Re: [Re: ATM Polishing/Figuring questions]

["Bill T." <twentiethwave@hotmail.com>]

Doug,

Well, you tried some extended TOT and MOT strokes for polishing.  It's
definitely not standard, but does get the job done quickly, at least in the
early stages.  But it is difficult to apply properly.

I think you've reached a point where you should consider more conservative
"W" stroke polishing, swapping MOT and TOT at intervals of 10 or 20 minutes
max.  Long, unswapped sessions tend to create zones that are really
entrenched.  MOT will create zones in one area,  TOT will create zones in a
roughly complimentary area.  You can finally work the zones out by swapping
the "on top" scheme, but if it took hours for a zone to develop, it will
probably take hours to go rid of it.  By frequently swapping MOT/TOT, you
keep the overall surface closer to a sphere since isolated zones don't have
a chance to really develop.  In the end you wind up with a much better
sphere.

Others' advice about mis-interpreted turned edges are right on.  You
mentioned that you were not yet fully polished.  If the edge is fully
polished, but the zone just inside from the edge is even slightly less than
polished, that almost always creates the impression of a "false" turned
edge.  One of the worst polishing mistake is attacking a turned edge mirage.
If in fact you do have a turned edge, classic, swapped "W" polishing will
finally get rid of it.

Bill T.