hurk
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 37
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JADE
May 20, 2003 14:40:38 GMT -5
Post by hurk on May 20, 2003 14:40:38 GMT -5
I have been given several slabs of jade measuring 6'x6'x2'... nice and clean.... any of you tumblers out there have any ideas what one can do with it before polishing ...seems a shame to just to break it up with a hammer... have any of you out there tried to cut stone into specific shapes and then tumble? any input would be be a help thanks HURK
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mudd1973
starting to shine!
new member of Culver City Rock and Mineral Club
Member since May 2003
Posts: 33
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JADE
May 26, 2003 19:16:04 GMT -5
Post by mudd1973 on May 26, 2003 19:16:04 GMT -5
Hi again Hurk, Yes, you can shape stone before tumbling it. It would be a waste to just crack up nice slabs of jade. You would need to use a diamond-blade saw to cut strips and you could use a water-cooled grinder to further shape the pieces. If you haven't already found a rock and mineral club near you to join, search on-line. I've joined the Culver City Rock and Mineral Club which has a workshop with almost anything you need to finish stones: saws, grinders, polishers, etc. The charge is only $0.50 an hour for members to use the shop. The best part is the more experienced club members are always willing to give instruction and advice. If there are no clubs near to you, you might check adult education programs in your area for lapidary or jewelry making classes.
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hurk
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 37
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JADE
Aug 25, 2003 13:37:03 GMT -5
Post by hurk on Aug 25, 2003 13:37:03 GMT -5
well gang... the jade is complete or should I say it should be complete I don't get it ? ... Maybe one of you fine tumblers out there could shed some light on the problem I've had with it ?... I mixed the jade with some agate to make a full load and on completion of the polish stage, the agates well let me say they shine but the jade yes it is polished but has very little shine to it ? Ive seen some native carvings made from jade before and they can get it to a glossy shine and thats by hand so one would think that in a tumbler it would be no problems... you know what they say about ( assume ) anyone out there got any suggestions ? I did 14 day stage 1 ...8 day stage 2...8 day stage 3 ...7 day polish... thanks HURK
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WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
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JADE
Aug 26, 2003 15:50:37 GMT -5
Post by WilliamC on Aug 26, 2003 15:50:37 GMT -5
Greetings All, Hey Hurk, I've never polished Jade myself but I did notice on the Lortone webpage advertising polishes that they recommend chrome oxide specifically for jade. See www.lortone.com/abrasives.htmlGood luck! WilliamC
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JADE
Aug 26, 2003 21:04:16 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Aug 26, 2003 21:04:16 GMT -5
Jade takes a good polish with Chrome oxide, and Cerium oxide. What I do is run the final polish untill it is shiny without being wet. It seems like it takes forever, cycle after cycle. I do not rinse between charges. I kinda like just adding. I also put in some polished stones I use as filler for my phases. They get pretty small with time and I am comfortable with the process. Cerium Oxide has a Mohs of 9 and is semi water soluble. I have read tutorials on how it works with glass, and hard stones but I find the process confusing. It is also extremely dangerous against organics. I also have taken a 6" grinder, added a water drip to the corundum wheel 100grit, and on the other side, I purchased a 6" rubber wheel for sanding belts. I am very pleased with the results I got. It spun too fast so I purchased a ceiling fan rheostat and turned the rpms down. Flat stock tumbles ok, if it is not too square. I have tumbled petrified wood triangles and they polished well.
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