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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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