Turning Rough Rocks into Gems!? Testing the Hi Tech Diamond All U Need Machine

[@steveegbert7429]

Ariel, when working the rock, it is a good idea to hold it in one direction, not spinning it around. Just move it in a figure eight pattern but not spinning it. By changing the orientation to sideways or spinning you are introducing more scratches in a cross hatch pattern so now there are twice as many scratches and it takes longer to get them all out. Also, when changing discs, if you remove the screw and push down on one edge, the opposite side will pop up so you can grab it and not have to remove the black guard every time. Good on Hi-Tech for setting you up, I was hoping they would.

[@1eyeclosed1]

Thanks for posting your experience with this Hi-Tech Diamond lap machine. I’ve been using mine for a few years now and can make a few suggestions on what I’ve found that works for me. First of all, I think you may need to use a lot more water flow to help float away the grindings as you go. That made a huge difference for me when I first started using the flat lap. It’s messier but well worth it. I also purchased the small submersible water pump they offer that eliminates the constant refilling of the small white cup. Next, you have to use a higher speed when you are grinding. A higher speed means more revolutions of the disc against your stone. Less time to get things flat and heading to the polished finish you want. Experiment with increasing the flat lap speed to see if you get better, quicker results. Also, a circular, back and forth twisting motion as you hold the stone down on the flat lap disc will ensure even flattening. Don’t forget to move the stone back and forth across the disc as you do this to even the wear on your disc. You will find with more trial & error that you must eliminate all scratches on the stone before going to a finer grit disc. I always enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much for the advice! This is why I love posting my stuff-I get so many helpful tips from you all!

[@beentheredonethat5495]

@@1eyeclosed1 can you tell me how long the discs last? 😊

[@rickkobylinski5516]

@@beentheredonethat5495 Of course, it depends on the amount of usage. I used my 80 grit disc the most to get defects in rough rocks out before tumbling. It was easier to grind or cut the defects out instead of tumbling those rocks in 60-90 grit for a month or two to tumble the defects out. Once the defect was ground out or cut out, in the tumbler it went. I didn't use the finer grit disks as much as the 80 grit disk. I've only had to replace that 80 grit disk recently. Have not had to replace the finer grit wheels at all as of yet. The flat lap machine is probably the best for flattening slabbed cuts and then progressing through the finer grit wheels to final polish. It does a really good job at that. If you cut agates or geodes open and want to display them as a flat, polished show piece, the flat lap will do the job. I purchased an 8" cab machine a couple of months ago and have been using that the most for cabs and pendants where I can easily dome the stones quickly. But I still use my flat lap first after cutting to establish the dead flat bottom. The cab machine has a side flat grinding wheel but I prefer to use my Hi-Tech Diamond flat lap for that.

[@BrockGrimes]

@@AgateAriel Pressure applied also has alot to do with buildup. Lighten the pressure as you move to the finer grits.

[@Rick-if5zb]

Ariel, it is such a joy to watch your videos and hear your voice. You obviously enjoy what you do and enjoy sharing what you find. You're such a joy to watch and might I say you have a stunning smile.

[@CrowManyClouds]

Pro trick: Pick one orientation, say the long axis of the rock, and polish with that orientation until you see a uniform scratch pattern. Then on the next grit rotate the rock and polish the short axis until all of the long axis scratches are gone and only short axis scratches are visible. Keep repeating the orientation switch as you progress through grits.

[@philstover2422]

Yay!!! You are going to love this. You did great!! A tip is to take a sharpie or carpenter pencil and draw lines all over the rock on the first disc. Once the marks are gone, your specimen is flat. The only way to get rid of the scratches is to make the rock flat. One other thing I do is start with an 80 grit Diamond disc, then, 180, then the polishing discs. You do such a great job with your channel and your excitement is awesome. Each week I look 👀 to see if you posted a new video. 🙂

[@Nemnar7]

Love the "its not perfect, but thats ok" approach :)

[@JimFry]

My experiences with flats: 1) The magnetic discs without the center bolt provide an easier full area to rotate the stone face and also change grits quickly, 2) higher speeds always work out better for me, perhaps because the face is gliding more than digging in, 3) each type of stone is different and for some less pressure is better, while for others, more pressure is better, and 4) some stones always undercut, even some "agates" and perfect flawless final results are not always possible (for me). Oh, and 5) always rotate the face, continuously; never stop rotating.

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much for the tips!!

[@seaweld2000]

Loved watching you use that machine for the first time. I’ve always thought about buying one and now I feel that I would be more well equipped to try it myself. Thanks to your video. 🤩

[@KZ-np8fz]

I love rocks and minerals, but the little kitty paws I saw climbing on the table❤❤❤ too cute.

[@rachiemay1201]

Right!!!! ❤

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

Hi- Tech Outstanding Products and Customer Service from our Experience is Just Awesome.

[@sandmaker]

That's a great job, for a first try with a hard stone. Well done!!

[@forg0tten]

I've been collecting rocks for ten or more years. I bought a tumbler about a year ago - its fun but this year I took the workshop course at my local lapidary club and it's amazing what you can do with a cab machine. Now that I can go in there any time I want - I feel no need to tumble anymore.

[@rafgameclips]

never miss a agate ariel uplaodddd!!!

[@Pte1643]

There’s nothing to stop you starting again with it. It’s all a learning curve.

[@AgateAriel]

You got that right!

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

Outstanding Especially For Your First Time. Blessings.

[@Korenscollections]

Decided to jump to your latest video and view backwards to see them all. I think you just needed more time on each layer to make it perfect. 👌 yes, I have now subscribed 😁

[@rachiemay1201]

Welcome to the Agate Ariel Family ❤

[@M4A2Master]

Awesome to see you progressing, learning and getting more toys to play with. Now you can start polishing all kinds of rocks.

[@AgateAriel]

Right!! I already have a bunch I want to do! 😅

[@nickitoff9629]

took me awhile to learn about it too. The surface isn't totally flat yet. You'll get it! Love the video!

[@iw1166]

You can always toot your own horn❣️ you’re awesome🙃. Love your vibrant smile and rocks❤️

[@lasagnahog7695]

Coolio, I appreciate being brought along for the learning.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Congratulations on your new addition to your lapidary shop! Nice learning experience.

[@YYYourchoice-uu9ol]

I thought for sure you were gonna make a smiley face with the polish.

[@CacklingChick]

Definitely shiny! 🥳 POLISH ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨💦

[@Simmermomma]

Thank you so much for posting this! I have tumblers and really want to get a flat lap. I’ve been a little intimidated…. I know I’ll get one eventually and will be using your video as reference.

[@matthewcondon1985]

That was fun! I’d love to see you use this on some small rocks and give them some free hand facets.

[@j54701]

Another great video!! Such a wonderful on camera personality! Keep making videos...

[@rojicomplex9515]

This is so cool! It came out really good, I want to get one of these and try on quartz rocks that I find when I’m on my walks.

[@RyanWeishalla]

Nice. A nice tool for being able to do both flat polishing and being able to get into making cabs. If you find this is something you enjoy doing and will continue to use it, I would suggest getting more of the in-between grit discs. For each disc, you want to get rid of all of the scratches from the previous disc. Over time, you'll get better at telling with scratches you still see are from that disc or a previous. Sometimes it is hard to tell. Lighting from multiple directions can help. I'm farsighted, so have a tough time seeing the scratches even with my glasses. A loop can help, but don't use one with too much magnification as it can cause you to chase scratches you do not need to do.

[@Orangatangerine]

Haha I gave up on flatlapping with my 8 inch flat lap. Takes wayyy too much time and patience. If you really want polished flat surfaces free of scratches a vibrating flat lap is your best bet. (Or a really big flat lap, but those get insanely expensive.) The smaller flat laps are okay for softer material flat lapping and are great for cabbing. A dop stick really lets you roll the stone back and forth in all directions on the flat lap. For half agates, petrified wood and the like a cab machine can get you a polished slightly rounded surface pretty quickly. Not quite a flat surface, but I like the rounded edges. Have fun with the flat lap! Love the videos :)

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

You will see scratches. Before moving onto next Grit-! Scratch’s will uniformity. Then unto the next and so on. It will be one GORGEOUS POLISH WHEN DONE!!!

[@zosothezephead837]

0:34 "Raiders of the Lost Ark" moment 😂

[@Rose_Blue87]

I did glas polishing as a job for a while and in my experience you get a feel for it the more you do it

[@trentenmerrill5239]

You're the best Agate Content creator and Agate picker on this side of the Mississippi... Lol 😂😅😊. I love your videos.

[@Eric_Schon]

The real gems in your videos are your eyes. So expressive and sparkle with your enthusiasm. Your optimism in your videos is comforting. After watching you for quite awhile, this is the video that I hit the subscribe on. Keep up the great work.

[@jamespierce7232]

I use a sharpie. Make a cross hatch pattern over the surface and grind until sharpie is gone. I find this works with every disc. I use alcohol prep pads to clean stone before polishing. Alcohol also removes sharpie. Bigger the surface, the harder it is to grind a flat surface with an inconsistent surface such as an agate. ( host rock, quartz, various minerals). Gently rocking back n forth to put just the slightest curve over your surface speeds up process tremendously

[@greatnorthernviews3052]

Looks good I was thinking about getting one 😊

[@AgateAriel]

You should! It was really fun!

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Amazing video!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

I thought 9:16 was the reveal and I was very disappointed until I realised you were just showing us how it was at the beginning lol

[@bobs-rocks]

Very cool, i would love to have that machine

[@catsdrooltoo]

Beautiful!

[@ChazzleDazzleVideos]

I literally hand polished a stone once isung a block of wppd and some sandpapers going up to 4000 grit and then some of the polishing cloth used for fiber optics. I was bored and snowed in and had nothing really going on so i spent days making a piece of blue tinted quartz all shiny. It was just a little bigger than a marble and took so long to get shiny lol looking back at that i feel kind of like a madman.

[@AgateAriel]

What that is awesome! And takes a lot of patience 😂

[@kylegawron5358]

I wish I had the money for a 6" hi tech lap saw

[@roxannetellini3134]

3:00 I notice you have a pink salt lamp. Those can be dangerous for kitties. Do not let that grey beauty near it.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know!! It’s high up so he can’t reach it!

[@kimdedominicis6893]

That “ brown disc” that you refer to as disc 2 is a 325. There is one that is a 220 that would help to use prior. You can purchase it from hi tech. It’s too bad that they don’t include it as it’s a great one to remove scratches from your trim saw. The 3rd one is a 600 and really won’t remove major scratches that you can see. Next is the 1200 which is prepolish. I recommend purchasing the 3000 which is polish. The last one you used is diamond paste which I don’t love. I also recommend getting toothbrushes and have a dedicated one for each disc and clean after each use with machine and water on. It will lengthen the life of your discs.

[@Jessecefalia]

Nice job😮🎉

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@patprop74]

Sweet, all you need now is a CO2 desktop laser engraver and you ll be all set to make your own personalized Agare decorations...

[@AgateAriel]

Omg yes!!! It’s on my list! Lol

[@gregwright6281]

That machine is awesome! Also, can I borrow about $700 ? 😂 .. jk

[@_Its.Just.Felix_]

I wonder if doing small circles constantly instead of just holding it in place on the plate would help. Also, maybe just having it at a higher speed might also help reduce scratches. I've never used one of those before, but doing small circles helps me reduce ruts and scratches when I use my dremels.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know! I will try that!

[@imafreeamerican7443]

@@AgateAriel another rockhound does figure 8's with the stone being polished. Great results. That method is used in the Fiber Optic cable terminations that I've done. Good video, we have just received ours and we are looking forward to giving it a shot.

[@staceysarian7444]

Nice job

[@arynnoctavia]

My wife and I were waiting for you to notice that the polished side is shaped vaguely like Lake Superior.

[@AgateAriel]

You know what’s so funny, is I didn’t notice it at all until editing the thumbnail and I was like-wait a minute!!

[@JustineeFre]

Talk to agate dad he could probably give you some pointers

[@Ann-snowshoeingonEnceladus]

It turned out perfectly! Any more polishing with the coarser grits might have ground off those beautiful little crystal filled indents (please provide correct terminology for those, if you like) on its surface. Just beautiful!!

[@Ann-snowshoeingonEnceladus]

Shinier is not always better. 😻🪨

[@amberandrews6842]

I want one of these so!!! All my father's lapidary equipment was stolen. I started collecting some more, it's been stolen too ...

[@jimbroekemeier7168]

I would do 4 or 5 stones as a group and move them together through the stages instead of a single rock that would speed things up

[@AgateAriel]

Yes!! That is definitely what I plan to do next time!

[@christianmarshall6250]

One thing I see all the lapidary channels say is that the second grit is the one that takes the longest cuz you're going from diamond to resin. So definitely take your time in stage 2

[@AgateAriel]

Ohh good to know! Thank you!!

[@imafreeamerican7443]

@@AgateAriel I've also seen(not tried myself yet) a marker used to put a grid/spiderweb patten on the surface, run it on the first disc until all gone, go to next disc and do the same. I don't think they did it on the 3rd and definitely not on the 14k final polish. Good luck. I'll let you know how it work for us.

[@captainhornswoggle]

Would you consider doing a series of youtube shorts with a rock advent calendar this Dec? I picked one up for myself this year.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that would be fun! What one did you do?

[@captainhornswoggle]

@@AgateAriel The National Geographic Gemstone one. I've had to put it in the loft, the temptation was too much.

[@bigbjorn7739]

Hi kitty 🐱

[@DavidSmyser]

Love the video!! So how long did you actually use each wheel?? It looked really good!!

[@jackweston7530]

you should keep it as a reminder to inprove

[@kellyvb333]

This is machine polishing not hand polishing technically. I have hand polished stones with water and polishing pads and it takes quite a long time compared to flat lapping which I have also done. Love that you are expanding your techniques though. Tumbling wasn’t for me because I don’t have the patience bud I had great results hand polishing. Still working on my flat lap skills but getting better.

[@SynaestheticSynthesis]

What happens if you put olive oil on the disc instead of water?

[@jiawang1809]

Just asking if you can make a video about where to rockhound

[@kristofwanderer1]

I'm trying to use the discount code but it isn't working... Is it "Agate Ariel"? Are both capitalized? Is there a space or no space, or is there an underscore? LOL I didn't think there'd be so many variables to consider!!

[@suzscully]

Yay!!!

[@zone4garlicfarm]

How long did it take to go through all the steps?

[@AgateAriel]

I honestly can’t remember-maybe 30-45 minutes? But I also had to change camera angles, film, etc!

[@newdonktimes2034]

I say don’t rework the polished one keep it as a reminder as your first one with a new machine. Anyways it looks really good. I might buy one myself sure the tumbler is nice but doing it by hand seems like more fun.

[@AgateAriel]

Right! I really enjoyed it! It’s fun feeling like you are doing it yourself!

[@ChazzleDazzleVideos]

Those small little scratches are from when you are cutting it as the blade moves around slightly and pushing the rock through the blade by hand is not a perfect science. If they are circular like that it is the saw you can get less by having something to attach the rock to that is on a slider or rail so it goes through straight as it can.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh awesome! Thank you for letting me know!

[@beentheredonethat5495]

How long do the discs last?

[@AgateAriel]

I am actually not sure!

[@snakeysdw]

I would really would like to have a Dimond flat lap, but they seem way over priced.

[@sutanmudo88]

😍😍😍

[@michellesimpson2851]

👍👏👍👏👍

[@ROBERTDOLON-dp1yq]

Hi

[@michaelbuchholz2164]

Doesn't look very hi-tech. I would say it looks pretty cheap. 😊

[@DingleBerryschnapps]

Overpriced.

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

You will see scratches. Before moving onto next Grit-! Scratch’s will uniformity. Then unto the next and so on. It will be one GORGEOUS POLISH WHEN DONE!!!