carneliancanuck
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 63
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Post by carneliancanuck on Mar 18, 2011 14:12:12 GMT -5
i have a batch of carnelians and jaspers in the polish stage (finally!). i checked them today after 2 days of tumbling, and they have a brilliant shine (so proud). now my question is.....are they done? it is my understanding that they should be in for seven days then a burnish. should i just continue for another five days before burnishing? i had them in the rough for 8 weeks (damn carnelians), then medium for 2 weeks, fine for 1 week, prepolish for 1 week, and now in the polish for 2 days. of course a burnish between each stage. i apologize for not posting a picture. dead batteries in the camera, but promise to have some up tonight hopefully. i
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 18, 2011 14:21:01 GMT -5
Whew! You've gone through a lot of stages with those babies. Likely the prepolish (1000 grit?) just about had them polishing anyway, so the polish was the final touch. They may or may not polish more--no way to tell unless you let them polish longer. If they were mine, I would take a few out, then let the rest go until at least the week cycle completes, then compare. That way you'll know the next time. But--if you are satisfied with the way they look now, that's what really counts. Susan
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carneliancanuck
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 63
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Post by carneliancanuck on Mar 18, 2011 14:46:43 GMT -5
do you feel that i could have skipped the prepolish stage? i wondered that myself. im thinking i could have went from the 500 silicon carbide then to polish. in the end i am just finally glad these rocks are going to turn out lol. it took an entire year of trial and error.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2011 11:22:38 GMT -5
Vibe or rotarty? I don't want to sound pessimistic (sp) but I would find it hard to fathum them being down after 2 days if your using a rotary. My polish runs are 2 weeks in a rotary. If they truely are finished after 2 days then congrates on a job well done!
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carneliancanuck
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 63
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Post by carneliancanuck on Mar 19, 2011 14:05:59 GMT -5
rotary. and thank you i will take that as a compliment. i have decided to leave them in for the 5 days to complete the 7 day cycle, but i will yank a couple out today to post some pictures and post because i cannot wait to show them off any longer lol.
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 19, 2011 14:55:58 GMT -5
Hi! I skip both 120/220 grit and 1000 grit on hard stones. That being said, I run the 60/90 and 500 cycle in ten days, rather than 7, and almost always with 80 grit it is repeated numerous times; often the 500 grit is repeated.
Theoretically, as the grit breaks down you are tumbling with smaller sized grit. In reality, I am sure there are a few pieces of grit that get stuck on the lid and extricate themselves at exactly the wrong moment. Nevertheless, the extra time (10 days rather than seven) does give a smoother surface.
If you are working with soft rocks, or a really special group of harder rocks, the 1000 grit stage is helpful. If you view the surface of the rocks through magnification, I suspect that the surface is a bit better even on the hard rocks than if you don't use 1000 grit. But--I don't look at my rocks with a magnifier, and the difference is so minimal that with ordinary vision I can't see it. With softer rocks, the 1000 grit is almost mandatory, though.
So it all comes down to what your standards are with harder (Mohs 7) rocks.
Susan
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2011 15:36:34 GMT -5
It was indeed meant as a compliment. It is a testament to your earlier stages that you are able to complete the polish so quickly. Can't wait to see the pics.
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