moopiemotomom
starting to shine!
Member since November 2022
Posts: 49
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Post by moopiemotomom on Mar 17, 2023 14:23:55 GMT -5
Photos to follow, all collected from the Wisconsin/Illinois side of Lake Michigan (except the red one with the brachiopod fossil cross section that I found in landscaping gravel) My process has pretty consistently been: Stage 1: 1-15 weeks with 60/90 silicon carbide in the Rebel 17 tumbler Stage 2: 1 week with 120/220 silicon carbide in the Chicago electric 3lb barrel Stage 3: 10 days with 500 aluminum oxide and plastic media in the CE 3lb barrel Stage 4: 2 weeks with aluminum oxide polish and plastic media in the CE 3lb barrel plus a burnish for 2+ hours with ivory soap and borax I only burnish after polishing because I look over each rock after each stage and use a spray bottle to get out any grit and I've had a perfect record. Sometimes the polish does stick in some of the softer material and I have to scrub well with a toothbrush as well, but I've found it an easy and very successful way to go. I've also tried pouring off and reusing the polish with great results (usually adding 1 tbsp in case I lost a bunch between). I may post some of the before pics as well because those are cool to see.
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moopiemotomom
starting to shine!
Member since November 2022
Posts: 49
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Post by moopiemotomom on Mar 17, 2023 14:30:35 GMT -5
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,078
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Post by dshanpnw on Mar 17, 2023 16:39:15 GMT -5
Super batch of rocks, and a great shine on the ones that would take a polish. The fossil is really fabulous.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 17, 2023 16:51:30 GMT -5
I think you got some great results on some that look like they'd be a tough tumble!!
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moopiemotomom
starting to shine!
Member since November 2022
Posts: 49
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Post by moopiemotomom on Mar 17, 2023 21:42:17 GMT -5
Super batch of rocks, and a great shine on the ones that would take a polish. The fossil is really fabulous. Thank you very much! I feel like I've gotten pretty good over the last 6 months
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