SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Aug 30, 2014 17:09:14 GMT -5
I have a bunch of slabettes of BC jade that I'd like to tumble, is it possible to get a polish on this stuff with a vibe? What's the secret?
Thanks for any info!
SirRoxalot
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Post by snowmom on Aug 30, 2014 17:29:53 GMT -5
I want to know the answer to this one too! I am in the process of trying to polish a few very small slabs at the moment, so far the stuff doesn't look as if it will ever polish... will be watching this thread!
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Post by snowmom on Aug 30, 2014 17:30:36 GMT -5
I'd love to see pictures of the slabettes you want to polish, too!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Aug 30, 2014 17:45:59 GMT -5
Tumbling slabs has never worked out well for me. the tumbling action is very hard on slabs and Jade is a softer stone so it will feel a more profound effect. I should think if you were going to tumble it you would want to use plastic pellets to minimize the thrashing it will recieve and not add a lot of material to the tumbler. I think small batches would be best with the majority of the container filled with plastic media to help protect it.
Now, if you were going to use a vibe tumbler, I would say go for it. vibe tumblers are not to hard on jade and I would, regardless if what you tumble it in, recommend that you only use softer materials if you mix with jade or it will disappear on you. I have done jade on the cabbing machine with excellent results and it can undercut if there is different colors mixed together in a slab so you will want to check it frequently too.... like every day. But this is my opinion, and I recommend experimenting to see how it does and keep a log of everything so you can go back over everything to tweak it if necessary.
other than that...... Good Luck!! Post Pics!!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 30, 2014 17:52:28 GMT -5
When tumbling slabs in a vibratory tumbler, you should use a lot of ceramic, like 50%.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2014 21:46:03 GMT -5
BC jade I do not know but Wyoming nephrite can be tumbled with agate and jasper with no problems. There are several different types of BC jade and what I have is much more difficult to polish with the diamond impregnated pads. The edges and ends will polish excellent but the face is difficult. I am not saying that it can not be done because there are some jade people out there that can polish any of it with their own technique that I do not seem to be able to copy.
My guess would be that there will be undercutting or lizard skin but if I was tumbling I would try it to see what happens. Jim
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Sept 1, 2014 16:25:13 GMT -5
Very interesting! This material is decent, and will cut good cabs, but I've only done a couple. They finished up orange peeled and I've got way too much stuff that polishes without any hassles at all to want to figure out the secret. I hear diamond on a hardwood wheel is the method, haven't got around to turning a wheel.
Thanks for the replies!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 17:02:20 GMT -5
Greetings [sirroxalot] About the only polish that works on Jade is Chromium Oxide or Zam & both stain's green. Slabs should polish in a rotary or vibe if you have lots of smalls for surface contact. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) virbrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
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Post by washingtonrocks on Sept 5, 2014 21:22:15 GMT -5
I'm tumbling some jadeite and nephrite at this very moment...First time I've ever tried to tumble jadeite and the first time for either with a vibe. Fingers crossed. They're a combination of slabs and cabochons/preforms so I really don't know what to expect. The nephrite I've tumbled in a rotary turned out 'just ok'...got more of a silky satin finish than a true glassy polish, but I also hurried the process a little. This little guy is really as blue/green as it looks!
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