Lapidaryforum.net
Rock Art => Faceted Gems => Topic started by: Arcade on May 13, 2024, 07:41:53 AM
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Hi everyone, I'm new in this forum and quite new in polishing rocks. Until now I've done many cabochons using calcite and other low mohs rocks. Two weeks ago, I bought a lapidary machine in order to create faceted gems. I've started with a quartz creating my first brillant faceted gem (right now, only the pavilion) using at least a 3000 grit lap. The problem arrived when I tried to mirror finish the facets. I used a mix of allumin and chrome oxide (80% Al2O3 and 20% CRO) on several supports (cd rom, back of a lap, alluminum support) and moisturizings such as water and WD40 but the "cream" just disappear in few turns even at low speed and the facet just remain the same.
Can anyone help me use this powder in the correct way?
Many thanks in advance,
Andrea
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Quartz may be the very worst stone for beginning facetors.Since quartz is inexpensive people tend to make a big stone and quartz simply does not like to be polished and gigger surfaces make it much harder. Do some research on the darkside laps for instance. Try searching for faceting quartz on you tube and you may luck into one of the good faceting lap review sites. The modern specialized laps are much better for quartz. Yours is a very old and common problem, many of us have faced it when starting out.Good luck.
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Many thanks for your reply. I've youtubed a thousand of videos but I've never found someone who told: "do this and you'll be satisfied!". Every video I've seen, shows someone who moves the stone left and right. Beeing honest, I started with a quarts because I own several pieces but the truth is I want to facet amethists and with a bit of experience, kunzite and rubies.
With amethists, will I have the same problems of quartz?
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Yes it is quartz. Your lap is the problem.Try Gearloose faceting laps. They have a chart so you can see what works best for quartz.
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Ok, many thanks again.
Have a nice day!