gazingm42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 45
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Post by gazingm42 on Mar 30, 2015 17:35:23 GMT -5
I running low on the aluminum oxide polish I had original purchased along with my tumbler.
Looking at the web there several option of type of polish for step 4. What type are folks using which is best for the average hobbyist?
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 30, 2015 17:41:45 GMT -5
Since step 4 I'm assuming a rotary tumbler. Hard to beat a good grade of aluminum oxide. Must be 3-4 micron or finer for rotary tumbling hard stones. If vibrating tumbler then even finer like .5 micron or finer. Back in the old days, cerium was the standard for any hard stone and most obsidians. If cerium didn't do it then tin oxide. Titanium dioxide works well for hard stones too if you can find it.
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megalotis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2009
Posts: 226
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Post by megalotis on Mar 30, 2015 21:43:06 GMT -5
Another vote for AO. Tin oxide works for many stones, as does CO, but AO is very effective. And not cheap!
That is for hard, highly silicated material. AO doesn't do a darn for marble, however (at least not Picasso marble, at least not in the rotary tumbler).
I have some commercial marble polishing powder coming my way, I'll post results to let everyone know if it's effective on the marble tumbles.
Not to hijack this thread, but maybe my question fits with the subject matter: Point of confusion, for me, at least...I see AO polish advertised at .5 microns, .3 microns, .05 microns, and .03 microns.
Are these all accurate, or are the claims for polish that is 3/100s of a micron an exaggeration?
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gazingm42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 45
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Post by gazingm42 on Apr 1, 2015 12:31:07 GMT -5
Thanks folks... I notieced some of the polish like Tin Oxide were very pricey. I am using harder rocks generally in the 7-8 normally. I have used the AO with good luck. Just want to make sure I was on the right track.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Apr 1, 2015 17:57:08 GMT -5
I simply bought ten pounds of AO and never worried about other stuff. Vibe or rotary. Micron size, meh. Surely it all breaks down finer every day. Admittedly I cannot reproduce the two day polish time in a vibe that some are claiming, and soft stuff, well, it's always a pain, but the world of jasper and agate is almost infinite, so no big.
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Post by washingtonrocks on Apr 1, 2015 20:10:38 GMT -5
Tin Oxide is by far my absolute favorite polish. It's a lot more expensive than AO, but for me, the shine I get from it justifies the extra cost.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 1, 2015 20:13:49 GMT -5
Tn oxide is the best, especially for stones lie obsidian but is darn expensive. For quartz minerals I use inexpensive AO from the Rockshed with wonderful results but I do use a UV-10 vibe for all stages except coarse grind....Mel
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Post by headfullofrocks on Apr 1, 2015 22:27:29 GMT -5
Really funny you should post this as I was almost at that point. I have a rotary and, after talking to a zillion people, have found that AO as stated before is more than adequate for most of the rock and gem material you find. After 3 months of failure in my polishing stage for obsidian, have found that softer stones polish really well with a combination of Borax or pure soap flakes and CO, with just a hint of water.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 1, 2015 22:30:46 GMT -5
Yeah, I've used optical grade cerium oxide with good results but hesitated to mention it due to high cost. I still use it for cabbing but not in the tumbler anymore.....Mel
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Apr 2, 2015 20:03:38 GMT -5
I'm with Sabre52 on this one. you can't beat tin oxide. I would definitely reuse it though.
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