meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 164
|
Post by meta7 on Jun 24, 2010 1:38:53 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I am trying to polish various types of quartzes (with and without inclusions) and I would like to hear peoples experiences with Diamond belts beyond 3000 grit. Most belt sequences go: 3000 8000 14,000 50,000 100,000 Assuming that I am working up from 280, 600, 1200 & 3000, is 8000 necessary or can I jump from 3000 to 14000 Is 100,000 necessary? Mostly I am asking about polishing quartzes but I am interested in broader answers as well. Thanks for all of the info!
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Jun 24, 2010 8:57:01 GMT -5
I don't see why not. I go from 3000 to either 14,000 diamond compound or polish compound. I know several pro cutters that go from 8000 belts to polish also. You will likely get many different answers. Your quartz based rocks should look pretty good by 3000. Any variation from there to final polish may be up to individual rock. I can't see where 100,000 would be necessary and don't believe you would see a difference from 50000 without a loupe. The general rule is the more steps the less time per step.
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 24, 2010 10:50:24 GMT -5
A local rock shop that teaches lapidary uses the following sequence: 220 600 1200 14,000 (optional) tin oxide
Of the four cabs I made, only one required the 14,000, and I think that was sodalite.
Chuck
|
|
|
Post by rockmanken on Jun 24, 2010 16:23:12 GMT -5
I go from 60 or 80 to 220, to 325, to 600, to 1200, to 8000, to 14000, to polish on 50,000, Zam, cerium oxide, tin oxide or aluminum oxide(depending on stone). Ken
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Jun 25, 2010 8:29:48 GMT -5
I was hoping at least twenty people would post here so we could see twenty different methods that work.
|
|
drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
|
Post by drjo on Jun 25, 2010 23:05:28 GMT -5
Technically you need 16 wheels so you can have a well worn belt of the same grit right beside the new one. ;D
|
|
meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 164
|
Post by meta7 on Jun 26, 2010 1:52:05 GMT -5
What do the worn belts of the same grit do?
|
|
|
Post by rockmanken on Jun 26, 2010 6:35:56 GMT -5
Help smooth out the sand lines left over from the previous wheel or belt.
|
|
|
Post by jakesrocks on Jun 28, 2010 9:31:38 GMT -5
The worn belt acts much like the old silicon carbide 600 grit belt. The old timers (Me) always saved their worn out 600 belts to use as the pre polish stage. Don
|
|