The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Dec 19, 2012 14:48:31 GMT -5
Not sure where to put this but since cabs are what I am learning I figured this is good. Anyways... I have a Richardson Grinder, it's about 20 years old when I got. I am slowly figuring out how to grind material with it and I can even do some light cabbing although it is really made just for flat grinding.
I also have a Richardson Polishing Wheel with a leather pad on it. and some Cerium Oxide Polish that came with it... all of it is 20 years old, including the polish, but the package is sealed pretty well so I will try to use it especially as I am still learning... anyways, the wheel was siting uncovered for all those years n a garage and is now in my shed with a plastic bag over the polish wheel, which brings me to my question...
How does one use a polishing wheel??? I know this may seem a strange question, but I have never used one before and want to try it out.
I am looking for fairly explicit directions as I honestly have no clue at all... I have read some of what has been posted, but haven't seen an actual tutorial on how to do it. Is there one on here somewhere, or can someone explain the steps? Should I replace the leather cover on the wheel before I do anything with it?? If I do replace it... is there a set of steps to break in the new cover??
Thanx in advance for any help!!
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Dec 19, 2012 15:14:38 GMT -5
others can give instructions more specific,
...but with any leather/felt/muslin polish surface, I just get it damp enough to hold some polish - I apply AO as a light paste. I let it fry a bit as I polish because a little heat seems to help. You should not let it dry out too much though or you will get polish dust flying.
|
|
The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Dec 19, 2012 22:23:35 GMT -5
Thanx for the info Daniel... appreciate any help I can get>
Marry Christmas!!
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Dec 19, 2012 22:53:55 GMT -5
Hi Mario,
first you say it is a wheel but that it has a pad on it - I have a flat pad that is a disk polisher on the end of my genie arbor - so the surface is flat - is that what you have (a disk or a wheel?)
Mine is suede instead of smooth leather, so that would be my next question - is yours smooth or suede?
If it is flat (a disk) and suede I can help based on my experience. I had no luck with the flat smooth one I used, I think it got contaminated - and I have yet to put the leather belt on the expando wheel to try that out.
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Dec 19, 2012 23:12:41 GMT -5
The covers are usually a very soft leather like lamb hide or something I believe, not a cowhide leather. I`ve never used a Richardson but use the 6" pad on the end of my cabber too like Herchenx. I`ve watched my friend at the rock shop use one. Richardson is just an oversized version and is good for any shape with the convex pad backing it. Make sure it is still plyable as well. I thought I saw pads for them somewhere online awhile back but don`t know where now. Check Kingsley if you need one. If it can be saved a little saddle soap may help to attempt reviving it. I keep a spray bottle in reach when I use my wheel to keep it from drying while it`s polishing.
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Dec 19, 2012 23:42:45 GMT -5
So given it is disk-ish, and presumably soft (?) - what I do is make a thin paste (thinner than elmer's glue, like runny gravy) and use a paint brush and paint it on with it laying flat. I let it dry and then when I use it I spray it damp with a squirt bottle.
I leave my cab on the dop stick and work it around on the "upswing" side of the disk, so the stone is being lifted a bit. I keep it away from the very center because it can get a little jumpy there. I just work the entire top dome and any additional finished surfaces again and again. Once the polish starts to dry I re-wet it and keep going.
I reapply once the polish is visibly gone from the leather.
Polish (for me) lasts a LONG time. I probably use only used a tablespoon per 100 cabs (guessing)
I use the OMG AlOx from jsgems, but I assume the cerium would work similarly. I keep a little sealed tupperware with a couple tablespoons of polish.
As far as the wheel being contaminated or usable after all these years that is impossible to say without trying it out. Like jspencer said try some saddle soap if it has hardnened but it may be worth your time to just replace it.
I've been told (haven't tried) that I can use a fine brass brush to clean up suede disks. Not sure if that would be too aggressive on yours or not, but if it is otherwise useless it might be worth a shot.
Good luck!
|
|
keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
|
Post by keystonecops on Dec 21, 2012 13:01:54 GMT -5
Google Richardsons. They sell new wheels ready to go. Thats just the leather with springs attached. Can't remember how much though. I do the same as John, except I use Cerium. I put a plastic grocery bag on mine to keep it from dryin out, can also use a plastic shower cap. I'd be careful tryin to polish on "upswing", if it gets away it can really fly. Later Clyde
|
|