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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 17, 2005 21:02:53 GMT -5
Hello all-
I've got a nice batch of river rocks just about done. Upon examination today, I've noticed that polish has creaped into all the tiny little cracks. This is only my 2nd batch (my first batch was amethyst, citrine and quartz.) I wasn't too concerned w/ the first batch having lots of little "white streaks", I just chalked that up to the type of rock I was tumbling.
However, I really want this batch to come out spotless. Cookie and others have recommended a 24 hour Borax bath, but that hasn't seemed to work too well for me; maybe I need to leave them in for 48 hours. I have also not let this batch "dry out" on me, (Connrock warned me against this as it would leave grit in there which would harden and not come out.)
My question is, what are some other ideas to have a batch come out PERFECTLY????
(Oh, I've also taken a toothbrush to them, but there are some cracks that there is no way to get to all the grit/polish.
Thanks once again for the considerate help you freely give out (maybe I'll be handing out my own advice in the future, but for now I'm laying low and trying to perfect this craft, and trying to win one of those contests, he, he, he!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Later, Gaeter#nosmileys#nosmileys
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Post by Cher on Feb 17, 2005 21:15:28 GMT -5
I've had a few loads like that and there was no way I could get that polish out. I tried everything, borax, ivory, toothbrush, scrubbrush, nothing worked. I tossed most of it back into coarse. I'm sorry you ran into this, it is a real disappointment, I just came to the conclusion that if they had that many places that the polish stuck in, they wouldn't have had a nice polish anyway.
Cher
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Post by cookie3rocks on Feb 17, 2005 22:07:32 GMT -5
Unfortunatly, by the time you have finished a load in polish, if there is still grit in the cracks, the stone just didn't stay in the coarse stages long enough. I have settled on a slightly pitted finish (if Borax could clean out the grit) but if there are faults that continue to hold the polish, you just have to back up and go at it again. GGRRR Patience, Grasshopper... cookie
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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 17, 2005 22:18:15 GMT -5
Okay, Cook, Okay. However, this is where I'm coming from and my train of thought....tell me if I'm wrong.
If I leave them in course longer, I will just uncover more blemishes. So basically I feel there are flaws throughout the rock. I could leave them til the cows come home and I'll never get rid of all the little fractures. AM I WRONG in this thinking????
If this true, the only solution I see would be to Dremel the out the little flaws.
Am very interested to see your comments on this.
Cheers, Gaeter#nosmileys
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Feb 18, 2005 9:00:02 GMT -5
Now you got it- A flawed rock is just that flawed- If the crevise goes all the way through then grinding it is not going to remove it- For pits and shallow blems a dremel works great- I also use a dental pick that has a very sharpened (caution) end- to remove any grit I see (under magnification) It takes a bit of time but if I don't think I can grind out a pit or crack it is a way to still save the rock- As far as polish goes well once you reach that stage- it either goes back into the do over or you will have to live with it-
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Post by Cher on Feb 18, 2005 10:50:18 GMT -5
Chances are if you're seeing little pits over the surface of the rock, they are going to be throughout the rock. As far as fractures, if it's really bad and you can see a lot of them, same thing. If there's just one or two small blemishes, take them down with the dremel then you can pop it right into 120/200. Working with the dremel is same as on a grinder, keep it wet. Don't breathe in a lot of the dust etc.
Cher
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Feb 18, 2005 11:20:13 GMT -5
I have taken the dremel route with some success but not always...You can take out surface blemishes, especially dark discolorations on Carnellian. but deepening the pits create bigger places to trap grit and polish
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