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[djaxon]

I've been cutting and polishing rocks for a while now and have decided to ask for help with my general process. I use a Frantom 10" Combo for slabbing and forming - 80 grit and 200 grit diamond wheels for shaping. Then I move to a home-made machine STADEA Premium Grade Wet 4" Diamond Polishing Pads. Start with 100g, then 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000, 6000 grit velcro backed pads. I've had good luck with most stones and have not bothered to move on to a polishing setup. But I am going to.  Do any of you know of a book or guide that can help me with setting up a polishing station? I got a motor, some pads, polish (various rouges) ZAM, Fabuluster, and some diamond paste - just don't have the know how. Also any advice or opinions on my setup will be greatly appreciated. thanks,

[Jhon P]

no one jumped in to help?  I use the 3" and 4" diamond pads (I all so cut them down to a smaller diameter) for sphere making, so it sounds like your set up works fine. I rarely have any trouble getting a good polish with a 10,000 buff.  for cabbing I use a end lap on one of my machines and I have a home made 12' lap. I use cerium oxide or linda A polish. you should be able to set up an end lap on your motor (I use leather for the buff) or a felt wheel. the problem you will run into is the speed may be to fast for polishing. try looking on the internet for home made lapidary equipment.

[Jhon P]

Here is my home made polisher, small pulley on the motor and large pulley on the arbor to reduce the speed of the polishing lap. The wheel is cut from plywood and padded with closed cell foam and covered with suede leather and I use cerium oxide for the polish on this setup

[Redrummd]

If you are already going to 6000 grit you are at the 1st polish stage so just get a 14,000 NOVA wheel for the final polish.  I cut commercially and use 8,000 and 14,000 NOVA wheels for 90% of my final polishing.  I occasionally go to a Fabulustre and ZAM setup for a final light "dusting" with ZAM or if the diamond isn't giving a polish on some Jade I go to the Fabulstre and then ZAM.

I do a test polish on EVERY stone I use to determine the best "mix" to get the best polish. 

Again for at least 70% of the stone I polish including most Jades and agates - I use "scuff" polishing which is polishing on the 8,000 and 14,000 wheels nearly dry.  I do this with very light pressure especially on stones other than Jade which I polish dry on NOVA wheels at times.

The real trick for "scuff" polishing is getting a VERY, VERY nearly dry wheel for the final polish and develop a feel for the correct drag.  The very slightly damp wheel keeps the stone from hydroplaning on the polishing wheels.  I put a cloth bandaid (BANDAID brand 1 inch FLEXIBLE FABFIC) on the end of both index fingers and keep a bowl of water next to the wheels.  I get the bandaids wet and let them slightly drag on the 8,000 and 14,000 wheels as I am doing the final polish stages.  As the bandaids start to get dryer I use less pressure and faster movement of the stone turning it 90 degrees as fast as I can and then turning it a full 180 degrees every few seconds.  This will get you a mirror polish.

Now, initially you will ruin some stones as you will burn them or get steam blow outs from too much heat caused by too much pressure or too slow in turning.  The stone should never get any warmer than slightly warm if touched to your cheek although Jade can be allowed to get hot but not too hot to be held against your cheek.  You must use the damp bandaids to get this to work.  In fact I have determined that the best bandaids are (BANDAID brand 1 inch FLEXIBLE FABFIC).

I first discovered this when polishing Jade and later found it works on most stone.  There are some stones that it MUST not be used on: 

Copper based stones such as Chrysocolla, Malachite, Shattuckite, Azurite and Gem Silica

Opal

Turquoise

Variscite

[Jhon P]

I agree with micheal. If you use the motor you have make sure you do not exceed the rpm that the nova wheel is rated for!
 I have had wonderstone and some picture jaspers burn if they got too hot.