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Rock Tumbling Hobby :: More Rock Topics and Hobbies :: Creating Cabochons :: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
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AuthorTopic: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium (Read 648 times)
highplainsdrifter
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Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Thread Started on Apr 6, 2009, 12:25pm »
I completed a polishing experiment this weekend using three different polishes. Two of these were new to me. I've tried some of the other oxides and had settled on Super cerium. Here are the details:

The polishes:
1. Super cerium
2. Holy Cow - I'm not sure what this stuff is. It has the consistency of confectioners sugar and doesn't pull on the cab at all.
3. OMG Al oxide - from John at JSGEMS

The material: I wanted to choose something I'm familiar with and cut all the cabs from the same slab. I chose Deschutes picture jasper. It can be a challenging material due the different hardness of the various colored regions. Here is the slab. I switched to a sharpened brass pencil to fit them all on (3 -40x30s; 3 - 30x22s). Note the slab is flipped and at an angle to the 2nd photo:
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The method: I'll use my standard rig and spend equal amounts of time on each wheel per cab. The slab was relatively thin, so these are shallow angle domes. Wheels: preform on Crystalite 40 grit; Shape/dome on Galaxy 80 grit; Sand on Galaxy 220;Nova 220/280/600; Pre-polish on 1200/3000 Nova. For polishing I used rough side leather spin-ons. I mix the polish using distilled water. I've heard the vinegar arguement, but I don't understand the mechanism. I've heard it neutralizes alkaline impurities. However, dissolved alkaline ions, such as carbonate or bicarbonate have a molecular size that is too small to mechanically interfere. I suppose the alkaline impurities could lead to microfoaming at the interface, which could affect heat removal. This is an issue in metal-working. Anyhow, distilled water is alkaline free and provides a good standard.

Judging the results was the hardest part and is purely subjective. My photo setup is meant to eliminate reflections. So I set up a low angle image and judged by eye. Here are the photos, Mushy and my conclusions are at the end.

30x22's: Far left = super cerium; middle = OMG; right = Holy Cow
[image]
Super cerium
[image]
OMG
[image]
Holy Cow
[image]

Here are some images using my standard photo set up.
Super Ceriums
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[image]

OMG
[image]
[image]

Holy Cow
[image]
[image]

My Conclusions: Both Mushy and I ruled out the Holy Cow cabs at the start. The polish was clearly not as good as the oxides at low angles. The difference between the Super cerium and OMG was harder to see. I really felt the Super cerium was the best. It is very hard to tell from the pics I took. However at low angles in the sun the reflections were just a bit better on the cerium cabs. Mushy ruled it a tie between OMG and Super Cerium.
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jeff u
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #1 on Apr 6, 2009, 12:44pm »
That was a lot of work! I have been using Holy Cow for 6 or 7 years now and have not found anything yet that works as well on every stone I hit with it. I am not sure how wet you keep your pad, but I find that with a leather pad, it should be slightly damp. As the pad dries it does pull...it is my "tell" as to when it is doing its best work. The one thing I do that you may not have done in your test is to use white vinegar to wet both the pad and the powder when charging the pad. In conversations with Guy Clark, he said he usually reccomends that if someone is not getting good results with the poilsh using water.

John was nice enough to send em a sample of the OMG and I worked on a set of cabs to test last friday night but did not finish them. I chose to use material from the same piece of a slab, just the next one cut from the main rock. That way there is less chance of a variation in the slab from end to end...Of course the other way would be to polish one half with a, flip the cab around and polish the other half with B, sort of like a shaving razor test!

Jeff
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #2 on Apr 6, 2009, 12:49pm »
Very interesting. Thanks for the post. I've never tried any of these polishes, I use regular cerium oxide. That super stuff is way out of my price range. I'll have to check out the OMG from John when my cerium runs out.
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #3 on Apr 6, 2009, 6:00pm »
HPD:
You are such the scientist! I am glad you gave the blonde interpretation at the end!! In my opion I would think you would get the best result with OMG, because when I look at your cabs that is all I can think! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!

Nothing like a test on cheap old Deschutes that just happened to be laying around!!! LOL!!!!

That was a very well thought out test, thank you for sharing the results with us!
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #4 on Apr 6, 2009, 7:34pm »
Uhhh, I guess I missed something... who's Mushy?
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #5 on Apr 6, 2009, 8:52pm »
I was wondering that too....Who's Mushy?
Man, these are all beautiful and to my untrained eye, I really can't tell much difference. I would be happy with any of those results but you are way out of my league so this test makes since. They are all really beautiful though.
Fran
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #6 on Apr 6, 2009, 9:23pm »
Thanks for taking the time to document your testing. Very informative. It will help many.

And the cabs ain't half bad either! ;)

Every tried it on Opal?

Dr Joe

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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #7 on Apr 7, 2009, 12:19pm »
Mushy is my wife. That is her screen name on here. If you can guess where she got that name, I'll send you one of these cabs.

I haven't tried any of these polishes on opal. In fact, I haven't cabbed any opal yet. I do have some nice BO, I just need to break it out and work it.
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #8 on Apr 7, 2009, 12:42pm »
Ok I will make 1,000 guesses until I get it!

I think it is because you are so scientific, her brain turns to mush trying to follow you? Sort of like Tony's engineer talk, I get sort of glassy eyed and glazed over! :)

I am thinking that Mrs. HPD must be equally as smart as you though!!!

I will keep thinking!!!!
LOL
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #9 on Apr 7, 2009, 1:44pm »
Thanks for the testing and information. This confirms my commitment to continue using regular cerium Oxide on nearly everything including my Opal cabs.
Bob
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highplainsdrifter
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #10 on Apr 7, 2009, 2:48pm »

Apr 7, 2009, 12:42pm, Bejewelme wrote:
Ok I will make 1,000 guesses until I get it!

I think it is because you are so scientific, her brain turns to mush trying to follow you? Sort of like Tony's engineer talk, I get sort of glassy eyed and glazed over! :)

I am thinking that Mrs. HPD must be equally as smart as you though!!!

I will keep thinking!!!!
LOL
It is related to my screen name in a distant way..
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #11 on Apr 7, 2009, 3:05pm »
I'm guessing "Mushy" has to do with sleds and dogs. :)

I'm leaning towards the Super Cerium, myself. But both that and the OMG look awesome.
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #12 on Apr 7, 2009, 3:25pm »
Ok, Guess #2, I have a hard time believing you could possibly be a Beatie Boys fan, but they did a song High Plains Drifter, here is an excerpt!

"Check the odometer and I was on my way
Cause I'm a high plains drifter the best that you can get
A strapped shoplifter a pirate on cassette
Bust a Travis Bickle when I feel that I'm getting pushed
Don't step to me or you're gonna get mushed
Doing 120 plowing over mail boxes
Radar detector to tell me where the cops is
Spend another night at the Motel 6
It's five dollars extra get the porno flicks
Concoct a black and tan in my brandy snifter
I'm a kleptomaniac K-Mart shoplifter"

LOL!!!!
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #13 on Apr 7, 2009, 3:28pm »
Guess #3~~!

James Murdock played Mushy Mushgrove on 204 episodes of Rawhide, which also starred Clint Eastwood, the original HPD!!! Nothing is more fun than screwing off at work trying to win a cab, LOL!!!!!
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highplainsdrifter
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Re: Polishing experiment:OMG,Holy Cow,Super cerium
« Reply #14 on Apr 7, 2009, 6:20pm »

Apr 7, 2009, 3:28pm, Bejewelme wrote:
Guess #3~~!

James Murdock played Mushy Mushgrove on 204 episodes of Rawhide, which also starred Clint Eastwood, the original HPD!!! Nothing is more fun than screwing off at work trying to win a cab, LOL!!!!!


You got it! I'm impressed. He was a good character.
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