[ATM] Re: Acculap

[jeff newsom <triolian@earthlink.net>]

  I've got limited experience with this stuff(two mirrors,  a 14.5" and a 12") and would just like to re-iterate what Mark Cowan said, though I haven't used it with a machine just yet.
   The Acculap medium worked fine for the initial polishing(perhaps a bit of surface roughness though other factors may have been involved) but for final figuring the Gugolz 55 produced a much better surface. (Again, other variables were involved ; change of laps , cerium -oxide and so forth thru the polishing /figuring stage) The medium Acculap was supposed to behave more like a cross between Gugolz 55 and 64. It leaned towards the 64. Definitely harder than what I expected. Have some softer version of it which I haven't tried yet. Definitely shatters into finer particles than regular pitch ,becoming very powdery, which makes it easier to put back in the can. One advantage seems to be it's ability to maintain it's shape during storage(on the lap obviously), though this could also be the reason it doesn't parabolize as well( the medium grade that is). Definitely doesn't load like Gugolz. Not sure if that's a plus or minus with my limited experience. One draw back is the lack of ability to alter the mix, either thru cooking it down to harden or soften with some additive.Perhaps not a great concern  for general polishing. Then comes the  question of environmental compatability.
    Overall, seems to have a lot of potential with it's shelf life being a huge plus. A lap that will last up to five years(so says Randy at Salem Distributing) has a lot of appeal,especially with a national economy in serious decline!!!!
     Cheers---Jeff Newsom
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