How much do you worry about flat-stagger pole even-ness?

[rhgwynn]

BTW, what grade Arkansas stone do you use? Those things are pricey. Will any whetstone do the job?

[jason lollar]

I use something similar on a large foot press press but it doesnt use a clam shell- its all indexed on pins, puts all six magnets in at a time and yah yah yah.
Anyway why not assemble the pickup so the top of the poles are pushed down onto a flat plate- assemble it upside down, then any variance in magnet length wont show up on the top of the pickup. The magnets do vary a little in length and more often are not cut at 90 degrees on each end so that in itself adds to the number of variables.
What you are mentioning isnt going to affect the performance- it is a cosmetic issue which you may or may not want to pursue- I would try to work to the highest level but I would figure out a quick way to do it.
Auto Cad can be quite a bit to learn on your own but I have used Deltacad for the last almost 20 years. its a very simple 2 D program which is all you really need to have anything machined- if you need that third dimension just draw a 3 view drawing like they did in the "old days" Delta Cad - World's easiest CAD program, CAD software
you can take the file generated and convert it to common auto cad files anyone can use .dxf or .dwg and you can turn them into jpgs if you want to send out dimensional drawings anyone can look at without a cad program. Its really easy to use. I couldnt get by without it. if you are making a one of a kind custom item- just draw it up, print it out full size, tape it onto your material- use a center punch to mark the points youve drawn for pole piece locations, its quick and you can get quite accurate results just using drawings for templates- so much faster than measuring out everything on your material. Then you can take the drawings and covert them into a vector based file and it will run a laser cutter or CNC. All the pickup covers and parts i make or have made were drawn on that program, many machine parts i designed like the bobbin press attachments were drawn up on it and passed on to a machinist, its worth the $40 believe me, there might be something free but the format of this is really accessable and alot of the commands are the same as auto cad its just a very simplified version.It never crashes and always works flawlessly with the exception on occasion converting files to DXF you might get some odd fragmentation or distortion but that doesnt happen often so you just have to be aware to look at what you send out first

[copperheadroads]

BTW, what grade Arkansas stone do you use? Those things are pricey. Will any whetstone do the job?

Rob ,I'm not sure if you understand the reason that you slightly bevel magnets .
You can bevel Alnico with any abrasive Stone,sandpaper ..it all works but it will eat up a sanding disc or drum pretty fast

[big_teee]

Rob ,I'm not sure if you understand the reason that you slightly bevel magnets .
You can bevel Alnico with any abrasive Stone,sandpaper ..it all works but it will eat up a sanding disc or drum pretty fast

I use a rotary grinding Wheel.
T

[rhgwynn]

Rob ,I'm not sure if you understand the reason that you slightly bevel magnets .
You can bevel Alnico with any abrasive Stone,sandpaper ..it all works but it will eat up a sanding disc or drum pretty fast

I ask about stones which come in different grades - you use that as an opening to question my knowledge on pickups and their history. We all know the answer is - because Leo did it. Its been clearly stated here that the magnet will displace the forbon rather than cutting it, when beveled prior to insertion. Your argument is invalid. I don't bother with the cheapo methods because they just suck and aren't worth the hassle to me; I've tried them. I've been wanting a bench grinder but just haven't afforded one yet. A whetstone seems like the way to go so, back to my question; which grade do you recommend? Or do you just use whatever one you happened to have in your shop drawer?

It really is like I said, isn't it...

Using the internet is like getting arrested - anything you say can and will be used against you.

(you can quote me on this one if you want to, John)

[big_teee]

I ask about stones which come in different grades - you use that as an opening to question my knowledge on pickups and their history. We all know the answer is - because Leo did it. Its been clearly stated here that the magnet will displace the forbon rather than cutting it, when beveled prior to insertion. Your argument is invalid. I don't bother with the cheapo methods because they just suck and aren't worth the hassle to me; I've tried them. I've been wanting a bench grinder but just haven't afforded one yet. A whetstone seems like the way to go so, back to my question; which grade do you recommend? Or do you just use whatever one you happened to have in your shop drawer?

It really is like I said, isn't it...

Using the internet is like getting arrested - anything you say can and will be used against you.

(you can quote me on this one if you want to, John)

What is the Arkansas Stone for?
I don't get it?

[RedHouse]

What is the Arkansas Stone for?
I don't get it?

It's just a quartz stone that cuts nice and smooth, I used to use them a lot in gunsmithing and have several.

When you use an Arkansas stone, it cuts/slices the bits off the metal, where other stones (oxides etc) "grind/scrape" bits off. You would use an Arkansas stone to dress the sear on a 1911 to get the nice smooth trigger pull. Using the stone requires no sanding/polishing after.

[rhgwynn]

http://www.woodcraft.com/category/20...as-stones.aspx

So, which one do you recommend? Washita?

[rhgwynn]

What is the Arkansas Stone for?
I don't get it?

You load the magnet into a drill, then spin it against the stone to bevel it.

[copperheadroads]

I ask about stones which come in different grades - you use that as an opening to question my knowledge on pickups and their history. We all know the answer is - because Leo did it. Its been clearly stated here that the magnet will displace the forbon rather than cutting it, when beveled prior to insertion. Your argument is invalid. I don't bother with the cheapo methods because they just suck and aren't worth the hassle to me; I've tried them. I've been wanting a bench grinder but just haven't afforded one yet. A whetstone seems like the way to go so, back to my question; which grade do you recommend? Or do you just use whatever one you happened to have in your shop drawer?

It really is like I said, isn't it...
Using the internet is like getting arrested - anything you say can and will be used against you.

(you can quote me on this one if you want to, John)

Ok great , I wasn't sure where your struggle exactly is in the assembly

[big_teee]

You load the magnet into a drill, then spin it against the stone to bevel it.

How are you going to spin the Ouachita Stone?
They both need to be turning.
Looks like it would burn a hole in the Stone.

[rhgwynn]

How are you going to spin the Ouachita Stone?
They both need to be turning.
Looks like it would burn a hole in the Stone.

Tee, these stones are normally used to sharpen knives and woodworking tools, so I think they will work ok for alloys like AlNiCo; they also have to be lubricated with water or oil when used (one or the other, only!). That probably prevents burning a hole in it. If Brad says it works for him, I'll take his word on it.

[big_teee]

Tee, these stones are normally used to sharpen knives and woodworking tools, so I think they will work ok for alloys like AlNiCo; they also have to be lubricated with water or oil when used (one or the other, only!). That probably prevents burning a hole in it. If Brad says it works for him, I'll take his word on it.

I live in Arkansas and I have a whole drawer full of Novaculite (Ouachita Whetstones).
There are a lot easier ways, but go for it.
Alnico is harder than hammered Hell, It eats up whatever you put in on.
Brad can't use my whet-stones.
T

[big_teee]

Sounds like a Group Hug is in order!
Just Kidding!
T
**Peace and Tone Everyone!

[rhgwynn]

Sounds like a Group Hug is in order!
Just Kidding!
T
**Peace and Tone Everyone!

Peace and Tone, Tee.