Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on May 16, 2004 23:27:30 GMT -5
I know there's a few of us who have or will be running sodalite, so thought I'd share.
I ran it through the polish cycle (fine, pre, final polish) twice, after one week of course and the rocks had the right shape but the polish was not good.
I tried cerium and half of my rocks looks "reasonable", but not wet. The other half look awful.
I was at the lapidary last week and I mentioned the trouble I had and he said right away they were "overpolished". His recommendation is to run prepolish, then polish for 4 days each only. Cerium or titanium is fine.
I haven't tried it yet, but I will be. Hopefully it saves you some trouble.
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Post by sandsman1 on May 16, 2004 23:49:58 GMT -5
thanks skipper i have some in now ill hafta try that when they get done i think there allready in polish if i remember right see how they turn out---seeya---john
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on May 17, 2004 1:21:12 GMT -5
"Overpolished" That's ridiculous. I can't see how that could be possible. Let us know what happens.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on May 17, 2004 7:54:11 GMT -5
I left a batch in polish for too long and they ended up in very bad shape, which was pretty weird. I guess I didn't have enough pellets in to keep them from bashing eachother up or something. These softer stones have to be babied a bit I think.
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Post by rockyraccoon on May 17, 2004 9:43:25 GMT -5
i remember an earlier post addressing this - but where it is and what the initial subject was is a whole 'nother matter.
kim
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 17, 2004 14:02:32 GMT -5
Skipper, Thanks for the tip. I just moved some sodalite into the second stage (120/200).
Maybe instead of cerium oxide, I'll try the aluminum Oxide.
Thanks again, Cal
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 17, 2004 18:21:54 GMT -5
No wonder I keep seeing my sodalite "lose something" in the pre polish-polish stages. It's like the become even more rough than after coarse. Geat tip!
cookie
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Post by creativeminded on May 18, 2004 11:32:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, my next batch will include some sodalite. Tami
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on May 19, 2004 0:21:55 GMT -5
No problem...it's all about sharing!
I forgot to mention...I did use pellets as well, but it obviously didn't help. I would still recommend using pellets as a buffer, however. Just need to shorten the time. It reminds me of a discussion of obsidian from another site where it was noted that leaving it in polish too long can remove the shine...the stones are finicky and can still scratch one another. Maybe that applies to sodalite as well.
FYI, for those who didn't know, sodalite is a 5 on the moh's scale. I ran mine 7 days in rough before moving on. I did run it with other agates..was told this was OK...but the load was mostly sodalite.
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Post by creativeminded on May 19, 2004 11:29:51 GMT -5
On the hardness of Sodalite I think I might depend on where you get the rock from, I did a little research on Sodalite and I saw hardnesses listed from 5.5 up to 7 on the moh's scale.
Tami
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on May 19, 2004 15:16:29 GMT -5
I'm a little confused here. If the action of the rocks, pellets, water and polish produce a shine; How is it that these same elements and actions can reverse themselves and go on to become dull? Logically, to me the same action that made the rocks dull at the end of the cycle would prevent the rocks from ever achieving a shine in the first place What has changed in the mix that produced the shine? Anybody able to clear this up for me. I have not done sodalite, so I have no experience in the matter to share.
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Post by sandsman1 on May 20, 2004 14:10:10 GMT -5
hi all --i got an email back from shawn i had asked how he got the shine on his sodalite on his site pic, cause mine is dull allso he said he ran a 1000 and used aluminum polish, im broke but as soon as i can im gonna grab some 1000 grit hes the 3rd person that has told me to use it i just been broke hahaha car insurance time that killed my rock funds for about a month , so time to make due with whats here hahaha bummer i think buying stuff is half the fun seeya-s ---john
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Post by creativeminded on May 20, 2004 14:49:43 GMT -5
I have my green quartz and several other stones in 1000 grit right now, I will let it run for about 7 days and then on to the polish. Tami
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 22, 2004 1:01:44 GMT -5
I wonder if the harder agates are scratching up the sodalite. I thought sodalite was softer than agate.
I'll let you know what happens with mine as the sodalite is running all by its self.
Cal
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