{"product_id":"darkside","title":"DARKSIDE™ Composite Faceting Lap","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDARKSIDE™\u003c\/strong\u003e is a forgiving, high-performance composite faceting lap designed for fast polishing with a minimal learning curve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePerformance Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDARKSIDE™ is especially well known for polishing quartz and quartz-family materials with oxide polishes, producing rapid, controlled results with excellent feedback and low heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFast break-in, often on the first stone\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eExcellent control and feel on the stone\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eLow heat and clean, consistent finishes\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMinimal maintenance compared with many traditional laps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCompatible Polishes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDARKSIDE™ works with the full range of Gearloose polishing products. BATTSTIK™ oxide compounds and PANDIMONIUM® diamond compounds can both be used with this lap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCommonly used BATTSTIK™ oxide compounds include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e99+ Hi-Purity Cerium Oxide BATTSTIK™\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAlumina A Oxide BATTSTIK™\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eChrome Oxide BATTSTIK™\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eZirconium Oxide BATTSTIK™\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCleaning \u0026amp; Switching Between Polishes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Many cutters keep separate labeled brushes for each oxide to prevent cross-contamination and maintain clean polishing performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWho It’s For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBeginners seeking a forgiving, easy-to-master polishing lap\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFaceting schools and training programs\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eProduction cutters polishing quartz and similar materials\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAnyone wanting reliable oxide polishing with minimal fuss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gearloose Lapidary","offers":[{"title":"6 inch","offer_id":51868542304578,"sku":"DARKSIDE-6","price":115.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 inch","offer_id":51868542337346,"sku":"DARKSIDE-8","price":159.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/9869\/0882\/files\/20260805_180223.jpg?v=1786058833","url":"https:\/\/gearloose.com\/products\/darkside","provider":"Gearloose Lapidary","version":"1.0","type":"link"}