[meteorite-list] wire saw cost (Benefits of the wire overblade?)

[Adam Hupe]

It seems the other half of the equation is being overlooked. Do not forget about 
polishing which is even more important than the cut as far as future 
preservation and appearance are concerned.

It seems a lot of material being offered these days has no polish at all.  Even 
worse is that some are coated with lacquer to hide the saw marks.  The more the 
surface area is reduced through rigorous polishing, the less chance of moisture 
being trapped.  A saw that leaves grooves, be it a wire or radial type, will 
increase loss by as much as 20% if both sides have to be finished afterward.  It 
does no good to cut at .004 when the media drifts side to side creating 
unsightly grooves.  Any material preserved during the cut using an ultra-thin 
blade or wire may be lost in the polishing process.

Best Regards,

Adam