When polishing stone or concrete works, picking a suitable diamond polishing pad goes a long way in determining the outcomes. There are choices available in the market, but knowing the determining factors when making the decision can have a high impact on the quality of work done. In this article, we consider some of the important factors such as the type of pads, the grit levels and the use of the specific pads in order to get the ideal polishing pad that you require.
The first step in the selection criteria is knowing the material that the diamond polishing pads will be used on; such as granite, quartz, concrete or marble. The different materials will naturally require different pads specifically made to work with them. For example, a marble polishing pad should be softer because of the material it is used for, while granite polishing grids should be harder due to granite’s properties. So, knowing what material you want also helps you eliminate so many choices and guarantees great results.
Now comes the consideration of the diamond polishing pad's grit level. The earliest slice is like going with a coarse surface for an unfamiliar scope of work, which is sometime between 30 and 50. As the process unfolds and you're faced with a somewhat rough surface, fixing the irregularities will require a pad with a coarse grit. However, if you are set on working with a medium or fine abrasive, you might apply 100 or 200 grit pads afterwards. Understanding how grit levels work is crucial for proper polishing.
And lastly, which material was used for the backing of the pads. Diamond polishing pads are velcro, resin or metal-backed. A velcro backing can be the most desirable as pads can be changed in just a matter of seconds which makes it best for a professional who needs to change pads too often. Resin is better for contoured surfaces though as it is more flexible. And metal usually backs surfaces that get heavy use. Correctly selecting backing material will make your work easier and better in polishing.
Also keep in mind the intended usage of the diamond polishing pad. Honing, grinding, or polishing may require different pads optimized for the particular task. For instance, honing pads would be used to simply improve the surface texture of the material while polishing pads are used to improve the gloss of the surface. This will assist you in determining the recommended pad for the undertaking.
For final remarks, the selection of the proper diamond polishing pad depends on how one interprets the series of material type, grit levels, backing options and finally the applications of the pad. Looking at these factors would ensure that the right decisions are made in accordance with the polishing objectives. In the near future, as the industry transforms, new technology should be expected, bringing advancements to diamond pads allowing them to perform polishing tasks better and faster. Remember to be on the lookout for more recent developments so that you will be able to work on your projects with the best available tools.