llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Feb 4, 2005 9:47:38 GMT -5
I hate this stuff! I had a batch that went through 4 days of Tripoli in the vibe and it had a good shine on it. Decided I would use alum ox!de. Well, in one day, the alum oxide made the stones dull, dull, dull! Completely reversed what the Tripoli did! GRRRRRR! I am so mad! I am throwing this crap away so I won't ever be tempted to use it again and ruin a batch of stones! Just had to rant! llana
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2005 10:02:43 GMT -5
OHHHHH NOOOOO I just got a pound of that stuff- Please tell me it ain't so. Your talking about the white polish right?- I have some Tripoli should I stop there?
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Feb 4, 2005 10:06:40 GMT -5
no dont stop at the tripoli. I always tripoli the rocks right before polish and they are somewhat shiny, but then i go and titanium dioxide the rocks and they come out VERY shiny. You need to have that polish stage, otherwise all your time and work put into the rocks is wasted
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2005 10:26:24 GMT -5
Yes but what about aluminum oxide- I have seen more than one horror story about using it- oh and I have a 500F grit- should I still move to the tripoli after- or skip it and go to polish? Oh I thought I had this all figured out now I'm not sure
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 4, 2005 11:31:27 GMT -5
stefan kd is using it with amazing results. i have never tried mine as i was steered toward other polishes before i ever got a batch to the polish stage. i do have some though.
kim
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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 Feb 4, 2005 13:54:15 GMT -5
The best results that I've ever had were using Aluminum Oxide that I bought from "The Rock Shed". It is not well suited for softer rocks though. Also beware that Aluminum Oxide is a generic term. There are LOTS of different polishes out there that are Aluminum Oxide but are very different in detail.
Ron
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 4, 2005 15:02:14 GMT -5
Llana- KD's rocks are fabulous and she uses Aluminuim Oxide. I am amazed since I have never liked it and personally have never have good results with it, but I can not argue with the photos and the gloss she has attained on her stones. She has got it right! She runs them up two 2 weeks from what I have seen. I remember reading on earlier posts that there seems to be a 'breakdown' period for aluminuim oxide before the polishing really takes place. I am just guessing that they may need to run longer. I know how you feel though, it seems to be a gamble when a week goes by and everything seems to have gone south, to maybe let it run for another seven days in hopes that it will all improve. I am only judging from what KD is putting out, since I only use Titanium or Tin Oxide. The other variable is... what are the rocks that you have in the Aluminuim Oxide?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2005 16:44:47 GMT -5
OK I got my Alum Ox from the rock shed also so I feel better- That breakdown time frame makes sense- Even the polishes have microscopic edges that would have to be smoothed off as the rock took on shine- so I am gonna use the Alum OX and leave it in for 2 weeks!
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Post by hermatite on Feb 4, 2005 16:48:41 GMT -5
I got my alum oxide from the rockshed too and can't complain about my results. the only ones that are off and on are sodalite. I got mine from the rockshed so maybe that's the secret. I also let my polish stage run AT LEAST two weeks with lots of pellets for cushioning.
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 4, 2005 17:01:51 GMT -5
hey, llana, don't throw that stuff out! i'll pay shipping for you to send it my way! as weird as it feels to get white powder in the mail.. on the inside put a little note as NON TOXIC ALUMINUM OXIDE in case the nice postal people have a hissy fit. let me know, i need to order more anyhow! by the way, if i could, i'd use Tin Oxide all the time, but it's on the high side in price. i find it a bit more "messy" than AO as do i find the Titanium, and with both the Titanium and the tin, i always put too little water in and have to open the barrels shortly after starting them (hence the mess), it's like it is thicker than the AO or something. KD
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Feb 4, 2005 18:29:05 GMT -5
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Feb 5, 2005 10:43:28 GMT -5
Well, I didn't get mine from the Rock Shed so maybe it's a lesser quality. I do remember somebody saying that there are different qualities of the stuff. Mine apparenty is NOT the high quality stuff. KD I'd be glad to send it to you because I will NEVER use it again. I have never had good results with it. But, you, on the other hand, I think, could get a shine on an old combat boot with it! I sure will feel bad it you use this stuff and it makes your rocks as dull as it did mine, though. I really don't think this is the higher quality stuff. So, be warned! I have a small box around here and as soon as I find it, I will package this stuff up and send it to you. I put the rocks back into Tripoli and they are back to where the were before the alum oxide, so after washing them good, they will go into polish again. Trying to decide what polish to use on them - have several kinds and am trying to determine which I like best. llana
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Feb 5, 2005 10:57:53 GMT -5
Standard aluminum oxide is the worst polish on the market. I still have two pounds of the from the rock shed that I'll never use! Anybody want it? If not, I'll just throw it away. There are however, micro-alumina oxides that are suposed to be really great! But the way I see it, with all the other polishes on the market, why even take a chance...
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lotarocks45
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since February 2005
Posts: 77
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Post by lotarocks45 on Feb 5, 2005 11:06:52 GMT -5
ive been using tripoli and after a week put in a little tin oxide and i get a nice shine on my slabs
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Post by Cher on Feb 5, 2005 19:24:42 GMT -5
I've been using the aluminum oxide that I got from the Rock Shed and have had great results with it. I also save it from batch to batch and just add a little each time I start a new barrel. Definitely something to the idea that you have to leave it in longer. Some of my first batches, I ran the aluminum oxide for about 5 days then put it in Cerium oxide for another 5 days and got nice shine from that too.
Cher
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 5, 2005 20:01:34 GMT -5
James, don't chuck it, send it my way, i will reimburse you for shipping! i will IM you my address!
KD
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