These tables are suggestions for use of the various Gearloose lap products.
They are based on experience reports from a wide variety of faceters, from beginners to competition and production cutters, and reported on from the Faceters’ forums online over the years.
All individuals use differing techniques, with variations in lap speed, pressure, wetness, and sweeping rate, so these tables are suggested starting points.
The briefest summary is this:
Following cutting on a #600 lap:
PREPOLISH:
3000 Diamond on BATT™ *OR* 8000 Diamond on Cast Zinc.
POLISH:
QUARTZ: CeO or Chrome Oxide on DARKSIDE™
OR GREENWAY™
Everything from fluorite to sapphire:
BATT™ 60K or 100K Diamond.
In addition, Beryls/Garnets are especially responsive to Chrome Oxide/Darkside™, Peridot and tourmalines are polished exceptionally well with Alumina on Darkside, but have traditionally been done on BATT™ with diamond.
Product Application Charts
Note: Colored elements indicate preferred use
Binary polish / pre-polish combinations use the characteristics of each primary material. Examples are Redwing™ and Dominatrix™
| Product | Common Use | Polish Agent | Ease of Use | MHO Range | Primary Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BATT | Polish or Pre-Polish | Diamond / Oxide | Normal | 4 to 9 | Instructional / Commercial / Hobby |
| BA5T | Polish / Pre-Polish | Diamond | Normal | 5 to 9 | Competition & Production |
| Darkside | Polish | Diamond or Oxide | Easy | 4 to 9 | Instruction / Commercial / Hobby |
| Greenway | Polish | Water / Oxide | Easiest | 3 to 8 | All Commercial & Hobby |
| Cast Zinc | Polish / Pre-Polish | Diamond | Easy | 6 to 9 | All Commercial & Hobby |
| Matrix | Polishing | Diamond or Oxide | Easiest | 5 to 9 | Instruction / Commercial / Hobby |
| DiaMatrix | Polishing | Diamond / Oxide | Easy | 6 to 9 | Competition & Production |
| Twistor | Pre-Polish | Water | Normal | 7 to 9.5 | Commercial / Production |
| LightSide | Polish | Diamond / Oxide | Easiest | 2 to 7 | Instruction / Commercial / Hobby |
| Creamway | Polish | Water / Oxide | Easiest | 4 to 7 | All Commercial & Hobby |
Best Uses
Best results:
Good Results:
Poor Results:
Not Effective:
| Material | BATT | BA5T | Darkside Oxide | Darkside Diamond | Greenway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almandine | |||||
| Andalusite | |||||
| Apatite | |||||
| Beryl | |||||
| Chrysoberyl | |||||
| Corundum | |||||
| Cubic Zirconia | |||||
| Feldspars | |||||
| Fluorite | |||||
| Grossular | |||||
| lolite | |||||
| Opal | |||||
| Peridot | |||||
| Pyrope | |||||
| Quartz | |||||
| Rhodolite | |||||
| Scapolite | |||||
| Spessartine | |||||
| Sphalerite | |||||
| Sphene | |||||
| Spinel | |||||
| Topaz | |||||
| Tourmaline | |||||
| Zircon | |||||
| Zoisite |