On May 18, 5:17*pm, "Michael Koblic" wrote:
...Why can't
you achieve the same result (on a flat and accessible surface at least) with
steel wool/Scotchbrite pad? Or just plain old sand-paper for that matter (if
you are using the coarser grits). How is the lapping compound behave
differently from these other gizmos?
--
Michael Koblic,

Lapping implies a rigid guide holding the abrasive. You could use a
flat steel block behind sandpaper but the paper has some give and the
relatively thick abrasive layer wears down unevenly. I wrap sandpaper
around a form such as a dowel to clean up rounded inside corners and
such if the geometry isn't critical.

I suppose you could burn sandpaper to separate the abrasive. Caustic
soda dissolves alumina to some extent, without damaging metals except
aluminum.

jsw