Andrew,
Sorry for the delay, I had to shoot some pictures for a demo.
Pizza Method -
The usual method of making a pitch lap is to put tape around the edge of the tool and pour pitch into this mold and then press it to conform to your mirror or lens. This layer is lens shaped so you have to move (by pressing) pitch from the middle of the lap to towards the edge to end up with an even layer of pitch. With my “pizza method” you pour a flat layer of pitch into a mold and then let it sag when it hardens like taffy then drop the tool down and on top so that it sticks. There is no advantage for a flat lap but if you have a curve it will save you a lot of pressing. Also you never will never have to worry about your tool and lap sticking together.
Precedure:
Step 1.
Cut a piece of aluminum foil bigger than your tool and fold it around the bottom side of the tool. Trim the edge with sissors to an even length. Carefully pull it off the back to form a mold. Make sure it lays flat on a flat and level surface. Take some solvent on a small cloth and rub it on some pitch then wip your tool with this cloth. When it dries you’ll have a surface that the pitch will stick easily to.
Here is a couple of lenses I needed laps for:
Sorry for the delay, I had to shoot some pictures for a demo.
Pizza Method -
The usual method of making a pitch lap is to put tape around the edge of the tool and pour pitch into this mold and then press it to conform to your mirror or lens. This layer is lens shaped so you have to move (by pressing) pitch from the middle of the lap to towards the edge to end up with an even layer of pitch. With my “pizza method” you pour a flat layer of pitch into a mold and then let it sag when it hardens like taffy then drop the tool down and on top so that it sticks. There is no advantage for a flat lap but if you have a curve it will save you a lot of pressing. Also you never will never have to worry about your tool and lap sticking together.
Precedure:
Step 1.
Cut a piece of aluminum foil bigger than your tool and fold it around the bottom side of the tool. Trim the edge with sissors to an even length. Carefully pull it off the back to form a mold. Make sure it lays flat on a flat and level surface. Take some solvent on a small cloth and rub it on some pitch then wip your tool with this cloth. When it dries you’ll have a surface that the pitch will stick easily to.
Here is a couple of lenses I needed laps for:
Attached Image:
