Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 1, 2008 3:16:53 GMT -5
I am trying to tumble some rose quartz,smokey quartz and aventurine. I have been doing the same thing I always do with the local agates and jasper but its not working for this.
I ran it for 2 weeks in 60 grit, then 10 days in 200 grit, then 10 days in 600 grit. This was followed by 10 days in Cerium Oxide. It came out with almost no shine so I put it back in for 10 days in Cerium Oxide. Still almost no shine. The barrel was always at least half full, and none of them have rough edges.
What am I doing wrong
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on May 1, 2008 4:11:44 GMT -5
Hmm, the only thing I can think of is that the cerium oxide is the wrong polish; everything else you are doing sounds perfect.
I looked up the mohs hardness of cerium, and the two sites that gave a value both said it was mohs 6. That's too soft to put any polish on quartz or adventurine (both mohs 7).
I suggest trying a harder polishing compound, like aluminum oxide (mohs 9).
-Don
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 1, 2008 9:40:28 GMT -5
It could be the polish, but I use it on agate and jasper all the time and its also about 7 mohs. Wouldn't hurt to try a different polish though. Have to order some first. Whats everybody else think?
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on May 1, 2008 9:51:33 GMT -5
Are you using plastic pellets? If not you may need to add some for cushioning. Try Tin Oxide or Rapid Polish. I've had good results with both when Cerium Oxide failed.
Rick
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 1, 2008 10:26:42 GMT -5
I vouch for Connrock's recipe which uses AO 1000 after the 500. I've used 800 instead and that has worked well, too. He also suggests putting Tripoli in with the 1000 after you've run the 1000 for a while.
Hope that helps!
Chuck
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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 May 1, 2008 12:29:12 GMT -5
Ditto on the last two tips...
1) quartz is prone to smashing; go back to 600 or even medium using plastic pellets
2) Whenever I have issues with the shine the first thing I do is ensure a 1000AO grit stage as a prepolish
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on May 1, 2008 15:16:19 GMT -5
I think that Connrock is right in line.after i use tripoli for pre polish and i have never used anything but AO polish it works just fine for me...........Rocky
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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 May 1, 2008 15:44:28 GMT -5
Yup, AO or optical grade tin oxide for me on quartz gems with lots of pellets to cushion the load. I run 15 day in polish too. Mirror polish every time....Mel
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 1, 2008 22:27:36 GMT -5
Ok AO it is. Now for another question. After my 600 Silicon carbide, should I go to 1000 grit AO then AO polish or straight to AO polish? Also how much AO in a 3lb tumbler? I'm looking at the ones from the rock shed. therockshed.com/grit.html |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 2, 2008 2:45:41 GMT -5
Hi Scott,
I would do a wash/burnish ( with Borax / Ivory ) for 24 hrs after the 1000G pre pol then the polish , I use CO it gives a good shine on Quartze family
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on May 2, 2008 3:03:09 GMT -5
Ok AO it is. Now for another question. After my 600 Silicon carbide, should I go to 1000 grit AO then AO polish or straight to AO polish? Also how much AO in a 3lb tumbler? I'm looking at the ones from the rock shed. This is one of those "personal preference" calls. Many folks here swear by a 1000 grit stage before polishing, especially on difficult materials. Certainly no harm in it. But I played around with and without the 1000 grit stage a couple years ago, and I couldn't see any difference whether I used 1000 grit before polish or whether I went straight from 500F silicon carbide to polish. The 1000 stage won't hurt anything, but in my own experience it just doesn't give any benefit, except to the folks who sell AO 1000.  As for the amount of AO, that part is easy -- 5 level tablespoons in the 1000 grit stage for a 3 lb barrel, 6 level tablespoons for the polish stage in a 3 lb barrel. -Don |
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 2, 2008 9:32:02 GMT -5
The AO is on its way. Thanks for all the help.
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