Like all Gearloose laps, the polishing mechanism relies on surface complexity for polish retention, and lubricity for reduced heating and higher polishing efficiency. Some users have gotten three pavilions done before needing to add more diamond. Because the composite contains carbon, it has a natural affinity for diamond, but the hydrophilic domains accept oxide polishes.

USING THE DARKSIDE:

Easy! Be stingy with the polish! For use with diamond polish, you can use a tiny bit of spray compound, or a THIN SPARSE amount of the regular compound, or, with a tissue wipe on a thin film of WD40 or any common oil type extender, then wipe dry. Wipe on a THIN film of diamond powder. Wipe clean once in a while to remove stone dust buildup, and repeat as needed to maintain polishing speed. Slower speeds are used than with a BATT™. Try 200-400 RPM until you get the feel of the lap.

For oxide use, either use it right out of the box with a THIN, dilute slurry of the oxide polish, or, if changing from diamond to oxide for that pesky quartz, wash the lap with a little detergent (409 or Fantastik work well), rinse, and begin polishing. After oxide use, if you want to go back to diamond, rinse the lap, and prepare as above with the oily tissue to "polarize" the lap for diamond.