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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:07 pm 
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and the Matrix/copper "wing" lap? 8)

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:28 pm 
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This lap needs to be used either stationary or at slow speeds as it uses a slurry, so I don't know how well it would work in a two part cutting/polishing lap.

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:59 pm 
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A polishing lap material has to be a known quantity before it is incorporated into a specialty product...it has to be universally accepted and in general use. A few are out or in transit to testers and some people who prepurchased them because..you know..like the waiting lines for the new Ipad, etc..
They will be selling for the same price as a Darkside Pro, since they are made on the thicker base. In other words, "Not all that much".
As always, it will be released only after enough feedback to mean it's something people want...or better, Need.


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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:40 pm 
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I will be using the Matrix lap to polish some blue Topaz in the next several days. Previously, I have used diamond on BATT to polish Topaz, so I can compare the polishing speeds.

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:03 pm 
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If the Matrix meets or equals the BATT, I will have mixed feelings*.
I like making BATTs, and like them being popular, but I sure do hate buying tin.(3 X the price of copper this year.)

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Mother in Law driving off a cliff into the sea.
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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:46 am 
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Page is up.

http://www.gearloose.com/MATRIX.html


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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:23 pm 
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Jon, the Matrix seems to be quite a specialized product.
How should it replace the Batt with its wide range of uses?
The two Batts I own prepolish/polish nearly everything for me. Sure that obsoletes the need for other laps...
And thats the reason why I would buy them again, even if they were a little expensiv.

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:03 pm 
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Quote:
How should it replace the Batt with its wide range of uses?


I plan for the best and the worst. Neither happens, usually. I am not too worried, because all laps or polishing systems will have those who find them The Answer, and others who find them The Question..
("Why did I buy this?" is the worst one.)

I am not too worried about the BATT. This year to date I have cast more than 2 tons of the stuff. But that's not as good as it sounds, since I had to buy the metal to do it.


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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:34 pm 
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Sphene wrote:
Jon, the Matrix seems to be quite a specialized product.
How should it replace the Batt with its wide range of uses?
The two Batts I own prepolish/polish nearly everything for me. Sure that obsoletes the need for other laps...
And thats the reason why I would buy them again, even if they were a little expensiv.

The Matrix lap, being a ceramic/polymer composite lap, does not replace the BATT or BA5T laps for every application. Every type of lap has comparative advantages and disadvantages based on a cutter's techniques and expectations.

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:37 pm 
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Gearloose wrote:


I beat you by at least a week:
http://adamasfacet.com/matrix.html

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:10 pm 
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I took an close shot of my Matrix lap after polishing two stones with 0 - 0.20 micron explosion process diamond powder. I cleaned this lap after use with detergent and water, then dipped it into an ultrasonic cleaner. The pores in the lap retain some black sub-micron diamond particles.

Image

This particle retention has the effect of surface hardening the lap.

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 Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:02 pm 
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I just finished polishing a 9.00 ct. blue topaz to fit a gold and diamond melee pendant.
This was a "cut to fit, but save weight" order. I polished this stone with 0 - 0.2 micron explosion process diamond on the Matrix lap. This could not have been done easily with a ceramic lap.
Here is a photo of the stone taken with my cell phone:

Image

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