Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Himesh Patel and by How.com.vn staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Himesh Patel is a Metallurgical Engineer at Mcclelland Laboratories in Reno, Nevada. With over five years of industry and graduate research experience in the raw materials industry, Himesh has extensive knowledge of mining and mineral extraction and recovery methods, mine financing, and the environmental impacts of mining. He received his MS in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Dual Degree in Mineral Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. Himesh is passionate about educating the public about the minerals industry.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Diamond paste may sound luxurious, but it’s a pretty common polishing paste that can be used with a variety of materials, ranging from steel to precious gems. Unlike other polishes, diamond paste is typically packaged in syringes and is color-coded by grit. With an hour or 2 of hard work, you can polish metal, ceramics, opal, and a variety of other surfaces.[1]
Steps
Cover the surface with dots of diamond extender fluid. Check online or visit your local hardware store for diamond extender fluid. Remove the cap and squeeze multiple drops over the surface of your project, like a polishing wheel or piece of steel. Like the name suggests, this product helps your diamond paste finish last longer.[2]- Unless you use diamond polish on a regular basis, you only need a small, 2 fl oz (59 mL) bottle for this.
- If you’re working with precious stones like opals, you may not need to worry about this.
Squeeze a pea-sized amount of diamond paste onto the project. Take your syringe of diamond paste and lightly press the plunger to spread the product around. Don’t squeeze out too much at first—with diamond paste, a little can go a long way! You can always use more if you need it.[3]- When working with diamond paste, you usually start with a coarse paste grit, like 20 to 40 microns. As you buff your project, you’ll eventually transition to finer-grit pastes.
- If you’re working with something really small, like an opal, you may want to use a felt buff tip and a rotary tool to apply the paste.[4]
- For instance, if you’re working with a steel surface, you may want to start with 20 microns and make your way down to 1 micron.[5]
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Rub the paste into the surface with a cloth. Take a cloth and work over the diamond paste in consistent, back and forth motions. Try to cover as much of the surface as possible. Continue buffing until you’ve coated the entire surface with polish.[6]
Wipe down the surface with a baby wipe to remove any residue. Clean off the entire surface until it’s totally free of leftover residue. This helps prevent any contamination when you start to apply other diamond pastes to your project. You may want to have a canister of wipes on hand since you’ll be working with a variety of different pastes.[9]- Baby wipes are great for cleaning up diamond paste residue from any project! You can find them online or at most grocery stores.
Buff a pea-sized amount of a finer-grit diamond paste on the surface. Try to spread the paste around the center of your project, then rub it in with a cloth. Continue buffing the surface until you’ve polished and rubbed the entire surface.[10]- By the time you finish, there shouldn’t be much visible paste on your project.
Clean off any excess with a baby wipe. Take another baby wipe and clear away any leftover residue from the diamond paste. Keep wiping until the surface looks and feels smooth.[11]
Repeat this process with additional finer-grit diamond pastes. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of each new, finer paste onto the surface of your project, then rub it in with a clean cloth. Wipe down the surface with a baby wipe and repeat the process all over again until you’ve used your finest diamond paste.[12]- You’ll probably have to repeat this process at least 3 times.
- For instance, if you’re polishing a section of steel, you may want to use a 20 micron paste, then switch to 7 and 1 micron pastes, respectively.
- Check your diamond paste kit for any further instructions and recommendations regarding specific projects.
Alternative for Buffing Gems
For really small items, like opals, you may want to use a felt buff tip and a rotary tool when you go to polish. Cover the tip with diamond paste, then buff over the surface of the gem at a really low spin speed for about 1 minute. Wipe off the surface with a baby wipe, then switch to a new felt buff tip coated with a finer paste. As a general rule of thumb, polish your gems with 10, 7, 6, 3.5, 2.5, 1.5, 1, and 0.5 micron pastes.[13]
Expert Q&A
Tips
- If your diamond paste comes in a small container instead of a syringe, use a cotton swab to spread it over your project.[14]Thanks
Warnings
- For your own safety, you may want to wear eye glasses and protective gloves whenever you work with diamond paste.Thanks
Things You’ll Need
- Diamond extender fluid
- Plastic gloves
- Diamond paste, multiple grits
- Cloth
- Baby wipes
- Sturdy cloth (optional)
- Rotary tool (optional)
- Felt buff tips (optional)
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about metals, check out our in-depth interview with Himesh Patel.
References
- ↑ https://www.microtonano.com/Micro-Tec-diamond-polishing-paste-metal-ceramics-polishing-cleaning.php
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H3V5_zMZnN4&t=2m59s
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GwEPALtnU&t=4m36s
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hMD0Vt61YRQ&t=3m49s
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SWvOzXF7dBc&t=5m7s
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GwEPALtnU&t=5m1s
- ↑ https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/3447544/06958G_Chapter_4.pdf/a6cda448-291f-491b-bf6f-456322c4e386
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hMD0Vt61YRQ&9m36s
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hMD0Vt61YRQ&t=8m46s
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