rockchipkip
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by rockchipkip on Nov 4, 2023 11:22:06 GMT -5
Hi- Newby here! Just started using a cloth polishing wheel on my Lortone Arbor. Zam is the compound. At some time do I recondition or scrape excess Zam off the "flat lap"? Polishing Petoskey Stones. Thanks!
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,231
Member is Online
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Post by chris1956 on Nov 4, 2023 13:22:32 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri. I polish Petoskey Stones but not on a flat lap. There are lots of people on the forum who can probably answer that question for you regarding the Zam. I hope you share photos of some of your work.
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 4, 2023 13:35:31 GMT -5
I use Zam for some of my softer stones such as the copper ore, but using a buffing wheel.
Here is what I learned with the buffing wheel, which should help in your case. With the wheel spinning and some of the paper peeled away to expose some of the Zam, I quickly push the Zam in to the wheel gently a couple of times to melt just a little of the Zam in to the buffing wheel. You only want a little as too much creates a waxy build up on the stone, which will leave a dull finish. If you get too much Zam on the stone, then the best thing to do is use a clean buffer so as the excess Zam melts, some of it will transfer to the clean buffer. As the buffer wears down, I add a tiny bit more of the Zam.
So, main thing is to never apply a lot of Zam to your buffing surface. If it looks like you can scrap off excess, there would be too much on there already.
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rockchipkip
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by rockchipkip on Nov 5, 2023 6:48:14 GMT -5
I use Zam for some of my softer stones such as the copper ore, but using a buffing wheel. Here is what I learned with the buffing wheel, which should help in your case. With the wheel spinning and some of the paper peeled away to expose some of the Zam, I quickly push the Zam in to the wheel gently a couple of times to melt just a little of the Zam in to the buffing wheel. You only want a little as too much creates a waxy build up on the stone, which will leave a dull finish. If you get too much Zam on the stone, then the best thing to do is use a clean buffer so as the excess Zam melts, some of it will transfer to the clean buffer. As the buffer wears down, I add a tiny bit more of the Zam. So, main thing is to never apply a lot of Zam to your buffing surface. If it looks like you can scrap off excess, there would be too much on there already.
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rockchipkip
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 3
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Post by rockchipkip on Nov 5, 2023 6:50:33 GMT -5
vegasjames what can you do to the buffing wheel to get excess Zam off? Thanks for the tip on excess Zam on the rock!
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Nov 5, 2023 11:34:34 GMT -5
If you are using a sewn fabric buffing wheel use a table fork while the wheel is spinning to remove excess polish. I use Zam to clean up softer stones in my jewelry if the bobbing compound dulls them, works well. The fork business is used by many to clean up buffing wheels with different compounds.
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Post by vegasjames on Nov 5, 2023 14:48:39 GMT -5
If you are using a sewn fabric buffing wheel use a table fork while the wheel is spinning to remove excess polish. I use Zam to clean up softer stones in my jewelry if the bobbing compound dulls them, works well. The fork business is used by many to clean up buffing wheels with different compounds. The buffing wheels wear down with use getting smaller and smaller. So the options are to keep using the wheel, but do not add any more Zam until you get back down to cleaner cloth on the wheel, then use a clean buffing wheel to remove the excess wax off those stones. In my buffer I have one wheel with the Zam, and one wheel that is just the cloth. If I get too much wax build up on a cab, I just buff it on the clean wheel so the friction melts the excess wax and the cloth wheel absorbs it as it spins. Otherwise, buy a new buffing wheel and start over remembering only a little Zam at a time. They are not very expensive at Harbor Freight Tools.
Another tip. Denim is great for buffing rocks. I often use my old torn blue jeans to buff cabs and tumbled rocks to gloss them up a little. I just rub the stone fast and hard against the jeans. Been thinking about using some ogf my old worn cabbing wheels and gluing denim to them for a buffing wheel to make it easier.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 892
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 6, 2023 9:22:41 GMT -5
I use Zam for some of my softer stones such as the copper ore, but using a buffing wheel. Here is what I learned with the buffing wheel, which should help in your case. With the wheel spinning and some of the paper peeled away to expose some of the Zam, I quickly push the Zam in to the wheel gently a couple of times to melt just a little of the Zam in to the buffing wheel. You only want a little as too much creates a waxy build up on the stone, which will leave a dull finish. If you get too much Zam on the stone, then the best thing to do is use a clean buffer so as the excess Zam melts, some of it will transfer to the clean buffer. As the buffer wears down, I add a tiny bit more of the Zam. So, main thing is to never apply a lot of Zam to your buffing surface. If it looks like you can scrap off excess, there would be too much on there already. Great tips, thanks
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 892
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 6, 2023 9:28:11 GMT -5
I use a buffing wheel on an arbor with Zam to polish the softer rocks too. When I get too much build up on the rocks I will try to rub it clean with a soft cloth. I used a glasses lens cleaning cloth, but denim would work better as vegasjames suggested.
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Post by liveoak on Nov 10, 2023 7:21:00 GMT -5
To clean off excess compound I use a buffing wheel rake. In fact I tend to rake the wheel after it's not been used for awhile so I'm sure to be starting clean. It cleans all the compacted stuff off & fluffs the wheel up nice .
Works for me. Patty
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Nov 10, 2023 9:23:20 GMT -5
Basically the same thing as my four tine dinner fork which works just as well. I have a had a big buffer/dust collector for my jewelry work for close to fifty years and the fork works better on my wool and loosely sewn muslin buffs.
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Post by liveoak on Nov 10, 2023 10:05:08 GMT -5
You're absolutely right gunsil - same thing. I, in fact use an old (dulled down) fish scaling knife- but I figured if someone wanted to buy something- then the rake is cheap enough. Patty
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Nov 10, 2023 10:54:41 GMT -5
I never thought about a fish scaler, great idea! Funny, since I fish a lot and have a stainless double row scaler with a handle which would work really well. I haven't used the scaler in years since I learned how to skin the fish. Maybe I'll drag it to the studio and try it out!
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