goldan
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2016
Posts: 1
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Post by goldan on Jul 2, 2016 20:24:51 GMT -5
Greetings All,
I’ve been doing basic metalsmithing for the past few years and know just enough to be dangerous. I know even less about lapidary, so I’ve been buying polished stones to use.
I have a thumb-size piece of Oregon carnelian agate that’s mostly polished; but I’d like to bring up a polish on dull areas. And I’d like to use my flex-shaft rotary tool for this.
Can I use the same basic approach to polishing the stone as I would with metal; i.e., start with coarse grit sanding bits and progress to medium and finer grits? Something like these silicone carbide bits? www.riogrande.com/Product/Dedeco-Silicone-Midgets-Polishing-Point-Assortment/332877
As for putting a finishing polish on this stone would using 50K or 100K diamond paste on a leather buff be best? And if so, any recommended sources for the diamond paste?
Thanks,
Dan
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 2, 2016 21:18:59 GMT -5
If you can determine about what level the less polished areas are it would help for finding a starting point. If you look at the customer reviews for the bits it doesn't look good. A set of Diamond Pacific Nova burs would be better, got mine from @christopher1234 If you aren't needing to remove material in your process then nylon bristle wheels with diamond paste might do the job.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jul 3, 2016 6:50:59 GMT -5
You said most of it was polished with a few dull areas. I got the green goo in a paper tube (don't know the name) and used a soft buff wheel on my dremel and it shined up a fairly large piece of turquoise in minutes. Just an idea. Obviously turquoise is much softer than carnelian, but I have used it on agate with similar results.This is the cheap version. Needs must when the devil drives.
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ol3m3
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2006
Posts: 85
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Post by ol3m3 on Jul 3, 2016 11:24:46 GMT -5
In polishing carvings I use hard felt wheels in a flex shaft. The wheels are charged with various grits of diamond, mostly start with 320 or 600 grit and go from there. use a different wheel for each grit and keep the grits and wheels in separate zip bags. give the carving a good washing between grits to avoid contamination. the diamond grit is available premixed in syringe style tubes. You can use a couple drops of mineral oil on your wheel to extend and thin out the grit.
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Post by bobby1 on Jul 3, 2016 15:46:09 GMT -5
I use small wood wheels made from dowels embedded with various tumbling grits for the sanding operation. This is followed with the same type wheels embedded with Rapid Polish. My next article that I am writing for my monthly page in Rock and Gem Magazine is about this specific subject. Bob
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