lapping oil

My thoughts would be to lose the idea of using an abrasive on a brass anything unless you intend for it to be a perpetual lap. The soft brass will allow the abrasive to imbed such that a simple washing may not remove it, so until it's worn away, or the brass wears away enough to allow it to dislodge, the abrasion goes on and on.

While oil in and of itself won't act as an abrasive, it will provide the necessary lubrication to prevent the mating surfaces from galling-----mean time, they'll slowly wear until they're a good fit, then they'll keep wearing-----until they wear out. No sense acceleration that action by adding an abrasive.

Harold

Could they have been refering to Time Saver as lapping oil?

Wes

It is just possible that the "lapping oil" supplied by the manufacturer is a suspension of a lapping abrasive that breaks down with use, thus becoming ineffective with time. Powdered turkey bone springs to mind.

When I lapped soft material I made an effort to remove all lapping abrasive imbedded in the working surfaces by rolling onto the respective surfaces a layer of masking tape or duct tape. This tape was forced into intimate contact with the surfaces by rolling it on with a small diameter pin, the idea being similar to a wall paper roller. Sloooowly peeling the tape off the surfaces removed a surprising amount of debris when examined with a magnifying glass.

Unfortunately this tape idea is unlikely to work with an oil- impregnated bearing.

You might examine a drop of the "lapping oil" under a microscope to see if it is a suspension of abrasive. Your local high school or college may have a microscope still available.

Wolfgang

Why don't you contact the mfg. and ask them.