proudpapa56
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2004
Posts: 6
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Post by proudpapa56 on Dec 20, 2004 6:31:36 GMT -5
Hi, it's the new guy again. (How long is someone tagged the new guy?) I just read a few folks mention that polish can be reused. For real? Can anyone please give me a few factoids/tips? Thanks. Gordon
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Post by docone31 on Dec 20, 2004 8:28:06 GMT -5
You can reuse grits, and polish. The question, how much time do you want to spend tumbling? Sometimes it is too far used and you will get no results. I do not really use anything like that. I have just not found it really worth it. I have used sandblasting grit all the way to final polish. I just let the tumbler run for two months. I am much happier using corundum or carbide grit and getting faster results. Keep posting, you will be a god in no time.
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Post by connrock on Dec 20, 2004 19:08:56 GMT -5
Hi proudpapa,, "(How long is someone tagged the new guy?) " Not too long if "he's" a woman!! LOL I'll just call ya Gordon!! You can use polish as many times as you see fit to do it.Polish does not break down like grit does. The problem here is contamunation. I tried saving polish for reuse but it took too much time and effort to do it so I use new polish all the time now. If you would like to try to save your polish remember that EVERYTHING MUST BE SURGICALLY CLEAN !! Just one piece of "left over" grit will contaminate your polish and ruin the shine on your rocks. Here's how to save it. After you have finished polishing a batch of rocks carefully pour the polish through a piece of cloth (like muslin) into a perfectly clean container. Add a "little" water to the tumbler barrel and swoosh it around and pour again.Do this until you get as much polish as you would like to save.Squeeze the cloth through your hands to get the rest out. Let the polish in the container sit (in a absolutely clean place) (Ha Ha Ha ) until the polish sets on the bottom and the water is on top. Carefully and very slowly pour the water off and let the container sit again until the rest of the water evaporates and all you have left is the polish. Pour and scrape the polish into a clean zip lock bag (or whatever0 and there you are. Surgical gloves are a good bet and again make sure EVERYTHING you use and or touch is as clean as clean gets. You won't be able to reclaim all of the polish but will get a lot of it back. Tom
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Post by cookie3rocks on Dec 20, 2004 20:48:51 GMT -5
I reuse polish and (no offence Tom) I'm really not that careful and have gotten great results. I just pour my cerium into a clean glass bowl and seal it. The last batch I used it on as a paste, no water, and the stones came out great.
cookie
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Post by stoner on Dec 21, 2004 1:57:00 GMT -5
I just pour mine back into the barrel along with the pellets, close the lid and when it's time for a polish run, I just add the rocks and a little fresh polish. Of course, this only works if you have a seperate barrel for polish only.
Ed
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Post by connrock on Dec 21, 2004 19:49:12 GMT -5
No offence taken cookie. That's what we're here for . Tom
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HarryB41
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2004
Posts: 605
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Post by HarryB41 on Dec 22, 2004 9:52:25 GMT -5
Hello. I always reuse my polish and it looks like Cookie knows my secret also..... I never add more water... I just use the paste that's at the bottom of my bucket and they come out wonderful. It is really creamy (?) and I have to use very little of those pesty plastic pellets, but I do add them.
Harry
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Post by creativeminded on Dec 22, 2004 10:51:46 GMT -5
Since I only have a small 3A Lortone I don't reuse any of my grit or polish. Besides I reuse the same bucket to rinse my rocks in so it would be very contaminated and I wouldn't get good results. Tami
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Dec 22, 2004 14:54:47 GMT -5
I have tried to reuse my polish but have never been happy with the results. It will polish more rocks, but they don't turn out as well as when I use new polish. I did save my tin oxide last time I used it (it's a little more pricey). Still, I think I'll make an elutriator to try and remove any contaminates before I use it again.
Ron
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Post by stoner on Dec 23, 2004 1:08:04 GMT -5
Hey Ron, what the hell is an elutriator?
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