zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 5, 2023 14:03:28 GMT -5
Hello, excuse any errors I make within this forum, I'm not good with computers and have never used a forum before.
Anyways, I have always had an issue with polishing jaspers. I use a Hitchediamond Slant Lap and typically use 80, 220, 325, 600, 1200, 3000, 14k, 50k and 100k diamond paste on polishing pads in that order. I also have a cerium oxide charged lap that I've never used. Every jasper I've ever polished (unless I polished it with facets) has always come out a little cloudier than agates and others that I polish. I try to spend a lot of time on my 220 grit lap since that usually works for any trickier rocks I cab, but not for the jaspers. Why is this? I feel like I spend a good amount of time on each grit and its not like they come out scratched, they are smooth but cloudy. They don't have that high gloss finish. Any advice?
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 5, 2023 14:12:49 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared?
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Oct 5, 2023 14:41:45 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared? This makes me think of the Mary Ellen jasper cab I did not too long ago. Turned out beautiful, no scratches, but was more of a satin shine than a mirror shine. Someone had told me that not all jaspers polish up so shiny, but that's just how the rock is. I wonder if that's whats going on here. zosrocks - can you share photos of what you've done? |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 5, 2023 15:03:40 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared? This makes me think of the Mary Ellen jasper cab I did not too long ago. Turned out beautiful, no scratches, but was more of a satin shine than a mirror shine. Someone had told me that not all jaspers polish up so shiny, but that's just how the rock is. I wonder if that's whats going on here. zosrocks - can you share photos of what you've done? Mary Ellen is one, some MHPJ, stoney creek (off the top of my head) and others, get a great polish, but not a deep polish. |
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Post by chris1956 on Oct 5, 2023 15:40:29 GMT -5
I kind of have the same answer as I gave for tumbling jasper although I have had a lot more success polishing jasper on a cabber. Not sure how the slant lap will do with it. I have tried polishing really soft jasper on the cabber and it just won't polish well. But harder jasper does well on the cabber. If you are polishing red jasper, does it turn you liquid red when polishing? If so it might to too soft. My rule is if it is making a red mess, I return the rock to nature.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 5, 2023 16:09:54 GMT -5
I kind of have the same answer as I gave for tumbling jasper although I have had a lot more success polishing jasper on a cabber. Not sure how the slant lap will do with it. I have tried polishing really soft jasper on the cabber and it just won't polish well. But harder jasper does well on the cabber. If you are polishing red jasper, does it turn you liquid red when polishing? If so it might to too soft. My rule is if it is making a red mess, I return the rock to nature. Unless I read you wrong, I have to disagree. I love red jasper and I have cabbed a bunch of it. It always turns me red, but it's worth it. Same with Tiger Iron. Lots of very nice rocks bleed like crazy. |
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Post by chris1956 on Oct 5, 2023 16:13:12 GMT -5
I kind of have the same answer as I gave for tumbling jasper although I have had a lot more success polishing jasper on a cabber. Not sure how the slant lap will do with it. I have tried polishing really soft jasper on the cabber and it just won't polish well. But harder jasper does well on the cabber. If you are polishing red jasper, does it turn you liquid red when polishing? If so it might to too soft. My rule is if it is making a red mess, I return the rock to nature.  Unless I read you wrong, I have to disagree. I love red jasper and I have cabbed a bunch of it. It always turns me red, but it's worth it. Same with Tiger Iron. Lots of very nice rocks bleed like crazy. Probably a lot of variation. I haven't polished higher end purchased stuff . Just rocks I find around here. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 5, 2023 16:17:23 GMT -5
Unless I read you wrong, I have to disagree. I love red jasper and I have cabbed a bunch of it. It always turns me red, but it's worth it. Same with Tiger Iron. Lots of very nice rocks bleed like crazy. Probably a lot of variation. I haven't polished higher end purchased stuff . Just rocks I find around here. There IS a lot of variation- you're right. Thinking about it... I had some cave creek red jasper that polished like Mary Ellen. It's really red.
eta cave creek |
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 5, 2023 20:50:09 GMT -5
A material can have different grades and better material may polish better. Different material can require a different polish. Paul has a special technique for MHPJ that borders on alchemy. I normally polish everything with 100k diamond paste. When I wasn't getting satisfactory results I tried zam. I think the problem was that I needed to refresh my diamond paste.
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Post by liveoak on Oct 6, 2023 9:37:34 GMT -5
I just wanted to throw out something that has helped me - a lighted magnifier next to my work space.
I know you said you're having troubles with jaspers not agates - but I've found with any stone looking for scratches early on, makes a difference.
The magnifier on a dry stone helps.
Works for me- sometimes  Patty
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 6, 2023 12:13:37 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared? The ones I've struggled with before are Noreena Jasper, Exotica/Sci-Fi Jasper, Picasso Jasper and Tiffany Stone (I know thats not a jasper but I get the same frosty polish with it). Im not sure how to link a picture. I have them downloaded as jpeg's but it wants a URL and I don't know how to get that lol. |
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 6, 2023 12:14:50 GMT -5
I kind of have the same answer as I gave for tumbling jasper although I have had a lot more success polishing jasper on a cabber. Not sure how the slant lap will do with it. I have tried polishing really soft jasper on the cabber and it just won't polish well. But harder jasper does well on the cabber. If you are polishing red jasper, does it turn you liquid red when polishing? If so it might to too soft. My rule is if it is making a red mess, I return the rock to nature. Yes it does. |
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 6, 2023 12:15:38 GMT -5
I just wanted to throw out something that has helped me - a lighted magnifier next to my work space.
I know you said you're having troubles with jaspers not agates - but I've found with any stone looking for scratches early on, makes a difference.
The magnifier on a dry stone helps.
Works for me- sometimes Patty
Thank you! I do have a small lighted magnifier I just dont use it often. Maybe I'll try using it more. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 6, 2023 12:16:54 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared? The ones I've struggled with before are Noreena Jasper, Exotica/Sci-Fi Jasper, Picasso Jasper and Tiffany Stone (I know thats not a jasper but I get the same frosty polish with it). Im not sure how to link a picture. I have them downloaded as jpeg's but it wants a URL and I don't know how to get that lol. All of those can be difficult to get a stellar polish. Just the nature of the beast. Tiffany less so, but it depends your material.
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 6, 2023 12:17:24 GMT -5
A material can have different grades and better material may polish better. Different material can require a different polish. Paul has a special technique for MHPJ that borders on alchemy. I normally polish everything with 100k diamond paste. When I wasn't getting satisfactory results I tried zam. I think the problem was that I needed to refresh my diamond paste. Who's Paul? And how is zam used? With a burr or something? Sorry I know very little about alternative polishing options LOL. |
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 6, 2023 12:28:08 GMT -5
A material can have different grades and better material may polish better. Different material can require a different polish. Paul has a special technique for MHPJ that borders on alchemy. I normally polish everything with 100k diamond paste. When I wasn't getting satisfactory results I tried zam. I think the problem was that I needed to refresh my diamond paste. Who's Paul? And how is zam used? With a burr or something? Sorry I know very little about alternative polishing options LOL. Paul is fencejumper. I apply zam to a separate pad, the same as diamond paste. zam comes as a stick and I hold it against the rotating pad to apply. |
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 6, 2023 12:39:25 GMT -5
Who's Paul? And how is zam used? With a burr or something? Sorry I know very little about alternative polishing options LOL. Paul is fencejumper. I apply zam to a separate pad, the same as diamond paste. zam comes as a stick and I hold it against the rotating pad to apply. Thank you! I will try that out. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2023 8:31:44 GMT -5
Some jaspers are just like that. Which ones are you having trouble with or is it all of them? If you can polish an agate, you can polish a jasper. Maybe you are comparing some that really shouldn't be compared? The ones I've struggled with before are Noreena Jasper, Exotica/Sci-Fi Jasper, Picasso Jasper and Tiffany Stone (I know thats not a jasper but I get the same frosty polish with it). Im not sure how to link a picture. I have them downloaded as jpeg's but it wants a URL and I don't know how to get that lol. I have cabbed every single one of those jaspers...and got nothing more than a matte finish on them. Not that that should make you feel better...but it should make you feel like you're not alone! LOL |
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zosrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2023
Posts: 16
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Post by zosrocks on Oct 7, 2023 11:13:14 GMT -5
The ones I've struggled with before are Noreena Jasper, Exotica/Sci-Fi Jasper, Picasso Jasper and Tiffany Stone (I know thats not a jasper but I get the same frosty polish with it). Im not sure how to link a picture. I have them downloaded as jpeg's but it wants a URL and I don't know how to get that lol. I have cabbed every single one of those jaspers...and got nothing more than a matte finish on them. Not that that should make you feel better...but it should make you feel like you're not alone! LOL Thank you, that is good know that I'm not the only one struggling with them. One of my friends on tiktok suggested CO powder on a felt lap with a soft backing on high speed. I've got those coming in next week and am going to try that method and see if I can improve the shine. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2023 11:16:45 GMT -5
I have cabbed every single one of those jaspers...and got nothing more than a matte finish on them. Not that that should make you feel better...but it should make you feel like you're not alone! LOL Thank you, that is good know that I'm not the only one struggling with them. One of my friends on tiktok suggested CO powder on a felt lap with a soft backing on high speed. I've got those coming in next week and am going to try that method and see if I can improve the shine. I do know Paul has talked about his method on Noreena involves going dry on the 1200 to get the piece super heated. I have diamond wheels...so I'm not going to risk them by not using water. I tried it a LONG time ago with my flat lap and melted the disk! Once bitten, twice shy! LOL |
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