mreclectic
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2016
Posts: 5
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Post by mreclectic on Aug 31, 2016 6:58:46 GMT -5
I had 2 questions: 1) I've seen metal polish in the supermarket. Can I use it to polish rocks in the final stage in a tumbler. I had to consider resorting to liquid metal polish since aluminium oxide, tin oxide and cerium oxide aren't readily available to me. 2) Is there a difference between brass metal polish and silver metal polish? From what I've read on the Internet, brass polish is more powerful than silver polish. On the product description, the silver and gold polish is the only one described as a glass cleaner.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Aug 31, 2016 8:30:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from California. I am not familiar with the products you listed, but based on what I see on the website I would say no. These products appear to be made to be used on a rag to polish finished metal objects and are likely not very abrasive. In a rock tumbler to start you need much larger grit to do the work. There is also the concern about the chemicals in the metal polishers reacting with the rocks and the drum of your tumbler. The metal polishes will likely eat up your drums. Tumbling media is made to minimize these issues.
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Post by greig on Aug 31, 2016 8:57:01 GMT -5
My two cents on the question.
The polish products sold for use in a tumbler have been shown/proven to be effective for that purpose. If they are not available locally from a shop, I would suggest buying online and get the product best suited for the polishing that you are attempting.
Brass, silver, aluminum and gold creams and liquids are specifically formulated to chemically remove dirt or oxides from the "pure" metals specified. In a tumbler, you are really looking for an abrasive action, not chemical. Barclay is correct that you also risk chemical harm to the inside of your barrel. If the barrel is rubber, I would be worried that they would break down the rubber, plus coat the rocks with a black rubber stain. If you insist on trying other products, I would suggest rubbing your rocks by hand.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 31, 2016 12:57:18 GMT -5
I've seen a reasonable attempt at polishing obtained by hand using sand. In New Zealand there was a huge jade boulder in a museum that was used as a touch stone with each visitor encouraged just to rub the rock with sand. I may have a photo somewhere...
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 31, 2016 13:27:38 GMT -5
You haven't said what your planned barrel material is, that would help.
A friend has used automotive rubbing and polishing compounds in his tumblers for years with no apparent damage to the rubber barrels, works, but slowly, and the rocks smell like the polish.
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Post by greig on Aug 31, 2016 13:49:34 GMT -5
You haven't said what your planned barrel material is, that would help. A friend has used automotive rubbing and polishing compounds in his tumblers for years with no apparent damage to the rubber barrels, works, but slowly, and the rocks smell like the polish. Just a thought. Your friend might want to try toothpaste. Probably same result, but would smell better.
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Post by pauls on Aug 31, 2016 14:55:18 GMT -5
Toothpaste is/or used to be made from finely ground Feldspar hardness around 6 so probably won't do anything to most rocks, I imagine these days that toothpaste would mostly be made from plastic microbeads so even less wearing on rocks and teeth.
As others have said most metal polishes are formulated to chemically alter or remove the metal oxide tarnish.
Mail order is the way to go, get the right proven grits and polishes and save yourself some trouble.
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charliework
starting to shine!
Member since May 2016
Posts: 29
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Post by charliework on Aug 31, 2016 19:27:14 GMT -5
Are you able to order through Amazon Global?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 19:33:19 GMT -5
I had 2 questions: 1) I've seen metal polish in the supermarket. Can I use it to polish rocks in the final stage in a tumbler. I had to consider resorting to liquid metal polish since aluminium oxide, tin oxide and cerium oxide aren't readily available to me. 2) Is there a difference between brass metal polish and silver metal polish? From what I've read on the Internet, brass polish is more powerful than silver polish. On the product description, the silver and gold polish is the only one described as a glass cleaner. Yes, but success may be limited. Or impossible. Nairobi should mave metal finishing companies. The polish they use in bulk will work in correct quantities.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 31, 2016 23:32:30 GMT -5
I have used toothpaste to polish some nice common opal pieces, worked great, couldn't find anything else that worked as well.
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charliework
starting to shine!
Member since May 2016
Posts: 29
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Post by charliework on Sept 1, 2016 16:34:58 GMT -5
It's good to know your opal is free from Gingivitis
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Sept 1, 2016 23:48:53 GMT -5
Not only is my opal disease free, but smells good too.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 2, 2016 10:48:53 GMT -5
From the land of Georgia come kaolin clay in great mass. Used in many products needing abrasives including toothpaste. There lurks the culprit, kaolin has high percentages of aluminum oxide. It is mostly felspar based clay. Aluminum oxide = AL2O3 Check out percentages of AL2O3: wikiclay.com/wiki/kaolins" Some kaolins are also excellent suspenders, keeping the flint, feldspar, and fluxes from settling to the bottom of the bucket." Kaolin very heavy, floats dense abrasives in rotary tumblers per excellence.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 2, 2016 10:53:40 GMT -5
Not only is my opal disease free, but smells good too. And no fillings.
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