{"product_id":"lortone-stage-3-pre-polish","title":"Lortone Stage 3 Aluminum Oxide Pre-polish - 5 Microns","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTake your stones from smooth to beautifully pre-polished.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou've made it through the grinding stages. Your stones are shaped, rounded and smooth—but they're not ready for the final polish just yet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLortone Step 3 Aluminum Oxide Pre-Polish\u003c\/strong\u003e is the critical step to fully prepare your stones for a brilliant final polish. This high-quality aluminum oxide abrasive is milled to a fine \u003cstrong\u003e5-micron particle size\u003c\/strong\u003e, allowing it to remove the microscopic scratches left behind by the Stage 2 grinding process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLortone specifically formulates this abrasive as a pre-polish for tumbling gemstones and rocks. It creates the smooth, refined surface needed for the final 1-micron Stage 4 polish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Stage 3 Matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most common tumbling mistakes is thinking that Stage 2 is smooth enough to go directly to the final polish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven when your rocks feel incredibly smooth to the touch, they can still contain microscopic scratches that will prevent them from developing that deep, glossy finish you're looking for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage 3 bridges that gap.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e5-micron aluminum oxide\u003c\/strong\u003e gently refines the surface, removing the fine scratches left by the grinding stages and creating a smooth foundation for the final polish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink of it as the difference between sanding a piece of wood smooth and then preparing it for a high-gloss finish. The better the surface preparation, the better the final result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5-micron aluminum oxide\u003c\/strong\u003e abrasive\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDesigned specifically as a \u003cstrong\u003eStage 3 pre-polish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemoves microscopic scratches left by the grinding stages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreates a smoother surface for the final polish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelps stones develop a more uniform, glossy finish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent for most hard rocks and gemstones suitable for rotary tumbling\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse after Stage 2 and before Stage 4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA key step for achieving professional-looking results\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere It Fits in the Lortone 4-Step Process\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage 1:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60\/90 Silicon Carbide – coarse grinding\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage 2:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120\/220 Silicon Carbide – medium\/fine grinding\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage 3:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e5 Micron Aluminum Oxide Pre-Polish\u003c\/strong\u003e – surface refinement\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage 4:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 Micron Aluminum Oxide Polish – final polish\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e5 Micron – What Does That Mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA micron (µm) is one-millionth of a meter. At 5 microns, the aluminum oxide particles are extremely fine—approximately equivalent to a 3,000-grit abrasive as a general comparison.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicron and grit ratings are not directly interchangeable, so the micron specification is the more precise way to describe this product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse Lortone Step 3 only after your stones have successfully completed the previous grinding stages. Thoroughly clean your rocks, barrel and lid before beginning the pre-polish stage to prevent coarse abrasive from contaminating the finer compound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor best results, make sure your barrel is properly filled and your stones have a good balance of rock, water and tumbling media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Stage 3, thoroughly clean the stones and barrel before moving to Stage 4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImportant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Do not allow Stage 3 abrasive to contaminate your final polishing stage. Even a small amount of coarser abrasive can interfere with the final shine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContinue to Stage 4\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce your stones have completed the 5-micron pre-polish, they're ready for \u003cstrong\u003eLortone Step 4 Aluminum Oxide Polish (1 micron)\u003c\/strong\u003e—the final step that brings out the deep, glossy finish you're after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLortone Step 3 Aluminum Oxide Pre-Polish is the step that turns a merely smooth stone into a properly prepared stone ready for the final polish.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lortone","offers":[{"title":"12 ounces","offer_id":48275864289506,"sku":"591-021","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 pounds","offer_id":48275864322274,"sku":"591-022","price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0725\/1758\/3074\/files\/LortoneStage3AluminumOxidepre-polishforgemstonepolishing5microns.png?v=1787886607","url":"https:\/\/thegemstonelab.com\/products\/lortone-stage-3-pre-polish","provider":"The Gemstone Lab","version":"1.0","type":"link"}