This lap was designed for quartz – and especially to alleviate some of the maddening aggravations that polishing quartz can present, especially for beginners.
This lap is recommended for quartz, especially if you have one that’s giving trouble. It will work very well with other gem materials that also polish with cerium – including beryls, feldspars, and even peridot
This lap NOT recommended (will not work) for hard stones like spinel, corundum, or chrysoberyl.
Protip:
The main mistake people make when polishing with oxides is using too much water – which is a catalyst, and should NOT function as (or be used like) a “lubricant” or “coolant” when polishing with oxides. Best results with oxide polishes, including oxide-embedded laps, is to use a fine mist of distilled water over the lap and NOT a drip.
This lap is polymer material that can, with pressure and speed, cause heat to build very rapidly. This can melt your dop wax, or release your CA or even epoxy, causing your stone to shift or even to fall off the dop. Keep one finger in contact with the stone at all times to monitor for heat build-up – and moderate your speed and pressure.
