10 Tips for Maintaining Surface Plates

The easiest way to increase the life of your surface plate is to periodically rotate your plate’s orientation.  Regularly rotating your work area slows the formation of wear spots.

Cover your surface plate when it’s not in use. Dust works as an abrasive material and can speed up surface wear.

To avoid excess build-up of grease and other debris, clean surface plate before and after work is performed.

Avoid water-based solutions as Granite tends to absorb water. Acetone and alcohol-based cleaners will give the best results but cause a cooling effect on the plate.

Even though the bolts are on the underside, over-tightening bolts can add unneeded stress to your surface plate. Check with your plate manufacturer for the correct hold-down bolt torque limits.

Check the plate for scratches and nicks regularly. Burrs will often be present around nicks creating additional uneven surfaces. Remove burrs using a silicon carbide stone.

Make sure to distribute all weight applied evenly and over a large surface. Don’t apply more pressure or weight on your plate than necessary.

Only use surface plates for their intended purpose. Never place food or drinks on a surface plate.  The acid present in many foods and drinks can cause small holes to form on the surface.

To avoid excessive expansion and contraction of the plate, humidity and temperature should be held constant around the plate. Keep plates out of direct sunlight as this can cause quick and uneven heating.

Depending on the workload, surface plates should be calibrated every six months to three years.  To determine what calibration schedule is best for you, regularly test your plate with a repeat-o-meter to check how quickly your plate deviates outside of accepted tolerances.