indychris
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since April 2008
Posts: 81
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Post by indychris on Apr 26, 2008 13:08:24 GMT -5
Hey, All-
I've got a few pieces of Picasso that have tumbled beautifully. They are very smooth and well-shaped. I've been running them in my UV-10 with tin-oxide polish for two+ days and so far there is really no "shine" to them. I've got a few other stones in with them that have shined up beautifully, though.
Thus I have a couple of questions:
1- I've got a few pieces of agate and quartz in with the marble. Will the presence of the harder stones keep the Picasso from getting a nice finish?
2- Is the softer picasso even capable of a nice gleam?
3- I've some ceramic media tumbling with the stones as filler. Would that have a negative impact on the polishing of marble?
Thanks!
Chris
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 26, 2008 13:51:28 GMT -5
the only way i've ever gota shine on Picasso was on the grinder. it shapes nicely in the tumbler, but that is about it. running it with harder stones isn't a good idea.
my 2 cents,
KD
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 26, 2008 16:06:34 GMT -5
You absolutely cannot get Picasso to shine by tumbling it. I've always been the one who has to try and prove people wrong, but when I attempted to prove wrong on this, I failed miserably. ;D ....it's just way too soft.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Apr 26, 2008 23:25:50 GMT -5
Wow. It's like Deja Vu all over again. I was just about to post the same question. I vibe tumbled a bunch of cabs including some Picasso Marble and yep after a week in Tin Oxide no shine. I'm able to shine them on a muslin buff with Zam. I put all the Picasso Marble in a 1.5 lb rotary tumbler with some cerium oxide just to see if they will polish. I'm not hopeful though. Looks like I'll have to manually polish them all.
Also, you don't want to vibe tumble picasso marble for over a day on any one stage. The stuff wears down quick. I think the next batch I will vibe tumble in 600 grit only then polish with Zam.
Rick
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 27, 2008 0:02:29 GMT -5
Yup, what Randy and KD said. Polishes up fine on the wheels with optical tin oxide but no go in the tumbler....Mel
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 27, 2008 8:06:27 GMT -5
I overheard a guy one time say that he tumbles turquiose in chrome oxide because it is like Zam in powder form. Has anyone tried chrome oxide in a tumbler? It might e worth a try for the Picasso.
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Post by krazydiamond on Apr 27, 2008 8:31:25 GMT -5
i tried Chrome Oxide with jade one time, what a freaking mess. green goo all over the place and it didn't do anything for the jade. i think i sent the rest of my Chrome Ox to Connrock because i knew i wouldn't use it ever again.
KD
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 27, 2008 9:20:37 GMT -5
Yes, it's some messy stuff. I found a source for it in bulk and weighed out bags for resale. I wore plastic gloves and still ended up with green hands. I was thinking it might work in a vibe tumbler.
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