Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jul 11, 2003 21:24:34 GMT -5
Well the Nurse person might be able to help...but I am pretty versed in those ways ;-) I am in the final phase of my polishing of my first baych. I have a Thumblers Model b with lots of rocks in it..mostly mixed. After 3 days of polishing with 4 cups of new plastic pellets....I am having a problem. The only thing that looks even remotly right is the Prarie Agate. The rose quartz, clear quartz and the round smooth river rocks that I picked up look all smooth...but like they are frosted ? does this sound like a mis match of rock hardness or what ?? MOst puzzled in Alabama Dwight P
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Post by docone31 on Jul 17, 2003 21:16:41 GMT -5
You have only been polishing for three days. I have had to do two polish phased for a total of 4 weeks of polish. Keep adding, keep tumbling. I have also had to go back to med polish to eliminate some galling some stones could not shake. Keep adding, keep tumbling.
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Aug 3, 2003 7:41:34 GMT -5
Hey Dwight, I am having about the same problem. After 21 days of final polish, the mixed batch in my model B are still satin finished, and not the high gloss they should be. Yesterday I was at a friends place who also tumbles the same type of rock, flints, jaspers and agates. His finished rocks were beautiful, like a melted glass finish. I think I know why, the final polish I have is an aluminum oxide, the same as my pre-polish, just finer. My friend uses ceranium oxide for final polish. He told me it was a much better polish for these rocks. I am going to try and find some and run them again to see what happens. What are you using for final polish? I'd be interested to know. Talk to you later, Don
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Aug 3, 2003 11:57:41 GMT -5
Whoops ;D I typed ceranium oxide in the last post, when it should have read cerium oxide. Sorry bout that. Don "Cranium oxhead"
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Post by Terry on Aug 5, 2003 16:42:38 GMT -5
WEll I use 600 grit for the third stage.. and then crium oxide for polishing... and never have needed that much in the way of plastiic pellets... I do use sugar in the polishing stage tho. and baking soda in all the other stages... you dont say if you have a separate barrell for polishing... if you dont then this is the problem....
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Aug 5, 2003 17:29:25 GMT -5
Hi Terry, good to see you on the site. I can't speak for dwight, but I do not use a seperate barrel. I spend a lot of time cleaning between stages and seemed to get it cleaned out well. But if come Sunday, if the polish is no good, I'll have to look into a seperate barrel for polish and try again. Thanks for the advice, Don
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Post by docone31 on Aug 5, 2003 20:56:34 GMT -5
Hey fellow tumblers. Seperate bbl for polish. Definately. I do not spend a lot of time scrubbing between grits. I have two small tumblers, and three bbls. The first one I use 60-90 to 220. The second bbl I use pre polish and borax. The third I use aluminum oxide to cerium oxide. Cerium oxide can really bring a shine to tough stones. The crystalline family shines with aluminum oxide, the jaspers, beryls, and corundum shines with cerium oxide. I do polish with aluminum first, with a dual run with the cerium. I sold out my first batch of polished emeralds set in either sterling or 14K gold. What doors have been opened. I have been polishing in the tumbler, then making cabachons from them. I only make a girdle leaving the pavillion intact, which is random. Definately seperate polish bbl. I feel, the other bbls take the stuck grains and sludge them out. I also have been fooling around with fine sandblasting grit. It is definately inexpensive compared to 60-90 grit from lapidary suppliers, but it breaks down fast. Wonderful site, glad others share my love of the stone. Doc
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Aug 6, 2003 8:55:28 GMT -5
Thanks Doc. To my surprise, I peeked in the brl to check the progress this morning after work. Bingo, they are glossing up! I pulled several pieces and cleaned and dryed them. You could make out the shape of the garage light bulb in their reflection, when before it was just a white haze of a reflection after the alum oxide polish. A big inprovement in only 4 days. Hopefully by Sunday, I'll be able to read the wattage and the little G.E. on the bulb reflection. hehe ;D I am going to look into another barrel or so though to make things easier. One of the things that I think might have made polishing so tuff for this load is that many of the pieces are broken slab pieces with flat faces. It seems the flat areas don't get as much contact as the rounded edges. Maybe? Just a guess. On another note, since now I've found cerium oxide to work better with the knappable rock I am tumbling, is there anyone who uses Tin oxide polish? And, is it worth the extra $ compared to Cerium? Thanks again guys, Don
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Post by docone31 on Aug 6, 2003 9:31:33 GMT -5
tin oxide is ok, but I have not noticed a difference tumbling. When I polish a cab, tin oxide can help on some stones, or angles. Otherwise cerium. Another trick I use for stones with a lot of flats. Go on e-bay and get 1/2 lb of rubies and saphires. Either one, they are corundum and rough and round. Mix equal amounts of borax powder with grit, add the corundum stones and tumble away. When putting the stones to be polished, alternate when loading the flats with rounds. Flats tend to stay together and lay parellel with the sides. I get a bunch of tumbles with the rubies, and when I am done, some are gem quality. If I am going to tumble them, and do cycle after cycle, why not use them with other stones as buffer? Doc
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Post by Terry on Aug 8, 2003 13:09:16 GMT -5
As far as barrels go I made my own... even the tumbler... a 10 foot piece oc PVC from the hardware store runs under 12$ and in sizes from 4" to 12" works great... I use the test cap for the ends n they can be used over and over for whichever grit You use.... being unemployed I have to go the cheap but efficient route
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Aug 8, 2003 13:50:43 GMT -5
Geeze, why didnt I think of that...that is so logical.
Dwight P
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Post by Beachcomber on Aug 17, 2003 17:12:03 GMT -5
baking soda eh? I never thought of that... I use Talc for my final stages... im gonna try it though and see how it turns out. Usually I find some beach rocks ( elliminates the first several stages...gotta watch out for salt crystals that will form if your doing any type of geode or conglomerate) then varius grits of quartz.. if you have the patience to crush up quartz into a powder is a good 3rd final stage, then the talc. I'm so glad i found this site I got all sorts of new ideas for my old hobby. ;D
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Sekhmet
off to a rocking start
Rocktumbling fool, It's rocktumbletastic.
Member since September 2003
Posts: 11
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Post by Sekhmet on Sept 25, 2003 10:05:54 GMT -5
I use baking soda or throw a few tums into the first two stages to stop gas build up. I also use sugar in the first polish stage and then cerium oxide for the final polish. Be Well, Sekmet
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Post by Gage on Sept 25, 2003 12:46:33 GMT -5
What is the reason for using sugar. I hear alot of people saying they use it, but have yet to hear why...
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GeoSteve
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2003
Posts: 6
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Post by GeoSteve on Oct 1, 2003 7:21:14 GMT -5
Sugar just thickens up the paste, Try using wallpaper paste too!
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Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 2, 2003 18:28:42 GMT -5
Well after reading all there is about useing one barrell for the polish. I think I will be ordering anather barrell for the polish.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Dec 3, 2003 20:34:46 GMT -5
Smart move.
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