|
Post by Roller on Apr 3, 2012 19:06:09 GMT -5
I recently bought a 50 k 3m belt 8" by 3" .. I have used a 3m 8k belt and just love it ! So I broke it in a lil and decided to test run it ..After 8k I went to 50 k with an agate and it started putting scratches on my agate so I went back to 8k and took them out and then I decided to dress the belt and rebreak it in .. I think I didnt break it in fully at first because for a whole minute on another agate it was sparking but once the sparks dissapeared it was polishing my agate beautifully .So next was my mission to try an opal and see if i can hand cab one at 50 k without a dop stick because i dont use them .. I was scratching the opal and it took awhile to get most out but it was satisfactory after awhile but still not perfect .. maybe 100 k will do ? ..next i tried an obsidian which I must say the belt gave a most amazing shine to but also put nasty scracthes into ... After a lil while I figured out a light touch on the same belt would get rid of most of those scratches .. and then beautifully polish .. I guess my question is what else am can you tip me on 50 k belts and above ? or advice do you ahve ? Is it the softer materials i need to watch out for ?
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Apr 3, 2012 22:02:25 GMT -5
Yes Greg. I don't sell 3M but hear the same thing about Eastwind belts. The hard stones look good at 8K and improve a little at 14K and maybe with a loupe at 50K. Soft stones will peak at 8K or 14K and scratch at higher mesh sizes. When I talked to Eastwind they had a long scientific explanation but basically said if it looks great at 14K why not stop there? You could try a leather belt with diamond as the process eliminates the resin and vacuum forming during diamond application. Breaking in helps a lot but according to Eastwind you may never get good results with soft materials on a resin diamond belt.
|
|
|
Post by Roller on Apr 3, 2012 22:32:46 GMT -5
thanks john that pretty much puts things in perspective ..
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Apr 3, 2012 22:48:07 GMT -5
It could be the resin itself causing the scratches. When I first became a DP dealer they had canvas spin on pads in resin treated to use with diamond compound and untreated to use with polish. They dropped the resin treated pads after getting many complaints of putting scratches in opals especially. Why don't you buy a couple of leather belts, 14K and 50K diamond compound and a good pair of sun glasses for preventing blindness from the reflected light/glare?
|
|
|
Post by Roller on Apr 4, 2012 0:13:11 GMT -5
lmao !!! i dunno ima have to think about that .. but honestly I am always concerned with the diamond and contamination being I work inside !!! otherwise when I finally move into a house god- willing I will do alot of stuff differently ..
|
|
|
Post by roy on Apr 4, 2012 9:19:59 GMT -5
greg get the leather belt and the diamond compound it is awesome !
|
|
Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
|
Post by Steve on Apr 7, 2012 11:50:34 GMT -5
I've seen the same thing with my diamond polishing pads that I use for polishing spheres. With softer stones (especially obsidian) the substrate holding the diamonds will lightly scratch the stone. Using leather with a good polish works much better for these rocks. I use scrap leather so it's no big deal to toss and replace if I even suspect contamination.
|
|