Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:28 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
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.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:59 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Arts and Tools
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:41 pm Posts: 5534 Location: Massachusetts, USA
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.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:40 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
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.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:03 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Arts and Tools
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:41 pm Posts: 5534 Location: Massachusetts, USA
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.)
* Definition: Mother in Law driving off a cliff into the sea. ...In your new Bentley.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:23 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 4:55 am Posts: 237 Location: Vienna, Austria
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.
_________________ To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:03 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Arts and Tools
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:41 pm Posts: 5534 Location: Massachusetts, USA
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.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:34 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
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.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:10 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
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.
This particle retention has the effect of surface hardening the lap.
Post subject: Re: First stone polished with the Matrix lap
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:02 pm
Moderator: Lapidary Diamonds
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:32 pm Posts: 1747 Location: Florida, United States
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:
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