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 5:58 pm

All times are UTC - 4 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 5:48 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2015 8:41 am
Posts: 153
Location: Germany
j.mcgee_1985 wrote:
I was ordering a couple more dops from graves and saw those, I thought it was worth a shot for 17 dollars so I ordered the multi pack. I also just got my cerium oxide so I'll have to get one of the batt laps too.


If you use oxides I would rather recommend a Matrix than a Batt. I must admit I never used a Batt but I am happy with my Matrix.

Martin


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 2:27 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
I just ordered one from graves, thank you for the recommendation Martin. What grit do you use for pre-polish? The highest I have right now is 800.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:23 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
How do you choose what shape to cut a stone into? I get that you have to take inclusions and original shape and weight into consideration but are there better shapes for certain gem types or does it just depend?
Also how do you choose the correct dop size? The stone should hang over the edge enough to cut the girdle but not so much that the stone can be pulled off while grinding?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 4:14 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2015 8:41 am
Posts: 153
Location: Germany
800 ist too coarse for a pre polish. I do my pre polish on a Zinc+ Lap also from Gearloose and his 8000 diamond stick.

The dop always has to be smaller than what the stone will finally be and as a Newbe count on the stone to become smaller than you thought just by correcting mistakes.

I use wax for doping and super glue after the transfer. I put some wax on the dop I want to transfer then press the stone into it to get the shape into the dop, then lift it again, put some superglue on the wax and lower the stone again. Wait for the glue to settle. Works for me but you will find loads of doping tricks on the net.

Martin


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:16 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2016 8:07 am
Posts: 134
1200 is fine for a prepolish, I go straight from 1200 to the ultralap and it looks great.

Jim


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:41 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
Thank you guys!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 1:42 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
Well I just screwed up my first stone.. Thought I had enough of an over hang from the dop but just like you said Martin I went to do the girdle and its all lining up perfect then I get to the side I thought I had enough on but I didn't. Ground into the dop and it was done from there. I'm soaking it now so I can epoxy it to a smaller dop tonight. Bleh, half the stone looked so good and then it all just got screwed up. I think if I had started the girdle on the side with the least hanging over it might have been ok but since I started on the meatier side I took it up too far. Lesson learned.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:17 pm 
Offline
Platinum Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:10 pm
Posts: 2117
Location: Maryland
Instead of soaking the stone and dop, try just heating the dop up, and the epoxy will loose it's grip and you can pull the stone off. Takes 2 minutes rather than a few hours or overnight.

_________________
Precison Gem
www.precisiongem.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:35 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
I will try that, thank you.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 5:06 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
Do you guys ever order from Graves? I've ordered 3 times the first time I was missing one dop, the second time another dop and my ultra laps and I paid 40 dollars for 2 day shipping on the third that was 5 days ago... Eventually I'll get the laps and those are the only ones I need now but I still need a lot more dops, where do you guys get yours from?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 5:14 am 
Offline
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
Posts: 4015
Location: North Carolina
Do a quick forums search on Graves and you will quickly notice a pattern on peoples' experiences with them the last few years.

_________________
Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 11:36 am 
Offline
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm
Posts: 1747
Location: Florida, United States
j.mcgee_1985 wrote:
Do you guys ever order from Graves? I've ordered 3 times the first time I was missing one dop, the second time another dop and my ultra laps and I paid 40 dollars for 2 day shipping on the third that was 5 days ago... Eventually I'll get the laps and those are the only ones I need now but I still need a lot more dops, where do you guys get yours from?

I wonder if Graves will be around in six months.

_________________
http://adamasfacet.com


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 3:25 am 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
I should have searched before I purchased #-o . Hopefully they stay around long enough for me to get my stuff.. That matrix lap wasn't cheap.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:59 am 
Offline
Gold Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:01 pm
Posts: 1902
Location: Pine City, NY and Dothan, AL
You can get Gearloose products directly from the source, https://gearloose.co/ . Usually ships very quickly.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: polishing
PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:21 pm 
Offline
Valued Contributor

Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:50 pm
Posts: 194
I'll start using them from now on, thank you.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 4 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 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