Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:45 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:39 am Posts: 228 Location: Long Island NY, USA
So far, I've had great luck prepolish ing with both the Zinc t 8k,and the BATT 3k, using MCD loose diamond and crystalube silicone extender, I guess from Crystalite.
Before I use the lap, I wipe it clean by placing a few drops extender on lap, use a clean tissue, and turn on my faceting machine while gently pressing the tissue against the lap until the lap is eye clean. Then, I place a few drops extender and diamond powder on the lap, and create a slurry with my finger, by making circular motions from top to bottom, gently mixing the two. Then I use a piece of CZ, and place the rough on the lap, turn the machine on, and slowly bring the rough from top to bottom.
So far, I haven't had a single problem, knock wood.
In my opinion, the BATT 3k and the Zinc+8k seem almost the same in performance. The Zinc+ may be just a hair more aggressive.
I'd be interested in knowing how others find the comparison between the two.
PS: forgot to mention: I frequently clean the stone I'm working on with a clean cloth and alcohol.
Do you have cats or dogs? Could that little tick, tick, tick sound be from an animal hair?
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 3:37 pm
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2017 8:56 pm Posts: 8
Im going a different route with my advice, keep your machine clean! Use disposable gloves and change them from step to step.
I had this same issue on my MK4 years ago, and i found out the hard way you MUST clean religiously between steps or you cross contaminate your laps. even your quill if it has gem dust will do this.
My machine is years old and has had tones of stones cut on it, it still looks new as it is cleaned properly after each use and step.
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:37 am
Moderator: Lapidary Arts and Tools
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:41 pm Posts: 5534 Location: Massachusetts, USA
Quote:
I've got some fairly included garnets I can practice with that I should really go back to instead of using my more expensive stuff, but thank you for the offer!
When I hear "Included garnets", I'm scared.
When someone suddenly has a mysterious disaster the first question I ask is "Was the last stone a garnet?" Garnet has a property that has always made it valuable as a sandpaper abrasive, and more recently, the best abrasive for waterjet cutting. Its cutting edges never dull. They conchoidally chip, like flint, and the remaining part of the edge is razor sharp, and they keep doing this till nothing is left. We have used this property in flint for millennia, which allowed us to eat all the mammoths.
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:14 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
I concur with Jon. Flawed Garnets are not a choice as test stones. Quartz, glass, synthetic sapphire are much better choices from the contamination standpoint.
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:40 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:29 pm Posts: 214
When you hear that little tick, tick, tick noise...
STOP! Immediately! Each tick is your stone getting scratched.
You must stop and clean the lap.
I like cutting weird fragile stuff that's full of cracks, and throws chips if you turn the speed above dead slow, so I do this a lot. Usually a finger sweep will remove the chips, unless you're using a soft lap and they get embedded, ugh.
Garnets can act a little weird, but make a lovely stone, hope you've solved your troubles.
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:52 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:46 pm Posts: 149 Location: Tulsa Ok. area
Do you think using a DAWN plastic brush from Dollar General to wash, sweep off water and swaff from 600,1200 and 3000 platted laps would leave pieces of plastic to scratch stones? never can spell swaff da
Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:02 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 2:51 am Posts: 755 Location: South Africa
Sintered bronze diamond laps I clean abrasively with pieces of soft pumice collected from the nearby beach, grinding a chunk with lots of water and rinsing the lap under a running tap afterwards. I suppose one could use it for cleaning electroplated laps too. Copper and Batt laps used with diamond paste are cleaned with paper towel dampened with alcohol or WD40, depending on their being used with water-based or oil-based compound. Composite polishing laps are cleaned similarly with water-dampened paper towel, or just washed under a running tap.
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