Clover® Lapping Compounds

Uses         Size and Grit Selection         Abrasive Types        Carriers

CLOVER LAPPING AND GRINDING COMPOUNDS are abrasive pastes for the cutting, smoothing and finishing of metal surfaces, and for the precison mating of metal parts. For over 80 years Clover Compounds have helped mechanics, tool and die makers, and machine builders create precision, silky-smooth fits in machine parts, valve seats and gear teeth.

Clover Compounds are formulated from silicon carbide and other special-purpose abrasives. These compounds are classified by grit size; from very coarse to extremely fine. They are available in both grease and water-based gel formulations.

Clover Compounds supplement other metal removal techniques such as grinding, milling, boring and EDM machining. Where these techniques alone cannot achieve the required finishing, Clover Compounds are used to:

• Produce an ultra flat surface as in the lapping or gauges, valve seats, spacers and mechanical seal faces.
  
  
• Smooth out surfaces as in the lapping of tool marks from machine ways, bearing races and shaft surfaces.
  
  
• Achieve precise dimensions while maintaining smooth surfacesas in finishing gauges, tools and dies.
  
  
• Achieve perfect mating of metal parts as in lapping in of automotive and industrial valves, running-in gears, and sharpening of shear-type cutters.
  
  
• Clean surfaces without changing the topography of the surfaces as in cleaning mold cavities and die surfaces.
  
  
• Remove metal or material too hard to remove in other waysas in finishing hardened tool steel or stellite valve seats.
  
  

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Grade and Grit Selector Guide

GRADE	GRIT	Descriptions	Average Particle Sizes of Abrasive Grains
			1/1000 inches	Microns (0.001 mm)
7A	1200	EXTREMELY FINE Polishing, High Precision Lapping	0.12	3
6A	1000		0.20	5
5A	800		0.38	9
4A	600	VERY FINE For fine Polishing and Lapping	0.56	14
3A	500		0.68	17
2A	400		0.90	23
1A	320	FINE For Finishing, Valve Lapping, Bearings, Dies and Gauges	1.28	33
A	280		1.75	44
B	240	MEDIUM FINE For Cylinder Lapping	2.48	63
C	220		2.6	66
D	180	MEDIUM General Purpose for controlled Metal Removal	3.4	86
NC	150		4.8	122
E	120	COARSE For the Initial "Cut" Fast Removal of Metal	5.6	142
F	100		6.8	173
G	80		15	267
J	50	VERY COARSE For Fastest Metal Removal	18	463
K	36		28	710

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The Abrasives:

Clover compounds are available with the following abrasive grains and in a range of grit sizes. See the chart for availability of grit by size.

Silicon Carbide
The preferred abrasive for fast cutting of all but the hardest and toughest metals. It will produce a smooth flat surface but not a polished one.

White Aluminum Oxide
Does not cut as fast as the Silicon Carbide, but it does tolerate higher grinding pressures and produces a polished finish.

Clovite® Boron Carbide
Does tough lapping and grinding jobs as well as diamond pastes at a fraction of the cost. Use this abrasive for the hardest and toughest metals such as satellite and aerospace alloys and with tool steels for fast, more efficient cutting.

The Carriers:

Grease Mix
The most widely used carrier for Clover abrasives. It retains its texture and lubrication properties during extended lapping and leaves a rust- preventing film on lapped surfaces.

Water Based Pat Gel®
Clover's biodegradable carrier, recommended for applications where clean- up with water is required.

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GNT