January 24 Through February 4—TUCSON, ARIZONA: Annual show
Welcome to the GemologyOnline.com Forum
A non-profit Forum for the exchange of gemological ideas
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:56 am

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:45 am 
Offline
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. [-o<

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?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 3:37 pm 
Offline
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.

Cheers!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 11:37 am 
Offline
Moderator: Lapidary Arts and Tools
User avatar

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.

_________________
https://gearloose.co/


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:14 pm 
Offline
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
User avatar

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.

_________________
http://adamasfacet.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:40 pm 
Offline
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.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:59 pm 
Offline
Gold Member

Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
Posts: 1542
Gearloose wrote:
Quote:
which allowed us to eat all the mammoths.


Yep, those Mammoths were yummmy. Can't find them anymore. Nothing like a good Mammoth steak on the BBQ.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:52 pm 
Offline
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

_________________
Steve Richards
TRMS


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:10 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2016 8:07 am
Posts: 134
Plastic is softer than anything your going to facet so it won't scratch your stone if there is any plastic swarf.

Jim


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Lap Cleaning after cutting? + Issues arising (again)
PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:02 am 
Offline
Gemology Online Veteran
User avatar

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.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Gemology Style ported to phpBB3 by Christian Bullock