How would you use "Polishing Papers"? - 12 photos

This question came to my mind a short while ago. I'd like to show and give you the many reasons why these Polishing Papers are so extremely important in Diamond Setting.

 Without these particular sheets of paper, you just couldn't achieve the bright surface needed for gemstone setting and the "Bright-Cutting" techniques.

This exercise is "Rated at 8.50 out of 10, on my Difficulty Level." So much to practice!

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What you are seeing are the prefabricated polishing sticks, but with only one layer of paper. In other words, once this paper is worn away, "good-bye" to the stick. Bad move!!

 These three sheets of paper is what my own 'polishing paper' look like before it's being wrapped around the wooden stick.

  

 I have numerous grades of "Emery and Polishing" paper. The paper grades are as follows: Emery @ #240, #600, Medium #600 & #800, Fine-Polishing #1,000 and lastly #1,200 grit.

 There are #400 grit but these are not necessary in my line of work, my emphasis is to have a higher level of Graver texture that is to be used in Bright-Cutting.

 All of my paper wrapped sticks are numbered as I don't want to waste my time looking for that correct paper. It's all written, as seen on the wooden exposed area,

 You can see the 'shiny tips' of the blades, these were made by using a "rubbing" technique on the surface of wooden sticks.

 Here is a photo of #800 'Medium'-grade polishing paper on the bottom of a Flat graver. I rubbed a soft-core pencil lead into the pores of every paper.

 This alone will made that paper change the grit from (for example) #800 to at least #1,000 grit, without any more buying those "in between grades" of papers.

 This simple task of additional 'pencil rubbing' will literally change the #1,200 paper to at least #1,600 grit. The 'rubbing technique' is a very easy method of reducing too many papers at your bench. This is from having 10 papers, you only now need 6-7 papers. Do you agree?

For example, I've prepared a new untouched surface on a paper-stick, you can see just how 'rough' it looks...but wait a minute!

 

Here is my soft-core pencil starting the transformation.

 I've rubbed the soft pencil-core on & into the paper. This Flat graver will give me now a very bright finish to the metal cutting.

 Imagine if I had a #1,600 paper originally, all it took was a few pencil rubbings.

The finished paper rating would be in excess of #2,000 grit.

 There is no other method or technique in making your gravers have that higher lustre of steel. The 'shiny area on the paper' is where the soft-core pencil-rubbing has been used, and has filled in the minute pores of this paper.

 Therefore, the graver is literally sliding on the 'modified paper surface'.

 This the Onglette graver with it's newer enhanced surface. This graver can now be used in "Bright-Cutting" with no effort from me or my steel blade.

 If you want to explore other graver cutting, you need tools that will be easily modified and totally enhanced prior to any metal cutting.

 All of my graver changes were done by me and without any further buying of elaborate and expensive machinery. Basically keeping your costs to a minimum.