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Information on Polishing Laps we do not sell:

NOTE: We are discontinuing most polishing laps. Check out our super closeouts on laps!

General information on polishing:

Why do some polishing agents work on some stones and not others?  Why do some laps work better than others?  Why isn't this !@>#$% stone polishing?  Why, why, why?

Polishing is one of the challenges in lapidary work that gets even the most experienced faceters scratching their heads.

The explanations below of what each polishing lap can be used for should be taken with a grain of salt.  Although I wouldn't recommend using a ceramic lap for polishing tourmaline or beryl, I know people who get excellent results using this method.  In other words, what works for you may not work for me or the next person.  If you get results that are satisfying, stick with what you are doing unless you enjoy experimentation.

There are two main types of polishes used in faceting: Oxides and Diamonds. The two most common oxide polishes are cerium oxide and aluminum oxide.   Polishing with diamond can be done with 50,000 grit, 100,000 grit, or 200,000 grit.  Overseas commercial cutters usually polish to 14,000, but most hobbyists and custom cutters consider 14,000 to be nothing more than a very fine pre-polish.

For more specific information on polishing, refer to our How-to and Tips section.

BA5T Laps are a new professional polishing lap for faceters who need swift polishing results. These professional laps are manufactured by Jonathan Rolfe. The BA5T Laps quickly produce excellent, flat polished facets for professionals and amateurs with experience using loose diamond on polishing laps. The extra hardness of BA5T Laps helps maintain sharper and flatter facets than is possible with standard tin and tin alloy laps. BA5T Laps are made without toxic lead or cadmium, and the crystal structure of BA5T Laps is such that they do not need to be scored.  For more information on scoring laps check out our How-to & Tips section.

The BA5T Lap offers excellent performance with diamond bort, compound or spray from pre-polish to polish grits. For information on how to charge your lap with diamond, check out our "Charging a Metal Lap with Diamond" page.

BA5T Laps are thicker than BATT laps and are solid metal through and through, so you can use both sides. The massive amount of metal in a BA5T lap serves as a heat sink, so you can run your lap at high speeds. BA5T laps are ideal for polishing medium-hard to hard (up to MOHs 9) stones.

Because of the additional hardness, BA5T Laps are more finicky than standard BATT laps, but the speed at which facets polish with BA5T laps more than compensates. Faceters with experience in polishing with diamond should not have problems with this fantastic lap.

BA5T Laps don't come with plastic sleeving, so we strongly suggest storing your BA5T laps in Lap Containers to protect them from contamination.

 For instructions on how to use BA5T laps, check out the BA5T Lap Webpage.

Cast Iron Laps have long been used by professionals for polishing corundum (ruby & sapphire) and diamonds..  They produce quick polishing results and last forever.

The Diamante Lap, which was originally formlated for cutting diamonds, but is also an excellent polishing lap for corundum. Cast Iron laps must be charged with diamond powder. We recommend 50,000 or 100,000 for a fine polish, but 14,000 can be used for a quick commercial grade polish.

Ceramic Laps are usually reserved for polishing hard stones.  They produce the flattest facets of any lap.  Many competition cutters love ceramic laps for this reason.

Be warned:  people either love Ceramic Laps or they hate them.  . It can take several stones for a Ceramic Lap to break in to the point where it brings trouble-free, or nearly trouble-free polishing. Ceramic Laps must carry the perfect combination of the right amount of diamond and extender.  The biggest problem with Ceramic Laps it it's very easy to get too much diamond on the lap.  Some people dilute Diamond Spray with alcohol to reduce the amount of diamond that is actually delivered when recharging the lap.

For more information on Ceramic Laps, check out our How-to and Tips section.

Copper Laps can be used successfully as a polishing lap with 50,000 grit diamond.  However, other laps can provide sharper facets with less rounding, so we suggest using Copper Laps as a very fine pre-polishing lap.  I've used a Copper Lap with 8,000 grit diamond powder as a pre-polish lap for corundum, topaz and spinel, but they also work well with 3,000 and 14,000 grit. 

Unlike some other polishing laps, Copper Laps break in quickly and hold diamond grit very well. The Raytech Copper Laps are made using a copper plate surface plate bonded to a thicker aluminum backing plate, with an overall thickness of approximately .300 inches.

Fast Laps by Raytech can be used with either diamond or oxide polishes.  Fast Laps are coated with a resin that has small metallic particles embedded in it.  The surface of Fast Laps has microscopic irregularities that perform the same function of scoring.  This helps reduce scratching problems.

Crystalite's Last Laps are made for polishing with diamond. Last Laps have a tough epoxy matrix that resists gouging and wear.  Last Laps must be broken in before they can be used. A 1 carat vial of 50,000 Grit Diamond Slurry is supplied with Last Laps.

Lucite Laps are normally used for oxide polishes.  We don't recommend Lucite Laps for diamonds, because Lucite Laps generate too much heat.  Lucite laps are inexpensive, so if you are on a limited budget, they are a good way to go for polishing with oxides.

Master Laps: Master Laps are used as a base lap for Dyna Discs, Topper laps and Ultralaps. Some machines use a master lap as a base plate for standard laps. Aluminum Master Laps are precision ground flat, so you can use them with thin Ultralaps.		Crystalite Aluminum Master Lap

Phenolic Laps can be charged with diamond or oxide polishes.   Phenolic Laps are slightly more expensive than Lucite Laps, but they produce flatter facets.  If using a Phenolic Lap with diamond polish, be aware that the polishing process can generate quite a bit of heat.

Tin Laps are excellent with oxide polishes, but can also be used with diamond. If you are going to be using diamond, we suggest using the BATT Lap (above).  Tin laps work great with cerium oxide or aluminum oxide and provide a quick and easy polish on stones such as quartz, garnet, tourmaline and beryl.

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