jk49
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Member since March 2021
Posts: 23
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Post by jk49 on May 12, 2022 12:39:02 GMT -5
Having my rock tumblers continuously rolling I always want the finished product perfect. Most tumblers will state that the last polishing step is using Micro Alumina. Since I buy often from Kingsley North it is confusing. You can purchase regular Micro Alumina 1-3 micron particle size, Tin Oxide 0.8 micron size, Super Cerium Oxide 0.7-1.2 micon size, Raybrite A aluminum oxide 0.5 micron size. Then they also sell Aluminum oxide polish A that is 0.3 micron and 9 mohs hardness, Aluminum oxide B 0.05 micron 8 mohs hardness, Aluminum oxide C 1.0 micron size 9 mohs hardness.
This does not include TXP at 3 microns or Lind A 0.3 micron size and Lind B 0.5 microns.
My question to everyone what would do the most to make an agate or jasper shine?
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Post by Starguy on May 12, 2022 14:15:38 GMT -5
Hi jk49. I use exclusively tin oxide. It’s kind of spendy but that’s what I’ve always used. Over the years, I’ve found ways to recover some of it plus I don’t think you need as much as the tumbler instructions state. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your results.
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jk49
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
Posts: 23
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Post by jk49 on May 12, 2022 14:30:24 GMT -5
Hi jk49 . I use exclusively tin oxide. It’s kind of spendy but that’s what I’ve always used. Over the years, I’ve found ways to recover some of it plus I don’t think you need as much as the tumbler instructions state. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your results. How many days would you run your tumblers tin oxide?
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Post by Starguy on May 12, 2022 15:01:43 GMT -5
Usually I’ll let it run a week. Two weeks doesn’t hurt if the rocks are the same hardness. Lately I’ve been running agate batches. I make sure the tumbler is 2/3 full then I run them with about 4oz water and 2 1/2 - 3T of tin oxide. No plastic pellets or other filler are required if the tumbler is 2/3 full.
Mixed hardness or delicate rocks could be helped by some plastic pellets but I try not to use them. They’re kind of a pain in the neck.
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jk49
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Member since March 2021
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Post by jk49 on May 12, 2022 15:46:19 GMT -5
In order to have a highly polished stone that they need to spend a lot of time in prepolish so they are really smooth and then cleaned very well.
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stefan
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Post by stefan on May 12, 2022 17:50:00 GMT -5
I love tin oxide, but it is pretty spendy. Never had any luck with cerium oxide. Aluminium oxide has always worked well for me. I always run a 2 week run and I use plastic pellets to cushion the load. I recover and reuse about 1/2 of my polish. I found that aluminium oxide seems to work better after a couple loads, which is why a try to save all I can.
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jk49
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
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Post by jk49 on May 13, 2022 10:24:41 GMT -5
I seem to use a product called Raybrite which has a micron size of .5, whereas tin oxide is .8. If you run for two weeks straight I assume we get the same results since the particle size will get smaller.
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LazerFlash
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Post by LazerFlash on May 24, 2022 23:21:51 GMT -5
I make sure the tumbler is 2/3 full then I run them with about 4oz water and 2 1/2 - 3T of tin oxide. No plastic pellets or other filler are required if the tumbler is 2/3 full. Mixed hardness or delicate rocks could be helped by some plastic pellets but I try not to use them. Aluminium oxide has always worked well for me. I always run a 2 week run and I use plastic pellets to cushion the load. I've read posts from others who don't use plastic pellets, but swear by ceramic from stage 2 forward. Although I've only brought one batch through a final AO stage. The results were much better than anything I'd done previously, although there was some bruising on a couple of stones. I had no filler and the barrel was between 2/3 - 3/4 full. Lately, I've been using ceramic filler for steps 2-4. I'm wondering if adding some plastic to my next AO stage would be beneficial; maybe even reducing the mount of stones to have room for pellets.
What do you think, Starguy and stefan ?
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LazerFlash
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Post by LazerFlash on May 24, 2022 23:23:31 GMT -5
I recover and reuse about 1/2 of my polish. How do you recover your polish?
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Post by jasoninsd on May 25, 2022 7:29:24 GMT -5
I recover and reuse about 1/2 of my polish. How do you recover your polish?If you rinse the rocks off into a clean bucket, then let the water evaporate off, the grit or polish will be in a "cake" form...and can be reused.
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LazerFlash
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The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
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Post by LazerFlash on May 25, 2022 11:25:57 GMT -5
How do you recover your polish? If you rinse the rocks off into a clean bucket, then let the water evaporate off, the grit or polish will be in a "cake" form...and can be reused. Ah.... interesting. Is there a concern about using recycled polish between stones of differing hardness? I would imagine that it might be more of an issue for grit than polish, though.
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Post by parfive on May 25, 2022 12:50:40 GMT -5
How do you recover your polish? 32 oz deli container coffee filter rubber band When two-week polish run is done, crack the lid and pour into filter. Polish passes through, any rock chips and barrel crud do not. No need to evaporate. Next batch, just swirl it up and dump it in.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 25, 2022 13:18:07 GMT -5
If you rinse the rocks off into a clean bucket, then let the water evaporate off, the grit or polish will be in a "cake" form...and can be reused. Ah.... interesting. Is there a concern about using recycled polish between stones of differing hardness? I would imagine that it might be more of an issue for grit than polish, though.I forget about Rich's ( parfive) method of using the coffee filter. You did bring up a good point about the differing rock hardnesses. I have a tendency just to mix the runoff all together in the same bucket, so when it dries out all I ever do is use it in the coarse grind.
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Post by rmf on May 25, 2022 20:20:41 GMT -5
Recovering polish is easy. Pour polish solution into a clear container directly from the tumbler. Rinse rocks in the drum and pour the cloudy solution into the clear container as well. cover let stand on shelf for 1 week. Pour off excess clear water leaving some water just covering the polish. When you are ready to start polishing the next batch just mix and pour back into tumbler drum.
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Post by susand24224 on May 28, 2022 1:38:29 GMT -5
Back to the initial question, I use Rapid Polish, which is a very fine grain aluminum oxide. BUT. I really don't think it matters as to how good the shine is. As an example, when I used Rockshed AO, I often had to run obsidian (rotary) for a week or more to get the shine I wanted. With Rapid Polish it took perhaps three days. Of course what's happening over that week with the Rockshed AO is that it is, as you say, breaking down. I've also used tin oxide and cerium oxide just to experiment, and didn't find it any better, just more expensive. Likewise, Rapid Polish is more expensive, but since I'm polishing in a vibe with most rocks we are talking half a tsp. at most, so it goes a long way.
I never use pre-polish (which I consider 1000 grit) unless the rocks are softer than a Mohs 6. If you need to, just run the 500 a bit longer and you're in 1000 territory anyway. But with the softer rocks, it does seem to smooth them out a bit more, likely because there are a few stubborn 500 bits that haven't broken down as quickly.
I use only ceramic shapes for cushioning material, but that is mostly because I am lazy and don't like fishing the little plastic pieces out and keeping each in its separate little jar to match grit.
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stefan
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Post by stefan on May 28, 2022 10:44:41 GMT -5
I have never had trouble re-useing polish. I also save some of my slurry for each stage and use that as a "starter" I usually use about a 50/50 mix of used and fresh. My recovery system is basically to let the slurry settle for 30 minutes (more or less) Dump off the water (and the top layer of the slurry- presumably the "lighter"material) and then allow to dry. Been doing it that way for 16 plus years and it has always worked well for me.
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nursetumbler
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Post by nursetumbler on May 28, 2022 17:00:05 GMT -5
I have never had trouble re-useing polish. I also save some of my slurry for each stage and use that as a "starter" I usually use about a 50/50 mix of used and fresh. My recovery system is basically to let the slurry settle for 30 minutes (more or less) Dump off the water (and the top layer of the slurry- presumably the "lighter"material) and then allow to dry. Been doing it that way for 16 plus years and it has always worked well for me. stefanDo you filter your polish through anything "just in case" something, like quartz, pops a piece off so you aren't sending it through with something else?
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stefan
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Post by stefan on May 30, 2022 13:08:12 GMT -5
Never have! I used to worry about that, but pretty much have never had any problems. The amount I recover (polish wise) is about half of what I put in (dumping off the water always takes some of the slurry with it) so any stray chips are pretty easily seen in the thin layer of dried slurry.
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