tags: #publish links: [[Gemstone Faceting]] created: 2023-08-19 Sat --- # Gemstone Polishing See [[Gemstone Faceting equipment#Polishing laps]] and [[Gemstone Faceting equipment#Polishing grits to use with the polishing lap]] for general info on laps. ## Technique How to apply with sticks: not much! > I generally apply 8 radial swipes with the 3k stik: 4 are full-radius (from hub to edge), 4 are about halfway to the edge (to get more diamond on the larger circumference out there). ## Which laps and grits to use for polishing different stones **Fantastic guide to Gearloose stone-and-lap combos**: https://gearloose.co/product-charts/ ([alt link](https://www.lapidarymart.com/pages/gearloose-lap-application-charts), if down) A guide on combos (especially oxides) and grits, from [here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/503927076607644/permalink/1985659448434392/?mibextid=Nif5oz) (original author of most of this info is unknown): [[Polishing Gems.pdf]] Another guide from [Ernie HawesHawes here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/503927076607644/permalink/1992959054371098/?mibextid=Nif5oz): [[Polishing guide from Ernie Hawes.jpg]] Ultralap + cerium oxide: polish quartz, beryl Ultralap + aluminium oxide: polish tourmaline, garnet [[Zinc Plus lap]]: Pre-polish anything with 8k or 14k diamond. Tin lap + diamond 8k, 50k: pre-polish and polish: garnet, tourmaline, sapphire Gearloose darkside lap: polish quartz with oxide powders Gearloose matrix: polish CZ with 100k diamond All the different kinds of scratches: http://www.thegemdoctor.com/wp/2010/01/is-that-a-scratch/ **Blueprinting** - calibrate platen and laps together, find the high spot on the platen and align with low spot on lap, for extra flatness: https://youtu.be/-3DWqA89jSE?si=TpBjoyMhXu8rQ4mg