I'm GIA trained hemicylinder refractometer. Mine is becoming scratched. I'm considering the Gem-in-eye III digital unit to speed up things and illuminating RI liquid Is this wise? ive never used one and I'm concerned with accuracy and performance I will always have a glass unit also. Thank you
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:10 am Posts: 299 Location: Illinois
I had the scratches taken off mine a couple years ago. http://www.gemcutting.com/ He has a holder to polish the hemisphere without taking it out of the case.
_________________ I love the smell of Methylene Iodide in the morning...
Thank you. I'm rather attached to my refractometer I will follow Your advice. I just liked that the digital device goes well over 1.81 and no liquid mainly because it's 90$ a bottle and I've had some moronic and expensive spills lol. Is it strange I like the smell and consider my first refractometer an old friend? Oh well
$90 a bottle?!? Are you using the Methylene Iodide or something else (real, toxic 1.81 RI liquid)? You should be able to find it for a fraction of that price!
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
Lifted from a post of yours in the past Gene:
http://www.australiangemmologist.com.au/ Volume 22, Number 10, April - June 2006 RE-SURFACING A REFRACTOMETER PRISM Trevor Linton Wellington Point Queensland ABSTRACT In this paper, the potential problems associated with repolishing the degraded soft glass surface of refractometer prisms are described. Explanations and remedies are offered for the errors that are induced in refractometer scale readings as a direct consequence of this commonly used repolishing step.
Thank you I have been saving for a portalab from him. Ive only ever purchased RI liquid through GIA which is about 90$ with shipping. Being a rookie I was afraid to try other sources. what should It cost and from which sources could you recommend? thank you
Thank you I have been saving for a portalab from him. Ive only ever purchased RI liquid through GIA which is about 90$ with shipping. Being a rookie I was afraid to try other sources. what should It cost and from which sources could you recommend? thank you
It should just be Methylene Iodide with Sulfur dissolved in it, probably a saturated solution. It's not rocket science. I haven't had to buy any yet, but last i saw, some folks were buying it in the $30-36 range or even less... Will go through the information to see if I can find a supplier for you.
There is more than sulfur dissolved in it. There are two forumulations one based on Tin Oxide and one based on acetylene tetrabromide or something similarly unobtainable.
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 4:08 pm Posts: 381 Location: Lyon, France
The RI liquid from GIA is also from Cargille but they mark it up to ridiculous prices so you might as well go to the source if you're in the states. The shipping from Cargille is incredibly high overseas
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