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Post by miket on Sept 14, 2022 13:27:27 GMT -5
Someone here once mentioned using water on the felt and 50k paste, which I do. I dip the cab while I am polishing. I haven't witnessed any reason not to.
Your cabs DO look like they have that 600 matte look.
You'll work it out, I have no doubt. Thank you my friend!
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Post by miket on Sept 17, 2022 23:08:04 GMT -5
Gonna try jasoninsd 's method, hopefully I'll have some results to show in the morning. How much diamond paste should I start with?
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 17, 2022 23:16:35 GMT -5
Gonna try jasoninsd 's method, hopefully I'll have some results to show in the morning. How much diamond paste should I start with? This is the method of applying the diamond paste that I used:
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Post by liveoak on Sept 18, 2022 7:16:14 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the video link jasoninsd, I need to give that a try instead of buying a new 14,000 flat disc I need. Patty
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 7:44:27 GMT -5
Thanks, Jason. Definitely helps! 😁
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Post by liveoak on Sept 18, 2022 7:48:17 GMT -5
I bought a canvas drop cloth (heavy weave) from the hardware store and just cut a circle out of it then glued it onto the disk. One cloth supplies a lifetime of canvas pads! What kind of glue do you use to attach the canvas to the disc ?
Thanks,
Patty
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 9:57:20 GMT -5
liveoak, Jason told me he uses spray adhesive. I used the canvas this morning and I got a better polish. Not a very good picture but here's how they look now. I did the top cab this morning- not sure what the stone is but I think that's the best shine it will get. Now I need to figure out how often to reapply paste and how much time to spend on the polishing pad... 😁
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Post by liveoak on Sept 18, 2022 10:09:59 GMT -5
Thanks miket , those cabs look nice , I like the bottom one the best
I've never used a charged diamond pad like that, only a purchased diamond resin lap. And I was going to try and make one today, spray glue it is ! From that video, it looked like she applied a bunch & then left it for some time she said. I'm guessing that you have to realize you're not getting a polish so it must need re-charging . Although it could be the stone, the phase of the moon, or you're not holding your mouth right - boy I hate all those variables. But, I'm sure you'll figure it out (I hope I can). The one thing I do is to use a compound (cerium, or chromium, or tin, depending on the stone) after the diamond. Most times the shine isn't all I could wish until I do that.
Patty
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 18, 2022 10:45:45 GMT -5
miket liveoakI did the initial charge on my pad MONTHS ago...and you can guess how many cabs I've done since then! LOL - You won't be recharging the pad anytime soon! You'll be able to tell when the diamond paste is running out on the pad...but honestly, depending on cabs, it might take a year (or more!!). The pad will start "grabbing" the stone. I see small amounts of the paste on my cab when I'm done with it on the pad...so when that starts to disappear is another sign. Heads up too...when I used the Silcone Spray...right or wrong...I practically soaked the pad...not to the point of dripping off...but close. Basically, I used a lot of spray! Mike, those cabs look fantastic!! That top one looks like Agua Nueva...and if it is, the "moss" section will slightly undercut - which might give you that "best shine it can get" (as you described) look. The polish on the bottom two looks really great my friend!!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 18, 2022 11:00:52 GMT -5
miket and liveoak you will need to charge the diamond pad heavily at first because the diamond will get embedded in the canvas and not be on top of the pad doing its job. When I use a charged lap for something, I will charge it like in the video Jason posted and then polish a couple of cabs with it. After a couple of stones, do it again. Then it should be good. While you're polishing and if you're not getting the polish you think you should be getting, add more diamond. Because I can be lazy, sometimes I will just add some of the paste directly on the stone and work it into the pad that way. It doesn't take that long to do a polish on a 14k charged pad. A few minutes should do it. Give it more diamond whenever you think the polishing is slowing down. I always add more extender when I add more diamond (just a little) to help the diamond spread around more.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 18, 2022 11:05:35 GMT -5
Thanks miket , those cabs look nice , I like the bottom one the best
I've never used a charged diamond pad like that, only a purchased diamond resin lap. And I was going to try and make one today, spray glue it is ! From that video, it looked like she applied a bunch & then left it for some time she said. I'm guessing that you have to realize you're not getting a polish so it must need re-charging . Although it could be the stone, the phase of the moon, or you're not holding your mouth right - boy I hate all those variables. But, I'm sure you'll figure it out (I hope I can). The one thing I do is to use a compound (cerium, or chromium, or tin, depending on the stone) after the diamond. Most times the shine isn't all I could wish until I do that.
Patty
I always use an oxide polish after diamond. My experience is the same as yours. It almost always makes the polish better. No harm no foul if it doesn't.
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 11:05:45 GMT -5
Thanks miket , those cabs look nice , I like the bottom one the best
I've never used a charged diamond pad like that, only a purchased diamond resin lap. And I was going to try and make one today, spray glue it is ! From that video, it looked like she applied a bunch & then left it for some time she said. I'm guessing that you have to realize you're not getting a polish so it must need re-charging . Although it could be the stone, the phase of the moon, or you're not holding your mouth right - boy I hate all those variables. But, I'm sure you'll figure it out (I hope I can). The one thing I do is to use a compound (cerium, or chromium, or tin, depending on the stone) after the diamond. Most times the shine isn't all I could wish until I do that.
Patty
Hmm, maybe I'll try that. Thanks Patty!
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 18, 2022 11:09:57 GMT -5
miket and liveoak you will need to charge the diamond pad heavily at first because the diamond will get embedded in the canvas and not be on top of the pad doing its job. When I use a charged lap for something, I will charge it like in the video Jason posted and then polish a couple of cabs with it. After a couple of stones, do it again. Then it should be good. While you're polishing and if you're not getting the polish you think you should be getting, add more diamond. Because I can be lazy, sometimes I will just add some of the paste directly on the stone and work it into the pad that way. It doesn't take that long to do a polish on a 14k charged pad. A few minutes should do it. Give it more diamond whenever you think the polishing is slowing down. I always add more extender when I add more diamond (just a little) to help the diamond spread around more. When I did my initial charge, I thought the diamond paste in the syringes was too hard...so I put them in near boiling water (hot water from our water dispenser) and let them sit for a few minutes. Holy crap did that do the trick! LOL - It definitely softened it...and it came out of the syringe as liquid! However...I did get it to work!
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 11:10:25 GMT -5
miket liveoak I did the initial charge on my pad MONTHS ago...and you can guess how many cabs I've done since then! LOL - You won't be recharging the pad anytime soon! You'll be able to tell when the diamond paste is running out on the pad...but honestly, depending on cabs, it might take a year (or more!!). The pad will start "grabbing" the stone. I see small amounts of the paste on my cab when I'm done with it on the pad...so when that starts to disappear is another sign. Heads up too...when I used the Silcone Spray...right or wrong...I practically soaked the pad...not to the point of dripping off...but close. Basically, I used a lot of spray! Mike, those cabs look fantastic!! That top one looks like Agua Nueva...and if it is, the "moss" section will slightly undercut - which might give you that "best shine it can get" (as you described) look. The polish on the bottom two looks really great my friend!! Thanks. Jason, for both the compliment and the tips! I think you could be right on the ID. Fortunately I haven't noticed any undercutting and it feels perfectly smooth, so I don't know. Does more time on the polish wheel equal a better shine, or more time on the previous wheels?
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 11:12:06 GMT -5
miket and liveoak you will need to charge the diamond pad heavily at first because the diamond will get embedded in the canvas and not be on top of the pad doing its job. When I use a charged lap for something, I will charge it like in the video Jason posted and then polish a couple of cabs with it. After a couple of stones, do it again. Then it should be good. While you're polishing and if you're not getting the polish you think you should be getting, add more diamond. Because I can be lazy, sometimes I will just add some of the paste directly on the stone and work it into the pad that way. It doesn't take that long to do a polish on a 14k charged pad. A few minutes should do it. Give it more diamond whenever you think the polishing is slowing down. I always add more extender when I add more diamond (just a little) to help the diamond spread around more. Great tips, thank you!
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 18, 2022 11:12:56 GMT -5
miket liveoak I did the initial charge on my pad MONTHS ago...and you can guess how many cabs I've done since then! LOL - You won't be recharging the pad anytime soon! You'll be able to tell when the diamond paste is running out on the pad...but honestly, depending on cabs, it might take a year (or more!!). The pad will start "grabbing" the stone. I see small amounts of the paste on my cab when I'm done with it on the pad...so when that starts to disappear is another sign. Heads up too...when I used the Silcone Spray...right or wrong...I practically soaked the pad...not to the point of dripping off...but close. Basically, I used a lot of spray! Mike, those cabs look fantastic!! That top one looks like Agua Nueva...and if it is, the "moss" section will slightly undercut - which might give you that "best shine it can get" (as you described) look. The polish on the bottom two looks really great my friend!! Thanks. Jason, for both the compliment and the tips! I think you could be right on the ID. Fortunately I haven't noticed any undercutting and it feels perfectly smooth, so I don't know. Does more time on the polish wheel equal a better shine, or more time on the previous wheels? Honestly, if it's not already shining coming off the 3000 (and even the 1200 sometimes) then the 14k or cerium isn't going to do much of anything to enhance the shine. At least that's my experience...
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 11:13:19 GMT -5
Thanks miket , those cabs look nice , I like the bottom one the best
I've never used a charged diamond pad like that, only a purchased diamond resin lap. And I was going to try and make one today, spray glue it is ! From that video, it looked like she applied a bunch & then left it for some time she said. I'm guessing that you have to realize you're not getting a polish so it must need re-charging . Although it could be the stone, the phase of the moon, or you're not holding your mouth right - boy I hate all those variables. But, I'm sure you'll figure it out (I hope I can). The one thing I do is to use a compound (cerium, or chromium, or tin, depending on the stone) after the diamond. Most times the shine isn't all I could wish until I do that.
Patty
I always use an oxide polish after diamond. My experience is the same as yours. It almost always makes the polish better. No harm no foul if it doesn't. Hopefully not a dumb question...on your cabber or just with a cloth or something?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 18, 2022 12:03:39 GMT -5
I always use an oxide polish after diamond. My experience is the same as yours. It almost always makes the polish better. No harm no foul if it doesn't. Hopefully not a dumb question...on your cabber or just with a cloth or something? Not dumb. I do it on my flat lap but you could very well do it on the end of the cabber with the spin on discs. Actually, I think jasoninsd had gotten a cerium disc from KN for his machine. You do have to use water with the cerium discs or make an oxide slurry and either use a spray bottle to spray it on (that's what I do) or make the slurry in a small plastic tub and use a brush to apply it to the pad. ETA: You could also use a pad (canvas, felt, or whatever) on your dremel to use the oxide polishes. Just spritz the pad with a little water when it starts to dry out. You don't what oxides to dry out while you're using them.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 18, 2022 12:15:07 GMT -5
Thanks. Jason, for both the compliment and the tips! I think you could be right on the ID. Fortunately I haven't noticed any undercutting and it feels perfectly smooth, so I don't know. Does more time on the polish wheel equal a better shine, or more time on the previous wheels? Honestly, if it's not already shining coming off the 3000 (and even the 1200 sometimes) then the 14k or cerium isn't going to do much of anything to enhance the shine. At least that's my experience... Truth. miket - take that first stone back down to the 600 and work it good for a little while. Then go back up the grits spending some time on both the 1200 and 3000 and see if that doesn't help. You may just not have gotten all the subsurface damage from the larger grits out well enough for it to polish. Sometimes you really have to work at the 600 to get those buggers out, especially with agates and harder material. See if that doesn't work. It's too pretty of a stone to give up on it too fast and it looks like it should polish to me.
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Post by miket on Sept 18, 2022 12:42:09 GMT -5
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