Thank you gentlemen, didn't think of bsp
xcvator said:That worked :Y: bsp's
Big day tomorrow, off to Crystal World to get a couple of bits of playdoughrocks, cut some dowell up for dop sticks and try out the https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-10w-trigger-flow-glue-gun_p6290184 ( no expense spared there)
Dihusky said:Polishing is an art formDifferent material will require different compounds, for example: Opal I go from 3k diamond on a soft wheel to Cerium, Agate I go up to 50K diamond on a soft wheel to Cerium, Sapphire cabs I finish on 50k diamond using a 8k diamond prepolish, both off soft wheels. Welcome to "The learning"
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Pat Hogen said:Well, good luck in your cabbing. Be careful of using 80 grit on most of you stones, agate may handle it better than any of the crystalline group. 80 grit tends to rip rather than rub. Start of with your 320 and see hoe that performs. One thing, don't be in a hurry and don't 'push' your stones to get into shape. A little time taken will have greater results.
Dihusky said:There was an interesting article in Facet Talk a few months ago discussing the depth of damage to a stone based on grit size. It was based on Quartz so the figures will vary according to the hardness and brittleness of the material your cutting.
80 grit, damage 2.6mm deep, 180 grit - 0.86mm deep, 220 grit - 0.6mm, 325 grit - 0.3mm, 600 grit - 0.16mm, 1200 grit - 0.07mm, 3000 grit - 0.03mm.
What this means it if you cut with 80 grit then go to 180 grit to remove the 80 grit scratches, you will be cutting to a minimum depth of 3.46mm ( 2.6 + 0.86). This is why you have to select the laps carefully as you have to remove all the damage/pitting & scratches from the previous lap before going finer otherwise you'll be hard pushed to get a really good polish.
You'll enjoy watching the development of your first stone, make sure you have a good magnifier.
LoneWolf said:A piece of 40mm PVC pipe cut in half Horizontally will work...![]()
I haven't forgotten you xcavator....Working on some rocks for you...
LW..