Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 10, 2004 1:56:43 GMT -5
Anybody try Titanium Oxide on Tiger Eye? I have 4 polish barrels rolling now, and the Tiger Eye in Cerium Oxide is the dullest of the lot. I ran it in 1000 grit for 7 days and then into Cerium. The other lots went into either Tin Oxide or Titanium Oxide and after 2 days they are almost a mirror finish following the 1000 grit phase. So I was wondering if the Cerium will eventually 'Kick In'. I haven't used Cerium for quite some time and thought maybe the polishing properties might take a while longer. Otherwise they are going to lose their Cerium priviledges and off to the Titanium barrel they go ;D
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Post by Original Admin on Jun 10, 2004 3:25:56 GMT -5
Banjo - I too have some tiger eye in CO at the moment. It has only been in for 3 days. After a week, I'll let you know how it turned out. I noted my rock shop had some tin oxide in the other day, I hadnt noticed it before - may get some if the tiger eye doesnt come good.
I think James did some tiger eye (gold and blue) the pics are in the pictures section or at the main site if they arent there anymore. I'd say thats about as good as it gets with tiger eye and was the reason I started the current batch off. Worth looking over to set a target for the final shine.
Andy
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 10, 2004 11:50:30 GMT -5
Thanks Andy, and I've got that bar set right up there. My standard is higher each time I turn out a batch. I was remarkably surprised at how much faster the Tin Oxide, and Titanium Oxide seemed to polish the stones as compared to the Cerium Oxide, which I am using "because James did it" ;D The photos speak for themself. I guess I'm waiting the 8 days, then deciding. Nothing teaches better than actually going through the process yourself, I guess. I'll post pics on the loads in a coupls days.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 11, 2004 0:25:47 GMT -5
banjo i've got a few tigers eyes in a mixed batch in titanium right now. ought to be ready maybe tomorrow. i'll post pics when i get it out. the rest of my tigers eye is much farther behind.
kim
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 11, 2004 1:33:39 GMT -5
I'll give these a total of 8 days and that had best take them were I expect them to be, because the rest of the mix that is split up by hardness and in tin oxide, and titanium is coming along wonderfully. I'd really like to see the pics,andif I remember correctly you added the 1000 grit step also, correct?
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 11, 2004 2:12:30 GMT -5
that's right banjo. i'll post a pic as soon as i get them out.
kim
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Jun 11, 2004 3:42:30 GMT -5
I returned your personal message Michael. Now after reading you post, I really can't explain the problem. You've done the same steps as I did. I noticed that when I cleaned up with borax the shine came out even more. Sometimes the polish gets lodged between the straitions of the stone. 8 days sounds good for polish. If the cerium dosen't work, try tin oxide. Tigers-eye is much softer then most other agates. Still, even then, it would still be at about 6-6.5 on the mohs scale and theoretically speaking Titaniun, cerium or tin oxide should all work fine.
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