Does anybody know of an Australian supplier for tin laps?
VJ Faceting Machine in the past have been suppling these but they do not have any available anymore.
Gemcuts or Aussie Sapphire also do not carry this item.
Would appreciate feedback. Thanks
https://landfdiamond.com.au/index.php?route=product/category&path=57_62
Hey, L and F sell tin laps. Just copy the link and it will take you to the lap page.
Thanks for that Jason.
These laps have only a thin (1mm) of tin layer though. I would prefer a solid tin disc but if nothing else is available I'll have a go with this one. My current lap has a 5mm backing and it's been quite successful for me. The L&F lap is even a bit thicker at 6mm.
BATT laps which are a tin alloy are harder than pure tin. The older faceting books will suggest tin or tin/lead as a polishing lap, but BATT laps are easily better.
Horst Richter does a very good typemetal lap - he is on facebook as Horst Richter and I have seen a reference to him on AFG, not sure where but he is here somewhere.
Anonymous wrote: BATT laps which are a tin alloy are harder than pure tin. The older faceting books will suggest tin or tin/lead as a polishing lap, but BATT laps are easily better. Currently I'm faceting Labradorite and finding that a pewter lap and the CAT lap from Horst Ricker produce some fine hairline scratches using 50k diamond bort. I'm thinking that both laps are somewhat harder (than tin) and most likely better for harder stones. Had no issues with a tin lap though in the past.
Currently I'm faceting Labradorite and finding that a pewter lap and the CAT lap from Horst Ricker produce some fine hairline scratches using 50k diamond bort. I'm thinking that both laps are somewhat harder (than tin) and most likely better for harder stones. Had no issues with a tin lap though in the past.
Anonymous wrote: Horst Richter does a very good typemetal lap - he is on facebook as Horst Richter and I have seen a reference to him on AFG, not sure where but he is here somewhere.Horst Ricker is in Ruby Vale QLD. I have also spoken to him and he does not produce a tin lap. The typemetal lap is also harder than tin and I'm struggling to get a good polish with it on Labradorite.
That must be the Labradorite stone for this years comp.
I’ve never cut it before and my faceting book is an old Vargas, which suggests tin or tin/lead laps for it.
So, after experimenting with laps and polishing agents, I can get a good polish on a Darkside with Aluminium oxide. Though its very fickle with the amount of polish on the lap and I’ve got the speed down to about 200rpm.
I believe the Darkside is a ceramic lap.
Yes indeed it's the comptition stone for the AFG this year. Although I'm unable to enter this stone myself because I'm part of the organising committee, so just I wanted to met the challenge for its sake.
Thanks everybody for their input. Much appreciated.
Neither Horst's cat lap or the batt lap are type metal. They are babbitt metal and may not have any lead content. With initial use they both need repeat application of diamond. They will both scratch when new with not enough diamond. But once they are working they are fantastic. I only cut harder stones.
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