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Gem Cutting Abrasives in Grit, Mesh, and Microns

 LAPIDARY AND FACETING EQUIPMENT

Home » Learning Center » Jewelry and Lapidary » Lapidary and Faceting Equipment » Gem Cutting Abrasives in Grit, Mesh, and Microns

by Jeff R. Graham     

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Basically, grit, mesh, and micron are three different ways to measure particle
size. For lapidaries, this is important because particle size de nes the
coarseness of gem cutting abrasives, such as polishes, cutting compounds,
and laps. Pursue Your Passion for
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BY JEFF R. GRAHAM 2 MINUTE READ
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What Do Grit, Mesh, and Micron Mean?

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Grit refers to the size of particles embedded in an abrasive material. The higher the grit, the ner the
abrasive. There are different standards for grit used internationally and by manufacturers. For example,
just because a polish or compound is labeled as 14,000 grit doesn’t mean that all its content is that size. It Morganite Buying Guide
depends on the methods used to make and grade the compound. Some manufacturers use an average
particle size and some use a “nothing larger than” standard, and so on. Read the label or ask the retailer if
you’re not sure of the standard used. Dopping with Wax: Getting Started

Mesh refers to the number of evenly spaced holes in a screen per square inch. This refers to a traditional
technique used to winnow material through a series of screens with increasingly ner mesh sizes. The World’s Largest Emeralds
Particles stopped by a screen of a particular mesh were measured by that mesh number.

A micron is a unit (one 10-6 of a meter) used to measure the size of particles in an abrasive material.
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Shopping Advice for Gem Cutting Abrasives

Gem Cutting FAQ
In the United States, most diamond compounds or powders are sold in grit sizes (50,000, 100,000, etc).
Aluminum oxide and cerium oxide are usually measured in microns.
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In general, the more expensive brands of gem cutting abrasives have better quality control for the sizing Surging, Shows No Signs of Stopping
and grading of their polishes and compounds. You get what you pay for. Beware of very inexpensive
abrasives. They’re usually not graded well. It only takes one piece of grit the wrong size to scratch your
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Grit, Mesh, and Micron Conversion Chart

Some of the grits described in the chart below are not commonly available in gem cutting abrasives for
various reasons. Nonetheless, they’re shown here for conversion purposes. For example, 60,000 grit is  Forum

the conversion for 0.5 microns, but you’ll almost never nd it available. 50,000 grit is commonly used.
Top Topics
Grit (American Mesh Micron  Comments Are these the rarest gems in the world? it's so
Standard) beautiful compared to common stones
5 days ago
100,000 0-0.5 0.25 Very ne and not used often commercially. Mainly for contest cutting or
hobby cutters. Seldom needed. I don't know what kind of stone this is, it looks
like sapphire but the hardness is not right
60,000 0-1 0.5 Seldom used. 50,000 grit is more common and used for polishing
5 days ago
sapphire and other hard materials.

Hello, need help to identify this stone

14,000 0-2 1 This is the standard commercial polish for sapphire, although I
recommend going another step to 50,000. 5 days ago

13,000 1-2 1.5 Seldom used because it’s so close to 14,000. African Gems
1 week ago
9,000 2-3 2.5 Seldom used because it’s so close to 8,000.
Emerald - estimation of price?
8,000 2-4 3 This is my standard pre-polish for sapphire and other hard materials. 2 weeks ago

5,000 2-6 4 Seldom used.

4,500 4-6 5 Seldom used.

2,800 5-10 7 Seldom used. 3,000 is commonly used.

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1,800 6-12 9 Seldom used.
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1,400 8-20 14 Seldom used.

1,200 10-20 15 Seldom used.

1,050 12-25 18 Seldom used.

800 20-30 25 Seldom used.

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600 20-40 30 Commonly used for charging copper laps. I prefer plated laps.

500 30-40 35 Seldom used.

GET INSTANT ACCESS
325 40-50 45 Commonly used for charging copper laps. I prefer plated laps.

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285 50-60 55 Seldom used.
copy of the Gem ID Checklist!
240 60-80 70 Seldom used. 260 is commonly used for charging copper laps. I prefer
plated laps.

225 80-100 90 Commonly used for charging copper laps. I prefer plated laps.

160 100- 110 Seldom used.

120

100 120- 150 Commonly used for charging copper laps. I prefer plated laps.
160

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 About the author

Jeff R. Graham
The late Jeff Graham was a proli c faceter, creator of many
original faceting designs, and the author of several highly-
regarded instructional faceting books such as Gram Faceting
Designs.

All articles by this author

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