amyk
fully equipped rock polisher
I'm a slabber, I'm a cabber, I'm a midnight wrapper.
Member since January 2010
Posts: 1,331
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Post by amyk on Nov 16, 2017 3:14:04 GMT -5
I am having trouble with getting a good Polish on some cabs. Especially obsidian and other similar stones. They always look cloudy and I go back through again and still cloudy. When wet it looks great. They are very smooth. Then I dry it and it looks kinda like there is a grey film on it, but there is no film on it. Not sure any other way to describe it. I am using 9 wheels from 60 grit to 14000 grit.
Most other stones will take a nice Polish. Jasper's always look nice, agates almost always look nice except now I have a Montana agate that is driving me crazy. It just won't co operate.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Amy
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 16, 2017 7:14:22 GMT -5
There are a couple of stones that will give anyone trouble. Obsidian is one that can be really tough. For me, it's like it gets burned spots. I'm really not sure what to say about obsid, but to use a light touch on the polishing wheels.
I'll be watching this thread for tips, too.
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Post by pauls on Nov 16, 2017 15:35:03 GMT -5
Try Cerium Oxide on a felt buff, you will get a really deep shine. I usually do a quick run on tin oxide after that as well just to top it off. Great for all glassy stuff including Opal. Some Jaspers that give problems go well with chrome oxide.
As a facetor I know that diamond gives poor results with a few stones, you just have to go back to the oxides.
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,838
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on Nov 16, 2017 16:41:08 GMT -5
stay on the 280 wheel, until all the Mico scratches are gone, then move to the 600 etc
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Post by Pat on Nov 16, 2017 18:01:57 GMT -5
tntmom Does a beautiful job with obsidian. Herposts give a lot of details.
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Post by rmf on Dec 4, 2017 10:47:14 GMT -5
the key to polishing obsidian on Diamond (assumes all the wheels are broken in), use the absolute lightest touch you can. barely touch the wheel, diamond is so hard and obsidian is sooooo soft that you can cut too deep even with a 1200 grit wheel. Also once you get to 3000 I like to used a mixture of tin Oxide and Linda A (1lb of tin and 2 table spoons of Linda A) this is my conventional polish when all diamond is not good enough. I keep a 1 pint freezer container with the polish mixture in it with water standing in it. You do not want to breath in any Linde A. Also when polishing something that is cloudy and scratched use a muslin wheel make sure it is wet, add some polish and go over the stone keeping the muslin wet. go over the stone two or 3 times especially problem areas and then let the muslin dry out a bit. Always use lite pressuer since you do not want to build up heat.
It is my experience soft stones are harder to polish than hard ones. whoda thunkit
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