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Diamond paste is a type of polishing compound made from finely ground or powdered diamond particles and some type of liquid, usually water-based. Diamond dust itself is simply a paste without water or other liquid bonding agent. It can come in a syringe for more precise application, or even in a small spray bottle. Some manufacturers produce pasta with grains of different sizes and specific colors. Color coding can make it easy to select the proper grit size for the surface to be polished.
This compound can be used to polish or sharpen a variety of tools and surfaces. Diamond paste is recommended for fine polishing of various metals, including sheet metal and other metal surfaces. In the case of a metal blade, of course, the paste not only polishes the flat surface of the blade, but also precisely sharpens the cutting surface. Diamond paste is suitable for use on ceramic, glass and mineral surfaces. It can also be used to clean surfaces made from the aforementioned materials.
Using diamond paste to sharpen a metal tool is considered the best way to get the sharpest edge possible. When used in this way it can also be called diamond lapping paste, which is available in many different types with different grit sizes. The size of sand is measured in microns, so a one micron diamond paste is a paste with sand particles one micron wide. A micron is equal to one millionth of a meter or 0.00003937 inches. The smaller the grain, the sharper the edge.
Diamond paste can be applied with a polishing cloth. A product called diamond polishing extender liquid can be used to help evenly distribute the paste on the polishing cloth. This, in turn, ensures a more even polish. Diamond paste can also be used with a tool called a strap, although this is less common. A strap is a portable, flat, shovel-like tool made of synthetic material. The strip is flat and even, perhaps with rounded edges. The polishing substance is applied to the blade of a tool and rubbed against the flat surface of the strip.
Materials that are difficult to polish may require a specific type known as polycrystalline diamond paste. This differs from the typical single crystal paste in that the diamond grit particles have a different shape. Monocrystalline sand particles are flatter and have fewer sharp edges, and these edges are longer. Polycrystalline particles are multifaceted and spherical in shape. This simply means that the particles in a polycrystalline paste have more edges.
More cutting edges on the diamond particles create a more abrasive grain than other pastes. Polycrystalline grit diamond paste can be used to clean a surface, followed by monocrystalline grit for a finer polish.