From: "Dwight K. Elvey" 
To: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: "Dwight K. Elvey" 


>From: "Byron Ader" 
>
>
>When do you determine that you have polished for long enough?  I have
>polished for quite some time and see results every time I polish for a half
>hour (I have to re-cut my grooves every half hour).  I am starting with 1/4
>inch grooves by width and depth.  I have read that you should not see any
>hint of a focused beam on the surface. I want to verify that is correct,
>because it is becoming difficult to see it but it is still there.  I have
>had to re-poor my lap about 3 to 4 times and have had to cut grooves so much
>that I have developed techniques for making it easier.  I now am cutting my
>channels out with a peace of tin bent to form a knife that forms a scoop.  I
>bevel the tip and file the edges so that they become sharp and then I attach
>it to the tip of a soldering iron.  I can cut my grooves in about 15-20
>minutes this way (6"inch tool).
>
>I can keep trudging on, but I want this mirror done!  I wont accept less
>than the best that I can possibly make.
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>


Hi
 Make sure you are looking at the glass and not polishing
material that wasn't cleaned off. CeO2 sticks to the glass well if allowed
to sit on it for even a few seconds. Always clean the surface immediately
after removing the lap if you want to do surface inspection.
 I clean mine by spraying water on it as I remove the
lap and then slosh it around with my hand to loosen the stuff that has just
started to stick. I rinse and dry with paper towels. I wipe from the center
out and never use the same surface of the towel again if it wipes over the
edge, where there is generally a buildup of CeO2 and pitch.
 Still, the paper leaves some lint. If it moves, it isn't
a pit.
Dwight

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