|
Post by Condor on Dec 15, 2019 20:14:59 GMT -5
I have lately been using aluminum oxide that I bought from the Rock Shed right after the 400F stage but the rocks have not been getting that glassy shine. This is in both the rotory and vibrating tumblers. The length of time is from a couple of weeks on the rotory and a few days on the vibrating. Am I doing something wrong here? Normally I get excellent results.
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 16, 2019 4:42:07 GMT -5
I assume you’re talking about the AO polish. If so it could be the rocks that you’re trying to polish. Some rocks won’t take a shine no matter what you do. Did you try doing a burnishing run to see if that helps? Also, sometimes adding an AO 1000 stage will help as well. You could always also try running them in a corncob dry run to see if that helps.
|
|
fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
|
Post by fishnpinball on Dec 16, 2019 16:52:07 GMT -5
I use 2 grades of ao from the rock shed, 500 and polish. Always seems to do well.
|
|
victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,978
|
Post by victor1941 on Dec 16, 2019 22:05:30 GMT -5
Condor, can you tell us what material you are tumbling. If you are tumbling the same material that you previously tumbled to a high polish you should get the same results each time. I use abrasive/polish products from the Rock Shed and have not had a product problem so I suggest extra steps or this material type does not polish well. I also get different results and have found that some materials will not polish in my UV-18 vibe with the moist method. I have some beautiful pom-pom agate from Needle Peak, Texas that I can't polish because of under-cutting and a lack of even a smooth semi-polish finish. I am going to try a dry vibe and see what happens with this method. If this doesn't work this material will be sprayed with a clear coat finish.
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Dec 17, 2019 17:13:11 GMT -5
I'm tumbling agates that I have bought and or collected from West Texas, and petrified woods, rose quartz, etc. It's strange because for the most part before, they've tumbled and polished quite well. I think I will go to SiC 500, then the aluminum oxide and see what happens.
|
|
Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
|
Post by Benathema on Dec 18, 2019 0:50:23 GMT -5
Have you checked for contamination?
|
|
MommaGem
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 312
|
Post by MommaGem on Dec 18, 2019 9:16:09 GMT -5
When I added another stage with 1000 AO grit before polish - this solved all of my polishing problems. I buy all of my grit and polish from The Rock Shed as well, so it definitely does work
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Dec 18, 2019 19:16:31 GMT -5
Have you checked for contamination? I have separate barrels for each.
|
|