “locking”

what diameter is the bolt? and length? 100 cm? by 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch diameter?

Aviation nut. for vibrations.

Just get 1/2 in all thread rod

gave a good presentation but i think you need to know this about safety. don't wear long sleeves jackets, shirts if you do make shore to roll or tie them up so you don't tangled up in the machine. just a tip.

Super

Hello. I hope you are aware that nylon locknuts are meant for a one shot usage. You can of course use anything more than once, but be aware. I also hope you are threading the bolt further along passed the nylon than you showed. Ugh, no pliers! At least use an adjustable wrench if you're not going to use proper wrenches or sockets. Thanks for sharing the idea. I like the possibilities.

Hi Dave. Thinking of doing this but wondering what size of flat lap disc you were using. 6 or 8 inch. 👍🇨🇦

When buying grinding stones what would you recommend silicon oxide or aluminum oxide or neither

Hello Dave, If you could only go to one Gem show a year , which one would it be? Thanks Charlie

Nice

Hows this going for you Dave? Still running ok?