It would be nice if we kept to what Horst's laps are actually called. i.e. CAT (Copper, Antimony and Tin) Laps. Yes Babbitt Bearing Metal is comprised of the same metals in published percentages whilst the percentages in the CAT Laps have not be specified.
Horst told me at Casino last year that the laps he made BEFORE Catlaps were babbit metal . I bought two of the babbit laps from him about 15 years ago and they're great for harder stones - one with 14,000 diamond on it and the other with 100,000.
I was pleased last year when the Facetors Guild honoured his service to faceting.
John
Hi Hans I have had a very good finish and polish for Laborodite by using Tin Oxide on a Lucite (perspex) lap. No cats hairs at all. Maybe give that a try and compare the finish, I find much better than 50 K diamond
Thanks for that suggestion, Reg. It is certainly worth a try.
We seem to be able to recommend laps and I will say that some of the best laps available are coming out of Sydney from the workshop of Anthony Fitzgerald. Absolutely superb!
Anthony has ceased production as of September last year. I spoke to him at the October NSW Gemkhana, he is concentrating on cutting professionally.
Yes, last year Anthony did indicate that he will cease production and concentrate on cutting. However, that situation has recently changed a little. While still concentrating on professional cutting he does provide specialised laps. He won’t do typical generic laps that can be sourced from lapidary suppliers.
He has developed laps for harder stones, particularly sapphire. Cast iron for sapphire prepolish is the best I have used. Special Alloy lap for polishing is as good as any. Cast iron, special alloy duos can increase production. He also manufactures sintered laps and the 600 or 800 is a perfect match with 8K cast iron for sapphire. I realise this may appear like and advertisement but myself and others are using these laps.
These last couple of posts should be made another tread. Shouldn’t hijack Hans original post and request.
Sorry , Hans ,
Your request for a tin lap has led this topic astray. Continuing this astrayment (?) , if you can't locate a tin lap for your labradorite, beg, borrow or steal a Matrix lap and use Superfine Cerium Oxide.
I have found this to polish both quartz and labradorite better than my tin lap.
Good luck
While we are on this thread of cutting and polishing Labradorite can we please be a little more specific and stray this thread a bit further, then on reflection I will take it to another post.
I ask about specificity because I get a perfect polish on the "Sunstone from Springsure, Qld, aka Labdorite" finishing with 100k diamond on a BA5T lap with added spritzes of liquid 100k SLS diamond.
Labradorite would have to be one of the easiest materials to polish. 50k diamond in Teflon (Frank Dickson mix) works beautifully on tin, or tin alloy laps. I currently use the "special alloy" from Anthony Fitzgerald, after smoothing on a 1200 sintered bronze lap.
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