julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 714
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Post by julieooly on Sept 2, 2019 15:36:42 GMT -5
Ok so I ordered some stuff and accidentally got two extra aluminum spin discs with sponge pads and white polishing pads. Right now I use this set up for diamond paste polishing and am currently set up for 8, 14 and 50k. I don't really want to go to 100 as I've been told that anything over 50 doesn't help too much on most materials.
I ordered these discs specifically to try some (flex) diamond sanding/polishing discs on the end of my CK (220/325/600). I haven't had a chance to set these up and try them yet, but I really love working off the end with the full face diamond (hard) laps. I suppose I could save them for additional steps here, that's a thought.
Any ideas on adding in some polishes other than diamond? and any other ideas on how to make these useful? I'm working with all kinds of materials if that helps.
Julie
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 2, 2019 16:29:54 GMT -5
Cerium Oxide and Alumina Oxide always a good thing to have in your arsenal.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 714
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Post by julieooly on Sept 2, 2019 17:13:59 GMT -5
I have some CO in a tiny container from somewhere. How do I know how much I need and can someone tell me how to charge the pad?
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Post by opalpyrexia on Sept 2, 2019 18:54:24 GMT -5
I don't really want to go to 100 as I've been told that anything over 50 doesn't help too much on most materials.
I don't understand why anyone would need to go to 100k. Polished at that fine grit, the surface roughness is at or beyond the resolution limit of the best optical microscopes.
Maybe someone will explain it to me. I can understand doing it for a marketing message. I take my opals to 50k which is also at optical microscopes' limit. Are there materials that look — to the eye — better at 100k?
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Post by stardiamond on Sept 2, 2019 23:49:38 GMT -5
I use diamond paste on canvas pads. I use a 50k wheel then 50k paste and then an old pad that had 50k. I'd rather put it on and old pad than wipe it off. I then use 100k paste and then an old pad that 100k for the same reason. recently I've skipped the 50k pads and go to the 100k pads. Every material polishes differently and some look better at 50k, but generally 100k improves the polish. I've played around with this a bit even going back to 50k after the 100k when I don't like the appearance. From customer feedback my cabs are more highly polished than the cabs they have bought.
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Post by pauls on Sept 3, 2019 2:34:34 GMT -5
I have some CO in a tiny container from somewhere. How do I know how much I need and can someone tell me how to charge the pad? Oxides are really easy to use. Mix your Cerium oxide up into a thin paste, paint that on your disk for your initial charge. Thin what's left down to coloured water for subsequent use. A couple of things with oxides, don't overdo it, too much and it's a nice muddy slippery surface that will not polish anything until it's all flung off up your walls and floor and ceiling, keep it damp but not soaking, oxides seem to polish best just at the point of getting too dry. Beware, when they dry out they create mega friction that will heat up and burn or crack your stone.
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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 3, 2019 6:56:16 GMT -5
I take most, if not all to 100k. There are a lot of stones that really benefit from it. The one that really comes to mind is rhodochrosite, which gets a polish similar to a glass coating, but most onyx type stones, too. For some it really doesn't matter much. My only issue is with quartz stones. It's very easy to over heat and crack. Only a few stones get a worse polish at 100k, but I can't remember what they are.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Sept 3, 2019 7:42:38 GMT -5
Ok so I ordered some stuff and accidentally got two extra aluminum spin discs with sponge pads and white polishing pads. Right now I use this set up for diamond paste polishing and am currently set up for 8, 14 and 50k. I don't really want to go to 100 as I've been told that anything over 50 doesn't help too much on most materials. I ordered these discs specifically to try some (flex) diamond sanding/polishing discs on the end of my CK (220/325/600). I haven't had a chance to set these up and try them yet, but I really love working off the end with the full face diamond (hard) laps. I suppose I could save them for additional steps here, that's a thought. Any ideas on adding in some polishes other than diamond? and any other ideas on how to make these useful? I'm working with all kinds of materials if that helps. Julie Where did you get the aluminum backed spin discs? I’ve looked for them but did not find. Thanks!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 3, 2019 8:23:02 GMT -5
I have some CO in a tiny container from somewhere. How do I know how much I need and can someone tell me how to charge the pad? Oxides are really easy to use. Mix your Cerium oxide up into a thin paste, paint that on your disk for your initial charge. Thin what's left down to coloured water for subsequent use. A couple of things with oxides, don't overdo it, too much and it's a nice muddy slippery surface that will not polish anything until it's all flung off up your walls and floor and ceiling, keep it damp but not soaking, oxides seem to polish best just at the point of getting too dry. Beware, when they dry out they create mega friction that will heat up and burn or crack your stone. This.
Once the disc has been charged, I use a spray bottle filled with water and CeOx to recharge when needed. I also have a spray bottle with just water in it for when it starts getting too dry and I'm not done polishing yet.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 714
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Post by julieooly on Sept 3, 2019 8:40:23 GMT -5
I have some CO in a tiny container from somewhere. How do I know how much I need and can someone tell me how to charge the pad? Oxides are really easy to use. Mix your Cerium oxide up into a thin paste, paint that on your disk for your initial charge. Thin what's left down to coloured water for subsequent use. A couple of things with oxides, don't overdo it, too much and it's a nice muddy slippery surface that will not polish anything until it's all flung off up your walls and floor and ceiling, keep it damp but not soaking, oxides seem to polish best just at the point of getting too dry. Beware, when they dry out they create mega friction that will heat up and burn or crack your stone. Use water for all thinning?
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 714
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Post by julieooly on Sept 3, 2019 8:41:37 GMT -5
Ok so I ordered some stuff and accidentally got two extra aluminum spin discs with sponge pads and white polishing pads. Right now I use this set up for diamond paste polishing and am currently set up for 8, 14 and 50k. I don't really want to go to 100 as I've been told that anything over 50 doesn't help too much on most materials. I ordered these discs specifically to try some (flex) diamond sanding/polishing discs on the end of my CK (220/325/600). I haven't had a chance to set these up and try them yet, but I really love working off the end with the full face diamond (hard) laps. I suppose I could save them for additional steps here, that's a thought. Any ideas on adding in some polishes other than diamond? and any other ideas on how to make these useful? I'm working with all kinds of materials if that helps. Julie Where did you get the aluminum backed spin discs? I’ve looked for them but did not find. Thanks! Minnesota lapidary supply. But they aren’t backed they are two pieces you stick together.
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Post by pauls on Sept 3, 2019 15:50:58 GMT -5
I thought that my oxide pads would be a waste of space once I started using diamond, but no, you can get a better polish by going further than 50000 diamond. I usually give my cabs a quick touch on Tin Oxide on felt for that extra special deep shine.
Oh yes, use water for all thinning of oxides, dry your pad after use and store in a plastic ziplock to keep the dust off. Dry because wet pads start smelling like a wet dog, store in bags between uses because most dust is ground up dirt (rock)which will scratch things.
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