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Post by Bob on Mar 11, 2005 16:24:44 GMT -5
I have a question regarding polishing. I'm relatively new at this and maybe someone can help. When the rocks are removed from the barrel after the polishing stage, many have white polish that's embedded in very tiny fissures and cracks that leave white lines or little white dots in the polished rock. Can the white lines and dots be removed? How can this be avoided in the first place?
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 16:37:15 GMT -5
I'm kind of new at this myself, but from reading other posts...
Some people tumble their rocks in just soap and water after the polishing stage (Borax or Ivory soap shavings). This may get rid of the polish build-up in the cracks.
Others soak their rocks in crazy glue before the polishing stage, so that the fractures are sealed.
Hope this is of some help.
Alice
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 11, 2005 17:16:02 GMT -5
after polishing sometimes it helps to burnish your stones in either mild soap (ivory) or Borax and water. use new pellets and don't over burnish, 4-6 hours max.
KD
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Post by Cher on Mar 11, 2005 17:47:03 GMT -5
You should check the rocks very carefully after each stage, especially the first one. Look at them dry, if they still have pits and large cracks, leave them in the first stage longer. Sometimes they will have fractures that are tight enough the will still polish good.
Cher
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Post by Condor on Mar 11, 2005 18:55:49 GMT -5
I use a waterhose with one of those spray pistols attached to it so I can spray hard at the rocks. It removes most of the residue.
Condor
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 11, 2005 22:25:25 GMT -5
Hi Bob, I use a combination of Borax and water with plastic pellets. It does a nice job John
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Mar 12, 2005 0:35:01 GMT -5
I use a rinse of about an hour with borax, water, pellets (the same ones that they were in the polish with) and a tablespoon of Cascade. The rest of the polish left in cracks is my own fault for not letting them run in the 60/90 as long as they should have;D This is very pronounced when you use Titanium Oxide.
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