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Post by writerman2255 on Nov 12, 2009 8:40:03 GMT -5
Hey. I had a question to anyone who has experience polishing gemstones and mixed material matrix specimens. I bought a new 1200 because my old one wore out. I used to be able to go from 1200 to final cerium oxide polish with great results. But with this new 1200, which I believe isn't really 1200, seems more like 800, I can't do anything but scratch the surface, with marks I mean, and do what looks like a 600 polish (based on my old 600 disc). Are there that drastic of quality differences between discs? I bought this from a reputable company in town who ordered it from Graves. Their answer was that foreign discs often are "rouger" but I don't buy that. 1200 should be 1200, right? Any suggestions? Love and Light, Tom.
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Post by jpolk123 on Nov 12, 2009 8:56:15 GMT -5
I have found that when I start using a new lap that it needs breaking in. Especially those other than diamond. I too thought that maybe the new lap was marked wrong. What I did was find a good hard agate slab and laid it flat on the new lap and ran it for awhile. After that the lap was still really aggressive but not digging in as much. In no time the laps settled in to cutting right. jim
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ken
Junior Member
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Post by ken on Nov 12, 2009 9:21:40 GMT -5
Tom, you left yourself wide open with 'adveice needed' ;D ;D ;D I bet a lot could give you some, me included. ;D
But, you do need to break in your lap with a piece of agate. The diamonds are not uniform and need to get the high ones broke down until they are all even.
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Post by bammer on Nov 12, 2009 9:31:14 GMT -5
Tom, I use a piece of Corundum (var. Ruby) to season my new laps.
The quartz(Agate) will eventually season a new lap but the Ruby seems to 'get er done' if you know what I mean.
I had the same issue where my 600 seemed to pre polish better than my 1200.
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Post by writerman2255 on Nov 12, 2009 18:24:21 GMT -5
Bammer, when your 600 seemed to polish better than your 1200, what did you do? I will try that seasoning in, but I initially took that lap back to the store, because it didn't seem to be 1200 at all. I got credit for it, but next time I think I'll do the seasoning thing. Thanks! P.S. when you seasoned the laps in, say a 1200, did they then polish like an old 1200 will? I mean, my old 1200 once you get done with it, the polish shines, and I can go right to cerium oxide. All advice and anecdotes are appreciated abundantly. Aiii! Love and Light, Tom.
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Post by gsellis on Nov 12, 2009 20:19:46 GMT -5
Import 1200's tend to be much sharper. I have a hunk of agate that I use to break in my Perfect Laps as they are 'very' aggressive new.
On my faceter, I go 260, 2200, 3000 BATT, 50K BATT or Darkside with CrO.
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Post by bammer on Nov 13, 2009 8:49:56 GMT -5
Tom, If you lean on the Ruby when you are dressing a lap you can even out the surface and get it to a 1200(old) in no time.
I usually only dress part of the lap and leave some "undressed" so I can use that for a more aggressive cut.
I guess it depends on what you are cutting or cabbing to answer the question most accurately. Quartz you can usually go from 1200 to cerium ox. Some of the harder materials I throw a 14000 diamond paste on my Lightning Lap before a 50000 final polish.
Your Emeralds may need at least the 14000 diamond for polish, as the cerium ox never polished them well enough for me.
My first set of laps I bought them all at the same time and broke them in all together. That seemed to work the best.
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Post by writerman2255 on Nov 16, 2009 16:38:06 GMT -5
Wow. I've listened to your advice and gone on the Internet with the most experienced gem polishers in the world and the concensus is? Experience! I bought a new 1200 and a 2400, and they both cut the same out of the box! I tried evening them out with ruby, and it seemed to work a bit, but I have a lot more to go. I really like gem cutting and polishing because it seems to be an art that nobody fully understands, except for experience. The challenge really sparks my enthusiam! Now I have two full sets of laps, and still don't know what I'm doing! Ha! Oh, well, back to the cutting board!
Love and Light, Tom.
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