Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
Can someone take a picture of the lap as you sweep on the diastick? I think I am using way to much, but it is hard to get a small amount to come out. I always end up using some snake oil to try and spread it out.
I would also appreciate some pictures on the prepolish band.
I have looked at the pictures on the bat pages, and try top get to that amount, but then have problem s getting it even.
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
I will give you a description of how I apply the BlakStik to the Matrix: I open the stik and extend it about a millimeter. I touch the extended stik face down at half the radius in a circle around ten times. I put a few drops of deionized water on the dots and mix it with a silicone basting brush. With an oxide Battstik, I turn on the lap motor at the slowest speed, applying the stik like a crayon in a sinusoidal motion over the lap surface. I put some deionized water on the lap, spreading it with a silicone basting brush.
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:18 pm Posts: 259 Location: Pennsylvania
thomas.adamas wrote:
I will give you a description of how I apply the BlakStik to the Matrix: I open the stik and extend it about a millimeter. I touch the extended stik face down at half the radius in a circle around ten times. I put a few drops of deionized water on the dots and mix it with a silicone basting brush. With an oxide Battstik, I turn on the lap motor at the slowest speed, applying the stik like a crayon in a sinusoidal motion over the lap surface. I put some deionized water on the lap, spreading it with a silicone basting brush.
With the BlakStik and the DiaStiks, I usually smear a small amount on my finger and wipe it on the lap. If I apply it right from the stick, pieces and clumps come off and fling around. I use my fingers on the laps a lot - I'm surprised I have fingerprints left!
When the laps seem too dry or the polishing medium is clumping, I'll add a drop of oil or water, whichever is appropriate. Then run my finger on the surface as the lap goes around. If the swarf is building up, I'll wet a paper towel with the oil/water and wipe the surface off.
I still get wavy facets using the oxides. I started using a 100k Italdo spray when the facet is wavy and it really seems to clear it up. Just use your favorite oxide like you normally would with gentle sweeps and if you see waves, throw a tiny bit of 100k on the lap right over the oxide and take a couple more gentle sweeps and it seems to clear it right up. Just don't let either the oxides or the diamond get to where it will roll. Meaning don't use too much extender fluid or water. Just enough...
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
I have found that polishing lines originate from: Excessive polishing compound on the lap. Too much pressure on the facet. Not sweeping the facet enough. Too coarse a particle size of the polishing slurry.
In the 33 years I have done gem cutting, I have never found oxides or diamond inherently to cause polishing lines.
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:28 pm Posts: 50 Location: Near Tampa FL
thomas.adamas wrote:
I will give you a description of how I apply the BlakStik to the Matrix: .....snip........ I put some deionized water on the lap, spreading it with a silicone basting brush.
Tom
Would you please explain the reason(s) for using deionized water vs filtered tap water?
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am Posts: 1322 Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
My 2 cents.
I was also having problems getting the stick to flow evenly. I found that if I used a small spray bottle to dampen the lap. Then I moistened the tip of the oxide stick with water it was much easier to spread. By getting the tip wet, it softened the stick and made it easier to spread. I do the same for to diamond.
I did find that the new formula oil based diamond sticks spread better.
I heard that Jon is working on a new formula for the water cut..... maybe someday.
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