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Post by gmitch067 on Feb 8, 2019 0:01:57 GMT -5
A YouTube video I saw (The Lapidary Channel “How to use diamond paste to polish cabochons”) details the application of diamond paste on a canvas polishing pad, and creating a better bond between the canvas and diamond paste by first applying the Diamond Extender Fluid (or another brand called “Crystalube”).
Q-1: Is this OK when using material other than canvas… like wool or linen (or in the case of the Diamond Hi-Tech Flat Laps… the Tech-10 or newer Tech-11 polishing pads… not sure if there is a difference between the two…)?
Q-2: Can the Diamond Extender fluid be used as a base medium when mixing your own cerium or diamond pastes (instead of water or oil… or other media?)?
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Post by pauls on Feb 8, 2019 1:56:23 GMT -5
I'm not sure what diamond extender fluid is and my guess is you will never find out, it would be an oil of some sort probably.
A lot of folk in the faceting fraternity use cheap hand cream (sorbolene) mixed with diamond powder on their laps, I use WD40 as my lap oil and swear by it. I have a small bottle of hand cream and 50000 diamond that I am using but wont bother again once it's run out. Another facetor I know uses baby oil, seems to work well and smells like a baby, so good for her.
The felt/ canvas question, just go for it. I have tried just about every polish on every type of buff, some work well with some rocks others are better for other rocks, those difficult to polish rocks I throw everything at until I find something that works.
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Post by gmitch067 on Feb 8, 2019 7:38:56 GMT -5
I'm not sure what diamond extender fluid is and my guess is you will never find out, it would be an oil of some sort probably. A lot of folk in the faceting fraternity use cheap hand cream (sorbolene) mixed with diamond powder on their laps, I use WD40 as my lap oil and swear by it. I have a small bottle of hand cream and 50000 diamond that I am using but wont bother again once it's run out. Another facetor I know uses baby oil, seems to work well and smells like a baby, so good for her. The felt/ canvas question, just go for it. I have tried just about every polish on every type of buff, some work well with some rocks others are better for other rocks, those difficult to polish rocks I throw everything at until I find something that works. Thank you pauls Not sure about oils yet. I understand there are some stones - like opals - which change their qualities (luster or catoyance) when subjected to oils. What about the combo of 50000 diamond powder and hand cream don't you like that would stop their use in the future? I am just starting out with the flat lap and could use some help on this (I have been a hand-cabber for the last 2 years). I also probably need this thread moved into the correct category?? (can someone please advise?) |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Feb 8, 2019 8:59:42 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 8, 2019 9:25:20 GMT -5
Glenn, it's perfectly fine to use the extender fluid on any type of material flat lap that you have. I used the Tech-10 lap that came with my Hi-Tech when I first started cutting opal and used it on Australian opal for a very long time. I've also used it on canvas and felt.
The only thing the extender fluid does is thin out the diamond paste a bit so it is more spreadable over the lap surface. I never had a problem with Aussie opal changing using oil extender. I would not use it with Welo or any other hydrophane opal.
The answer to your second question is probably not, although I've never tried it. If I was making my own diamond "paste" I would use something more like vaseline that has a heavier consistency. You would be adding diamond powder to it and would want that powder to be evenly distributed throughout whatever base you use.
You would not put cerium in oil. I make a small spray bottle of cerium and water to spray on my leather polishing lap for cabs. Shake it up really good and spray it on your lap when you need it.
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Post by gmitch067 on Feb 8, 2019 15:32:23 GMT -5
Glenn, it's perfectly fine to use the extender fluid on any type of material flat lap that you have. I used the Tech-10 lap that came with my Hi-Tech when I first started cutting opal and used it on Australian opal for a very long time. I've also used it on canvas and felt.
The only thing the extender fluid does is thin out the diamond paste a bit so it is more spreadable over the lap surface. I never had a problem with Aussie opal changing using oil extender. I would not use it with Welo or any other hydrophane opal.
The answer to your second question is probably not, although I've never tried it. If I was making my own diamond "paste" I would use something more like vaseline that has a heavier consistency. You would be adding diamond powder to it and would want that powder to be evenly distributed throughout whatever base you use.
You would not put cerium in oil. I make a small spray bottle of cerium and water to spray on my leather polishing lap for cabs. Shake it up really good and spray it on your lap when you need it.
Good info hummingbirdstones . Thank you. Vaseline for diamond cerium/water in small spray bottle for leather lap pad. I am ordering a few 8in leather and a few extra Tech-10 discs so I could dedicate discs to Tin Oxide, Cerium Oxide, and a few for diamond past(s). This should be fun. and... Thank you hummingbirdstones2 for the location. Covington Engineering has a small 2oz for not too much $$. I do not do allot of cabbing... 16oz is way more than I need.  |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,068 
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Post by gemfeller on Feb 8, 2019 16:30:24 GMT -5
Extender fluid for lapidary use is silicone -- not to be confused with silicon or silica though there are chemical relationships with both. The Crystallite product has gone sky-high in price which is probably why Kingsley-North is offering a generic product at much lower cost, though they mistakenly call it "silicon." I use it as described in the video and for carving as well. It simply spreads the diamond compound more evenly and provides lubrication. Medically it's pretty inert, since it's used for breast implants and other surgeries. Here's the Wiki run-down on it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone |
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Post by pauls on Feb 8, 2019 17:20:57 GMT -5
I agree Cerium with water on felt is the stuff for Opal, don't bother trying anything else.
Having said that Tin Oxide works well with Opal too, I get lazy and can't be bothered swapping buffs, but cerium is the go to usually.
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Post by pauls on Feb 8, 2019 17:23:57 GMT -5
So extender fluid is silicon, I wonder how a bit of a spray with silicon lubricant from the hardware store would go.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 8, 2019 17:52:14 GMT -5
So extender fluid is silicon, I wonder how a bit of a spray with silicon lubricant from the hardware store would go. Silicone, not silicon. Vince was just wondering this morning about how the silicone jelly that plumbers use would work. We may try it and find out. |
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Post by pauls on Feb 8, 2019 21:09:38 GMT -5
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xcvator
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2020
Posts: 7
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Post by xcvator on Nov 14, 2021 16:43:11 GMT -5
I know this is an old thread , but I just had a look and there's about 30 different sprays , which 1 to try ? |
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Nov 14, 2021 17:24:15 GMT -5
I use a spray silicone similar to that, It seems to work well, and you only need a tiny amount to get the diamond paste to spread. |
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