REVIEW 8-2008 "Wanted to give you an update on my experiences with the BA5T. As you might remember, I was considering entering the USFG Single Stone Competition this year and decided to pick up the BA5T to help give me an edge in polishing (both in terms of quality and flatness). Well, I just got the results back, and I scored high enough to certify at the Master Level. This was my first time entering at any level. Not only that, I placed 3rd worldwide with a score of 99.0979 out of a possible 100 points! The USFG is VERY stringent with regard to polish quality. The judge made specific remarks about the "very flat facets" I was able to achieve. Just wanted to pass this along, in the event you have others who, like me, have wondered just how flat a BA5T can be! Needless to say, I've been very pleased with mine so far, particularly in my commercial work, where 3K on BATT to 100K on BA5T gives me an incredibly quick and consistent polish...." Quoted with permission. Congratulations to Jeff White!

THE BA5T™ Lap. I hear and obey. The BA5T is now available in the 6" size. The "BA5T™" was released at the end of January 2006. They are not intended for the casual user. BA5T™ is a completely different alloy family than the BATT™ alloys (The old alloy, and the 2007 alloy), and has a different "Feel" when polishing. Note the background on this page, a micrograph of BA5T's grain structure. Compare it to the background of the BATT front page. The alloys are completely different in structure. Some have described BA5T's feel in varying ways, such as "Creamy", "Smoother", etc.. These descriptions result from the lower Coefficient of Friction and different Fractal Dimension (Surface complexity of its microstructure) compared to other tin alloys, including BATT™. Initially optimized for 8000 grit sizes and below, they will not be as versatile as the regular BATT™ for the coarser grits. These laps are intended for the experienced BATT™ user who requires a harder-finer-grained lap for HIGH SPEED PRODUCTION POLISHING processes. The very complex alloy, having attendant casting quirks requires a heavy ("Pro-Weight") 2.5 Kg casting, and extra machining steps. This of course allows more resurfacings for a longer service life, but as of January 2008, none have needed to be resurfaced-Possibly due to the slipperiness and higher Brinell Hardness of the alloy. For someone slaving under a stopwatch for a living, they are cheap, but the regular production "BATT™" will always remain the best Price/Performance value for the hobbyist. Product Support: This is a LIMITED PRODUCTION PRODUCT. While there are hundreds of BA5T™ laps in use, remember that at this writing there are many thousands BATT™s in use, so the BA5T™ is a niche product within a specialized market. There are many years of experience in the use of the BATT™ lap, and a substantial experience base of users. The BA5T™, is a product whose users are nearly always production/commercial/professional gemcutters. People who have mastered the use of the BATT™ lap will adapt quickly. They are not for the casual user. Please...Email support questions such as, "I bought a lap-Now teach me how to facet" are not appropriate for this product: If you need such advice, Do Not Buy One. As always, I quickly answer questions that arise, and instantly address warranty issues- Just remember this is a specialized product. Of course the usual BATT™ warranty policy applies, but there have been almost no issues with the BA5T™, probably because of the experienced user base. The less costly and more forgiving BATT™ is easier to learn. People have asked, "Why did you write horrible stuff like the above?" Because as a small innovative business with low overhead and no debt it has always been possible to make and sell affordable products that perform better than many others. (For example, compare the prices of the solid cast BATT™ with the glued-together laminated tin laps made by the Big Guys.) BA5T™ contains silver and other cost drivers that make it impossible for it to be a cheap product. Being an amateur faceter myself, I understand that beginners are having all they can do to buy rough, let alone more and more laps. If someone is starting out, I just do not want to take their money for the BA5T if the regular production BATT™ will do the job for them. Competition cutters want to win, some at any cost. They don't care about a few Dollars. Commercial and Professional cutters know that "cutting tools" are fully tax-deductible and depreciated in one year. Cutting hundreds of stones a year, a BA5T will polish better and faster, and pay for itself quickly. So they don't care what the BA5T™ costs at all..which is, in their case, arguably, "Nothing". Excerpts from Production Cutter's Test Report. First impression upon product release: Thanks to Roger Dery for the disciplined and rigorous testing to qualify this new alloy and the product produced, having tested several formulations under Production conditions.. The *new alloy* seems well machined and appears flatter than the BATT's we currently have in use. The *new alloy* also seems to have a higher hardness than the standard BATT.... In comparison to using a standard BATT [and this was using it's initial charge with 50K] polishing time was reduced considerably. From my first observation I would say that polishing time is lowered by 30% to 40%. After several hundred hours of use and experimentation, it is possible to enhance the time savings to a higher level still.... Please consider that most faceters, especially the hobbyist, would move from 600 grit to a 3K or 8K pre-polish lap prior to attempting the final polish. So my results may be slanted to my particular style. That being for me - time is money. It may be possible with the *new alloy* [for most gem materials with hardness less than 8] to move from the 600 bonded type - or - 1200 sintered/steel/plated type to 50K. ================================================= Ongoing Charge: [felt this was appropriate due to reduced performance from the Initial Charge] Clean with WD40. Wipe down with paper towel to remove any excess. Two drops of Crystalite's Crystalube Extender, spread evenly throughout the lap. Apply less-generous amount of 50K diamond bort, not quite as much as the Initial Charge. Smear as consistently as possible until it there is resistance in wiping fingers over the lap. Apply Norbide stick to lap with speed at about 200rpm. Reverse rotation as well; approximate total Norbide time: 4 minutes. I allowed a small remainder of the charge to stay on the *new alloy* lap. Comments: Working on 2ct. Tourmaline em/cut..... Running the *new alloy* slowly [80 to 100 rpm] we arrived at a polish from 1200 Sintered lap. It required 45-60 seconds per facet - all facets were large. When running the lap fast [600 to 700 rpm] we arrived at a commercially appropriate polish much more quickly [10 to 12 seconds - all facets were relatively large]. After acquiring the commercial polish using the higher speed, we wiped away the ridges of the original [commercially acceptable] polish by going over the same facets slowly [80-100 rpm] with four sweeps of the lap. [By sweep, I am referring to edge of lap to center-nut]. I am certain this is significantly faster than most, if not all of my previous BATT operations. In comparison to using the standard BATT's, polishing time was reduced considerably. I again would estimate that polishing time is lowered by 30% to 40%. To note: I moved from 1200 Crystalite Sintered running at full speed to *new alloy* with 50K. [I know it's unconventional to not use a pre-polish lap]. ================================================= Ongoing Charge (4th, 5th, 6th - using the usual routing shown below): Cleaning with WD40. Wipe down with paper towel to remove any excess. Two drops of Crystalite's Crystalube Extender, spread evenly throughout the lap. Apply generous 50,000 diamond bort, still not quite as much as the Initial Charge. Smear as consistently as possible until there is resistance in wiping fingers over the lap. Apply Norbide stick to lap, speed at about 200rpm, reverse rotation as well. Approximate total Norbide time: 3-4 minutes. Allowed the small remainder of the charge to stay on the lap. Comments: Working on several Tanzanites'. Running the *new alloy* slowly [60 to 100 rpm] we arrived at a polish [small star facets], it took a short time, 4 to 6 swipes [10-15 seconds per facet]. Ran the *new alloy* fast [600 to 700 rpm] for the larger facets, one swipe to prepare the facet - similar to what you would do with a pre-polish lap, then 4 to 6 swipes slowly to finish. Produces a mirror shine reminiscent of Alumina Oxide on Tin. Working on 4ct Tourmaline oval..... Cut facets using the 1200 Sintered lap. Running the *new alloy* fast [600 to 700 rpm] we arrived at a commercially appropriate polish quickly [10 to 12 seconds, usually two swipes]. Then, final finish was acquired by going over the same facets slowly [80-100 rpm] with four sweeps of the lap. This creates a great look. ================================================= ***Performed by my apprentice*** Recut of 5ct Blue Zircon round.... All facets were cut in with 600 Dyna lap. Began pre-polish with 3000 on Copper. 'Orange-peel effect' was visible. Didn't complete the pre-polish. Changed to 50K on *new alloy* lap. Running the lap slow [60-100 rpm] we arrived at an awesome polish [20 to 25 seconds per facet]. No 'orange-peel effect' visible. ***Comments from apprentice*** Not knowing all the particulars regarding the *new alloy* lap, he stated "why would anyone bother with a BATT if they can use one of these". Final thought.... if there's too much WD40 or Extender Lube left on the lap, it reduces how much "drag" is created by the laps normal use. Seems as if the facet "skips" or "hydroplanes" on top of the lap - and therefore little polishing action takes place. There is a fine line of not enough - and - too much lube. I'll be paying closer attention to this because to the new user of the *new alloy*, this could be an area of frustration. ================================================= Comments: We were trying an alternative at this point. We changed from the two-lap process of going from a cutting lap straight to polish. This format included using either a 325, 360 or 600 to cut in the facets, then pre-polish with 8K on a standard BATT lap, then finishing with 50K on the *new alloy*. Have polished: Tanzanite, four Tourmalines, six Rhodolite, two Almandite, three Zircons - majority were over 5ct sizes Began with standard BATT charged with 8,000 mesh as a pre-polish on all the above. Ran the lap medium-fast [300 to 400 rpm] for all the facets, usually one swipe to prepare the facet, sometimes two for larger facets. From time to time I may add more swipes with the 8,000 to 'move a facet' closer to its meet. Running the *new alloy* lap slowly [100 to 150 rpm] we arrive at a polish fairly quickly on small facets - either one or two swipes. For larger facets it is a slightly longer time, 4 to 6 swipes [10-15 seconds per facet]. . Back to the BATT Page. "BA5T is a Trademark used to describe a proprietary polycomponent alloy, principally of tin, which contains alloying metals of low or no toxicity which harden, deoxidize, and stabilize the alloy and establish certain grain structures which are developed by a proprietary annealing and quenching process.