Tin/Lead Polishing Lap

We are excited to present our favorite polishing laps for sale. We have been polishing with these for the past few years and they provide a great user experience. These are 50/50 tin/lead laps, handmade in small batches in the Netherlands. The manufacturer has inserted a ring of copper and a ring of plastic inside the inner ring of the lap to prevent the tin/lead from being damaged by your faceting machine lock ring.

These laps offer a unique polishing experience.  The blend of tin and lead create a much softer metal than most are probably used to. The softer metal means the lap does a great job at getting scratches out. It also means that it can polishing quartz with diamond power, which is something that most metal laps can't do.  The softer material also means the lap needs scored or it will polish extremely slowly and with poor results. 

Benefits of tin/lead laps

Can polish all types of gem material from quartz to sapphire using diamond powder

Smoother, more consistent surface texture on the facet versus plated

Technical

We are offering one 6" size. 

The laps need scored for optimum polishing speed and quality.

The arbor size is 1/2", which is the typical size for American/Sri Lankan machines.

Setup

We recommend setting this up as a dual band polishing lap. You can see how to do that in this video, along with the scoring process  :

https://youtu.be/jKN9IRVSPws?is=Mrs7TCqReQ9XsljH

WARNING: CONTAINS LEAD

This lap is made from an alloy containing 50% lead. Lead is toxic and may damage fertility, an unborn child, and organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.

Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using the lap. Avoid creating or breathing metal dust. Do not grind, sand, dress, or machine the lap without suitable ventilation and respiratory protection. Wear protective gloves and eye protection when appropriate. Keep away from children and food preparation areas. Clean the work area carefully after use and dispose of lead contaminated waste according to local regulations. Use only as intended for gemstone polishing.