herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Jul 28, 2023 16:29:48 GMT -5
So as part of a large collection I bought years ago, there were various containers of grit, polish, etc. One box contains some unlabeled mystery powders and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to identify them. The person I got this from did both lapidary work (cabs, faceting, etc) and silver smithing. One is in a large plastic container that weighs about 10.5 LB. It is from Raytech, but unfortunately the label that had what the contents are hand written on it has faded. If this was on an episode of CSI, I am sure they would easily be able to decipher the label based on the positions of the dots where the sharpie paused while writing, but alas, I do not have those skills. At first I thought it was a lifetime supply of Tin Oxide, but when I rub what I know is tin oxide between my fingers it feels smooth and this mystery powder doesn't feel that way. It feels very similar to what baking soda feels like. I put some in vinegar but no reaction. It also doesn't seem to dissolve in water, you can see that the tiny particles are just suspended in the water. Anyone have ideas of what a big bucket of white powder that you might use in smithing, faceting, or other lapidary work might be? In the same box is another plastic container that doesn't have a Raytech label, but has "38854" on a piece of masking tape. I'm wondering if that is a Raytech product number? Anyone have old Raytech catalogues from the late 1980s to early 1990s? This white powder is smooth between my fingers like Tin Oxide, so I'm thinking that might be what it is. I was going to try comparing its density to what I know is tin oxide. IMG_1443 by Shiny Objects, on Flickr IMG_1447a by Shiny Objects, on Flickr IMG_1451 by Shiny Objects, on Flickr
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Post by Pat on Jul 28, 2023 16:54:17 GMT -5
I don’t know. I’d call Raytech. Good luck!
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,741
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Post by Mark K on Jul 28, 2023 17:19:20 GMT -5
fentanyl
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Jul 28, 2023 20:43:19 GMT -5
Looks like aluminum oxide.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 28, 2023 22:20:13 GMT -5
Hunter would know.
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Jul 28, 2023 23:44:11 GMT -5
Hunter would know. 😂🤣
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Jul 30, 2023 19:46:46 GMT -5
Looks like aluminum oxide. Yes, it sure looks like aluminum oxide, but it feels courser when rubbing it between my fingers. I tried comparing its weight to what I know is aluminum oxide. Packed a small Dixie cup of each and the weights were 108.8g for aluminum oxide and 110g for the mystery powder which is probably within the margin of error for how I measured
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allbetzoff
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 77
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Post by allbetzoff on Jul 31, 2023 10:34:45 GMT -5
Your post got me thinking…and googling. What can one do to read a faded label without going to CSI school?
Here are the two unsolicited internet suggestions that seem most relevant to your situation: 1) Try looking at it with a UV light( Long or short wave? No clue). Some inks and/or paper may be fluorescent, allowing you to read the label. 2) Try taking a picture and using your photo editor to mess with the contrast, color, brightness, etc. You may be able to darken that faded ink enough to see what it says.
Admittedly, it looks like you already solved the mystery with context clues and the rubbing between the fingers trick…but I couldn’t help myself. Monday morning procrastination? Maybe.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 31, 2023 14:33:24 GMT -5
Raytech's polishing compounds started with a "37" prefix i.e. 37-031 (1lb tin oxide), 37-012 (1lb Raybrite A). Their polishing and finishing discs began with the "38" prefix i.e. 38-015 (6" felt disc), 38-022 (6"x1-1/2" leather belt).
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 31, 2023 14:44:56 GMT -5
As for the large container with the faded label, if when mixed with water the powder tends to settle to the bottom of the contianer fairly quickly when undisturbed then it may be Raybrite"A", or Raybrite "B", or Raybrite TL. All are Aluminum Oxide, just in differing microns.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Aug 1, 2023 14:57:01 GMT -5
I wondered if UV light would help. Unfortunately I don't own a UV light, so it will have to wait until I can borrow one. I did try playing with a high resolution picture in photoshop. I tried all sorts of things, but nothing really stood out. Seemed like I could see some hints of what might be pen strokes, but they were so subtle that it could just be me seeing patterns in random noise! Your post got me thinking…and googling. What can one do to read a faded label without going to CSI school? Here are the two unsolicited internet suggestions that seem most relevant to your situation: 1) Try looking at it with a UV light( Long or short wave? No clue). Some inks and/or paper may be fluorescent, allowing you to read the label. 2) Try taking a picture and using your photo editor to mess with the contrast, color, brightness, etc. You may be able to darken that faded ink enough to see what it says. Admittedly, it looks like you already solved the mystery with context clues and the rubbing between the fingers trick…but I couldn’t help myself. Monday morning procrastination? Maybe.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Aug 1, 2023 15:03:37 GMT -5
Raytech's polishing compounds started with a "37" prefix i.e. 37-031 (1lb tin oxide), 37-012 (1lb Raybrite A). Their polishing and finishing discs began with the "38" prefix i.e. 38-015 (6" felt disc), 38-022 (6"x1-1/2" leather belt). Bummer! I was hoping I'd get lucky and have the number match. This container is from the late 1980's or early 1990's so maybe Raytech changed there numbering scheme sometime? I will be running a couple of batches of rocks thru my lotto tumbler in the next couple of weeks. I will try using the big mystery container and the smaller mystery container for the polish stage of different batches and see what happens.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Aug 1, 2023 15:27:59 GMT -5
As for the large container with the faded label, if when mixed with water the powder tends to settle to the bottom of the contianer fairly quickly when undisturbed then it may be Raybrite"A", or Raybrite "B", or Raybrite TL. All are Aluminum Oxide, just in differing microns. I put some in a jar of water and gave it a good shake. I could quickly see most of the powder I put in settling at the bottom of the jar, but the water also remained cloudy for 15 minutes with no signs of clearing up before I dumped it.
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Post by Mel on Aug 19, 2023 14:54:12 GMT -5
So as part of a large collection I bought years ago, there were various containers of grit, polish, etc. One box contains some unlabeled mystery powders and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to identify them. The person I got this from did both lapidary work (cabs, faceting, etc) and silver smithing. One is in a large plastic container that weighs about 10.5 LB. It is from Raytech, but unfortunately the label that had what the contents are hand written on it has faded. If this was on an episode of CSI, I am sure they would easily be able to decipher the label based on the positions of the dots where the sharpie paused while writing, but alas, I do not have those skills. At first I thought it was a lifetime supply of Tin Oxide, but when I rub what I know is tin oxide between my fingers it feels smooth and this mystery powder doesn't feel that way. It feels very similar to what baking soda feels like. I put some in vinegar but no reaction. It also doesn't seem to dissolve in water, you can see that the tiny particles are just suspended in the water. Anyone have ideas of what a big bucket of white powder that you might use in smithing, faceting, or other lapidary work might be? In the same box is another plastic container that doesn't have a Raytech label, but has "38854" on a piece of masking tape. I'm wondering if that is a Raytech product number? Anyone have old Raytech catalogues from the late 1980s to early 1990s? This white powder is smooth between my fingers like Tin Oxide, so I'm thinking that might be what it is. I was going to try comparing its density to what I know is tin oxide. I have a couple jars of Raytech stuff in my rock shop; one is a really fine micro alumina called "Raybrite TL", but it's almost pure white and very fine (.5 micron IIRC) aluminum oxide. They also make a pre-polish that's kind of gray in color but I can't remember what it's called; I seem to recall someone telling me their pre-polish is Turkish something or other. I'll see if I can dig it up, because it is amazing stuff. Maybe that's it? Now you've got me wondering too! edit: Found it. Turkish Emery. They also have another polish called Iolox50 (or Lolox? Tough to read). Searching on the forums will bring it up.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Aug 20, 2023 9:25:43 GMT -5
So as part of a large collection I bought years ago, there were various containers of grit, polish, etc. One box contains some unlabeled mystery powders and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to identify them. The person I got this from did both lapidary work (cabs, faceting, etc) and silver smithing. One is in a large plastic container that weighs about 10.5 LB. It is from Raytech, but unfortunately the label that had what the contents are hand written on it has faded. If this was on an episode of CSI, I am sure they would easily be able to decipher the label based on the positions of the dots where the sharpie paused while writing, but alas, I do not have those skills. At first I thought it was a lifetime supply of Tin Oxide, but when I rub what I know is tin oxide between my fingers it feels smooth and this mystery powder doesn't feel that way. It feels very similar to what baking soda feels like. I put some in vinegar but no reaction. It also doesn't seem to dissolve in water, you can see that the tiny particles are just suspended in the water. Anyone have ideas of what a big bucket of white powder that you might use in smithing, faceting, or other lapidary work might be? In the same box is another plastic container that doesn't have a Raytech label, but has "38854" on a piece of masking tape. I'm wondering if that is a Raytech product number? Anyone have old Raytech catalogues from the late 1980s to early 1990s? This white powder is smooth between my fingers like Tin Oxide, so I'm thinking that might be what it is. I was going to try comparing its density to what I know is tin oxide. I have a couple jars of Raytech stuff in my rock shop; one is a really fine micro alumina called "Raybrite TL", but it's almost pure white and very fine (.5 micron IIRC) aluminum oxide. They also make a pre-polish that's kind of gray in color but I can't remember what it's called; I seem to recall someone telling me their pre-polish is Turkish something or other. I'll see if I can dig it up, because it is amazing stuff. Maybe that's it? Now you've got me wondering too! edit: Found it. Turkish Emery. They also have another polish called Iolox50 (or Lolox? Tough to read). Searching on the forums will bring it up. Thanks for the info! For your Raybrite TL, how does it feel when you rub some between your fingers. My mystery powder feels not smooth, I more like baking soda, than what my tin oxide powder feels like. Your mentioning Iolox 50 reminds me I have a container of that somewhere! Just did some google searching. Apparently it is a pre polish. I hope to be able to try out my mystery powder as a polish next week. I have a feeling it isn't a polish, but the only way to know is to try it
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Post by Mel on Aug 20, 2023 11:05:31 GMT -5
I found the Raybrite stuff absolutely amazing as a polish but nobody I could find would confirm 110% what it was, not even the vendor who sold it to me (he made some educated guesses).
I will give it a feel and report back!
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Post by Mel on Aug 24, 2023 20:06:07 GMT -5
After looking at my Raybrite stuff, the Iolox is kind of gray and powdery. The TL is really fine white powder, similar to baking soda so I think that’s what your mystery container may be!
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 465
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Post by herb on Aug 25, 2023 12:14:36 GMT -5
After looking at my Raybrite stuff, the Iolox is kind of gray and powdery. The TL is really fine white powder, similar to baking soda so I think that’s what your mystery container may be! That is encouraging to hear! Hopefully will be able to try my mystery powder as a polish next week. I'm surprised anyone would buy a 10 pound container of polish though! A little goes a long way.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
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Post by realrockhound on Aug 25, 2023 14:15:10 GMT -5
Good ol’ columbian yayo, baby!
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Post by Mel on Aug 26, 2023 13:16:19 GMT -5
After looking at my Raybrite stuff, the Iolox is kind of gray and powdery. The TL is really fine white powder, similar to baking soda so I think that’s what your mystery container may be! That is encouraging to hear! Hopefully will be able to try my mystery powder as a polish next week. I'm surprised anyone would buy a 10 pound container of polish though! A little goes a long way. I'm that kind of person; lapidary supplies are hard to find around me and expensive to ship so I buy in bulk to justify the shipping cost. Perhaps the person was doing lapidary work as a business, that might explain it too.
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