rocknuv
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2024
Posts: 8
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Post by rocknuv on Apr 23, 2024 8:53:22 GMT -5
Hello. I am new to this forum. I have been tumbling for about 6 months and I like the results so far. But I have a question. I don’t think it was ever asked in this way in this forum. Do you select a different final polish depending on the rocks you’re tumbling? For instance, do you use a different final polish for agates, quartz, obsidian, softer rocks, harder rocks and so on.
So far, I have only used 8000 and 140000 Aluminum oxide for final polish. I’m not sure if the tin oxide or cerium oxide would have created a better finish (shine/smoothness) since I have not tried. Does anyone have any empirical evidence of using a specific final polish for specific types of rocks? Thanks.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Apr 23, 2024 9:51:54 GMT -5
Hello. I am new to this forum. I have been tumbling for about 6 months and I like the results so far. But I have a question. I don’t think it was ever asked in this way in this forum. Do you select a different final polish depending on the rocks you’re tumbling? For instance, do you use a different final polish for agates, quartz, obsidian, softer rocks, harder rocks and so on. So far, I have only used 8000 and 140000 Aluminum oxide for final polish. I’m not sure if the tin oxide or cerium oxide would have created a better finish (shine/smoothness) since I have not tried. Does anyone have any empirical evidence of using a specific final polish for specific types of rocks? Thanks. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 23, 2024 13:16:48 GMT -5
I have a book at home that for the life of me I can't remember the name of it right now!
I'll try to remember to look at it tonight. It has a list of pretty much most minerals and has recommended polishes for each of them...
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nolasean
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2024
Posts: 58
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Post by nolasean on Apr 23, 2024 13:24:57 GMT -5
That sounds like a great book to read.
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rocknuv
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2024
Posts: 8
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Post by rocknuv on Apr 23, 2024 15:53:23 GMT -5
Hello. I am new to this forum. I have been tumbling for about 6 months and I like the results so far. But I have a question. I don’t think it was ever asked in this way in this forum. Do you select a different final polish depending on the rocks you’re tumbling? For instance, do you use a different final polish for agates, quartz, obsidian, softer rocks, harder rocks and so on. So far, I have only used 8000 and 140000 Aluminum oxide for final polish. I’m not sure if the tin oxide or cerium oxide would have created a better finish (shine/smoothness) since I have not tried. Does anyone have any empirical evidence of using a specific final polish for specific types of rocks? Thanks. Thank you for the link. I will look through this. |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Apr 24, 2024 7:13:03 GMT -5
There are definitely some rocks that will do better with Cerium Oxide, and some do better with Aluminum Oxide. I've found that most of the rocks I polish, jaspers, agates, anything with a 6-7 on the Mohs hardness scale do well with AO, Aluminum Oxide. I don't think this list is accurate or it is outdated. Notice there's no AO.
Actinolite: TO
Agate: CO, TO
Alabaster: TO
Amozonite: TO
Amber: TO
Amblygonite: TO
Andalucite: TO
Apatite: LA, CH
Aventurine: TO
Azurite: TO, CH
Apophyllite: CH
Aragonite: CH
Axinite: CO
Barite: CH
Benitoite: CO
Beryl: CO, TO, DI
Bloodstone: LA
Brazilianite: TO
Calcite: TO, CH
Cassiterite: TO
Celestite: CH
Cerossite: CH
Chrysoberyl: DI
Coral: TO
Corundum: DI
Cubic Zirconia: DI
Danburite: TO
Datolite: TO
Diopside: CH
Dioptase: CO
Diorite: CO, TO, LA, CH
Enstatite: TO
Epidote: TO
Euclase: TO
Feldspar: CO, TO
Fluorite: TO, CH
Garnet: CO, TO, LA, DI, CH
Goldstone: CO, TO
Hematite: CO
Hickoryite: LA
Howlite: CO, TO, LA, CH
Hypersthene: TO
Jadeite: CO, TO, LA, CH
Jasper: CO, TO, LA, CH
Kyanite: TO
Labradorite: TO, CH
Lapis Lazuli: TO, LA, CH
Lepidolite: CH
Limestone: CO, TO, LA, CH
Malachite: TO, LA, CH
Moonstone: TO
Nephrite: TO, LA, CH
Obsidian: TO, CH
Onyx: CO, TO, CH
Opal: CO, TO
Peridot: TO, LA, DI
Petrified Wood: CO, TO, LA, CH
Phenacite: TO
Pollucite: TO
Quartz: CO, TO
Rhodochrosite: TO, LA, CH
Rhodonite: CO, LA, CH
Ruby: DI
Rutile: LA
Sapphire: DI
Scapolite: CO
Scheelite: CH
Serpentine: TO, LA, CH
Smithsonite: TO
Sodalite: CO
Sosolite: CO
Spinel: TO, LA, DI
Spahlerite: CH
Spodumene: TO
Sunstone: TO
Thompsonite: CO
Tiger-eye: CO, TO, LA
Titanite (sphene): TO
Topaz: TO, LA, DI
Tourmaline: TO, LA, DI
Turquoise: CO, TO, LA
Unakite: CO
Varicite: CO, TO, LA
Vesuvianite: CO
Williamsite: LA
Wonderstone: TO, LA,
Wulfenite: CH
Zircon: TO
Zoisite: CO
Polishes for Lapidary Materials
Recommended Polishes
For Lapidary Materials
from Benjamin E. Schmidt
Key: CO - Cerium Oxide, CH - Chrome Oxide, DI - Diamond, Linde A, TO - Tin Oxide
LA -
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rocknuv
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2024
Posts: 8
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Post by rocknuv on Apr 26, 2024 14:33:45 GMT -5
Thank you dshanpnw for posting the list. Yes it looks like this list was created before Aluminum Oxide grit became popular for pre and final polish. Out of curiosity, when did the hobby begin using Aluminum Oxide?
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 26, 2024 14:59:11 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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