what polish to use

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jeg starting to shine! Member since January 2024 Posts: 31	what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 8:20:45 GMT -5 dshanpnw likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jeg on Feb 28, 2024 8:20:45 GMT -5 Hi I am new to tumbling using a loritone 33b trying to finish my first batch of mixed calcite can seem to get a good shine with al oxide any thoughts on what i can try . thank jerry

rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368

what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 9:21:35 GMT -5 Fossilman and dshanpnw like this

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Post by rocknewb101 on Feb 28, 2024 9:21:35 GMT -5

Hi jeg - where did you get your polish from? I've never tumbled calcite, but I understand it's quite soft (3 mohs, if I'm seeing correctly). IMO this makes it hard to tumble - make sure you are adding in a ton of ceramic or plastic media to help cushion it. Also, if you're able to share pictures that'll help folks see what is going on - possible bruising. Lastly, what stages are you using with your grit? Typical is 60/90, 120/220, 500 (or 600) and then AO polish, which if you got from somewhere like rockshed/kingsley north should be upwards of 8000. Amazon polishes typically don't go this high (1200 usually). With ALL of this being said - I'm not at all familiar with calcite and super soft stones, so someone may come along and totally correct what I've said

specifically thinking you don't need t start with the 60/90 as it's likely too coarse??

Peta

dshanpnw
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Member since December 2020
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what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 10:21:57 GMT -5 Fossilman and rocknewb101 like this

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Post by dshanpnw on Feb 28, 2024 10:21:57 GMT -5

Hello Jeg, rocknewb101 is correct, calcite might not be the best rock to tumble especially for the very first batch because it is super soft. Did your rocks get a lot smaller after the first two stages? Did they loose a lot of mass? Calcite would probably grind away very fast. I'd be anxious to see photos no matter how they turn out for you. I've never tumbled calcite either, but I'm thinking it would be a lot like tumbling Petoskey stones where you'll need to "dry" polish them using ground up corn cob.

Last Edit: Feb 28, 2024 10:24:01 GMT -5 by dshanpnw

jeg starting to shine! Member since January 2024 Posts: 31	what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 10:25:17 GMT -5 rocknewb101 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jeg on Feb 28, 2024 10:25:17 GMT -5 i was using al oxide from kinsley

Fossilman Cave Dweller Member since January 2009 Posts: 20,722	what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 11:28:53 GMT -5 rocknewb101 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Fossilman on Feb 28, 2024 11:28:53 GMT -5 Might have to use cerium oxide. The Rock Shed out of South Dakota has the best grits and powders, fast service too..
	God,family and life.....

jeg starting to shine! Member since January 2024 Posts: 31	what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 12:08:42 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jeg on Feb 28, 2024 12:08:42 GMT -5 thanks i have some cerium

velodromed
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What you do in your haste you will regret in your leisure.

Member since March 2023
Posts: 1,490

what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 16:04:33 GMT -5

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Post by velodromed on Feb 28, 2024 16:04:33 GMT -5

I have some SiC grit I can send and rock shed AO, prepolish (1000) and polish (sub micron size or something). The rocks I’m sending are all jaspers, cherts and agates (round 7 mohs scale), so will need multiple course stages for shaping. I like to use ceramics in the pre polish and polish stages to help avoid bruising. I’ve extra so will include some.

-Velo

dillonf fully equipped rock polisher Hounding and tumbling Member since February 2022 Posts: 1,622	what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 21:32:59 GMT -5 yurii likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dillonf on Feb 28, 2024 21:32:59 GMT -5 www.rockshed.com/instructions3.html

chris1956
driving up their electric bill

Member since July 2022
Posts: 2,406

what polish to use Feb 28, 2024 21:44:48 GMT -5 dillonf and hplcman like this

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Post by chris1956 on Feb 28, 2024 21:44:48 GMT -5

Feb 28, 2024 21:32:59 GMT -5 dillonf said:

www.rockshed.com/instructions3.html

Thanks for posting this Dillon. I knew about the dry method for Petoskey stones but haven't seen the wet procedure before although I have heard of it. I am going to have to try some and see what happens.

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