Lap compound that gives the best jade shine

[cybr_$hadow]

I've been getting decent cuts with my MK saw but my jade polish looks like it was licked by a cat. I've tried felt and canvas laps with cerium oxide but still not hitting that glassy look I see in shops. Does anybody swear by a certain lap material or compound combo? Is there a go-to method or are we all just chasing rainbows with a buffer?

 

[Jack_Buffer]

Try a Lucite or phenolic lap with 14k diamond paste, then finish with cerium on ultra-suede,that's my go-to for jade, it gets close to that glassy, shop-quality shine

 

[Dorry]

What grit progression are you using before switching to the cerium oxide, could it be the pre-polish stage that's holding you back?

 

[cybr_$hadow]

Appreciate both of these. I haven't tried Lucite or phenolic yet but I'll see if I can get my hands on 1 and give the 14k paste a whirl. As for grit, I've been stopping at 600 before jumping to cerium. Maybe I'm leaving too many scratches behind? What's your go-to pre-polish step for jade?

 

[marziapie]

I've been getting decent cuts with my MK saw but my jade polish looks like it was licked by a cat. I've tried felt and canvas laps with cerium oxide but still not hitting that glassy look I see in shops. Does anybody swear by a certain lap material or compound combo? Is there a go-to method or are we all just chasing rainbows with a buffer?

Oh, I figured that stopping at 600 might be the issue. I usually go up to at least 1200 before hitting it with cerium. I swear that makes a big difference. If you love what you do don't stay there and really, go over the top.

 

[cybr_$hadow]

This explains why my polish has been so disappointing. When you go from 600 to 1200, do you use any steps in between or just make that single jump?