ATM Polishing Compounds Compared

["Phil Marcus" <pmarcus@wt.net>]

I've been polishing with cerium oxide - the stuff that came
with a Newport kit a couple of years ago.  I've been told
(by Randy at Salem Dist.) that the cerium of that grade is
probably 4-5 microns average.  Since then I have tried a
product they sell called Regepol-90.  It's supposed to be
between 0.7 and 1 micron average - it did create a beautiful
polish after the regular cerium oxide.

I've looked at the photomicrographs in Tex;  obviously the
rouge give the best surface.  I wonder if it is finer than
what I'm getting with the Regepol.  How can I examine the
surfaces to determine which is best?  Does anyone know what
rouge might look like by comparison?