DARKSIDE™ Composite Faceting Lap

DARKSIDE™ is a forgiving, high-performance composite faceting lap designed for fast polishing with a minimal learning curve.

Originally developed to deliver smooth, consistent results without the technique demands of many metal laps, DARKSIDE™ has become a long-time favorite among beginners, faceting schools, and professional production cutters.

Performance Characteristics

DARKSIDE™ is especially well known for polishing quartz and quartz-family materials with oxide polishes, producing rapid, controlled results with excellent feedback and low heat.

• Fast break-in, often on the first stone
• Excellent control and feel on the stone
• Low heat and clean, consistent finishes
• Minimal maintenance compared with many traditional laps

Compatible Polishes

DARKSIDE™ works with the full range of Gearloose polishing products. BATTSTIK™ oxide compounds and PANDIMONIUM® diamond compounds can both be used with this lap.

Commonly used BATTSTIK™ oxide compounds include:

• 99+ Hi-Purity Cerium Oxide BATTSTIK™
• Alumina A Oxide BATTSTIK™
• Chrome Oxide BATTSTIK™
• Zirconium Oxide BATTSTIK™

Cleaning & Switching Between Polishes

To switch between oxides, wash the lap with Dawn® dish soap and warm water, then scrub lightly with a clean, soft scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly before applying a different oxide.

Tip: Many cutters keep separate labeled brushes for each oxide to prevent cross-contamination and maintain clean polishing performance.

To switch from oxide to diamond—for example, a 60K diamond compound—apply a small amount of oil to the lap first. This changes the surface polarity and allows the diamond compound to behave properly on the DARKSIDE™ surface.

To return to oxide polishing, wash the lap again with Dawn® dish soap to remove the oil and diamond residue. Rinse thoroughly before applying the oxide.

Who It’s For

• Beginners seeking a forgiving, easy-to-master polishing lap
• Faceting schools and training programs
• Production cutters polishing quartz and similar materials
• Anyone wanting reliable oxide polishing with minimal fuss