Cast Zinc Lap 6" * discontinued - August 2019

US Made CAST ZINC LAPS! Zinc laps can produce a good polish on a wide range of materials including both hard and soft stones. These versatile laps are relatively easy to use and can be scored with a sharp knife or a hacksaw blade.

Zinc center is harder than Tin alloy laps and produces flat facets quickly on the hardest of colored stones. These versatile laps are useful for hard stones and synthetics. Available in 6 inch diameter only.

Fast prepolish with 8K, cuts with 3K.

A note from the designer:
Tin prices have risen 58% in the last few Quarters. This has of course impacted the prices of all tin laps, everywhere.

While I personally did not care for zinc as a polishing material, many Old Pros still like it and over the years have had me custom-make them. They had become accustomed and proficient with these laps years ago, and preferred them for things like sapphire, as well as some prepolishing.

I did not prefer them for polishing, so never really pursued it. I thought it was "Grabby" and harsh, and difficult to use.

There was no such argument from me about its ability to make fast prepolising with 3000 or 8000 diamond, though. It is more agressive and faster than the tin alloys. The recent Tin Price Crisis forced me to do so, and I have learned a lot, some of which was surprising.

1: It is doubtful if anyone in fact ever used a zinc lap. Pure zinc, .999+, is not a regular item of manufacturing commerce. It is supplied in ball form to manufacturers of alloys. I have been doing business with a lot of metals suppliers for years. There is no such thing as .999 zinc rolled plate.

2: Nearly all zinc in commerce is actually the ZAMAC Alloys, principally Zamac 3 and Zamac 12. (Zinc, Aluminum, Magnesium, And Copper). These alloys have a superplastic range that allows precision, intricate die castings in net shape to +/- .002". Zamac 12 serves as a better sleeve bearing than bronze, and is mechanically very strong. But a lot of aluminum in polishing laps is a bad idea.

These Cast Zinc Laps are not recycled old carburetors and hard drives thrown into a melting pot.

My primary refiners or dealers are US ISO 900x companies. Users have found this special zinc alloy prepolishing lap is VERY fast and aggressive, and that 8K diamond may be a better choice than the usual 3K prepolish. 3K cuts on this lap.

An 8K Diastik™ is now being produced for this lap.

The BATT™ and BA5T™ have become standards in their own right, and will always be manufactured, but the tin price insanity demands that I offer my customers more choices.