dscratch
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 214
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Post by dscratch on Sept 2, 2008 22:24:11 GMT -5
I ran a batch of stones mostly jaspers and agates but they will not shine.
What's the problem?
2 weeks in 60/90 rotary lortone
2 days 120/220 vibratory
2 days 600 vibratory
1.5 days cerium oxide
They all have a white tint to them. I cleaned them and ran in borax for an hour between the 600 and cerium. Any ideas on what's wrong?
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Post by catmandewe on Sept 2, 2008 22:27:31 GMT -5
With the white tint I would guess too much water in the vibe.
You just want a little water in there, just enough to make the grit stick to the rocks.
Without any more information thats the best guess I can make.
Tony
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Sept 2, 2008 22:38:04 GMT -5
I read somewhere that cerium oxide shouldn't be used in vibes. Dunno why, maybe someone can enlighten.
ANYHOW, I do mine as:
However long in the rotary as it takes, then to the vibe:
2 days 120/220g
1 day 500g
1 day 1000g AO
1 day tripoli
1 day AO
Or I omit the tripoli and do two days of AO
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Sept 3, 2008 8:16:29 GMT -5
To get the right amt. of water,I've found it easiest to start the load dry then add a little water at a time until I get a slurry.In the fine grits this will just be a thin milky coating.At the start I also add cheap hair-gel in an amt. about equal to the grit:this sticks the grit to the rocks to form the slurry faster.In the fine grits I use distilled or filtered water-I've been told that hard water can interfere with the polish.Mike.
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Sept 3, 2008 18:01:29 GMT -5
Distilled water... Good grief, everytime I turn around there is something else I need, lol...
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Post by Condor on Sept 3, 2008 18:29:54 GMT -5
I tumble with rotaries and vibes. Here's my 0.02 cents...Go back and redo the 600 then, forget the cerium oxide and use aluminum oxide. That should maybe do the trick. For some reason I have really bad luck with the CO in the vibes. It just won't work. When I use it in the rotary, I get good results. I personally go rotary with the first stage followed by 120/220 vibe, then 400F vibe, then tripoli followed by the AO.
Condor
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Sept 3, 2008 18:39:35 GMT -5
I read on here a great trick for getting the correct amount of water --
Get a small tiny sieve like you use for skimming pellets or use your hand. Fill your vibe barrel with rocks and filler. Fill with water. Put the sieve over the top or your hand and turn it over. Let the water drain until it's dripping. Flip it back over, add your grit, and away you go.
For the coarse run, I usually add maybe a teaspoon or two of water back in.
I've found that this gives me almost exactly the correct amount of water I need every time.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 3, 2008 21:44:36 GMT -5
It's been a while, but they used to call me the "Vibe Queen" cause I so favored it for anything past coarse. And I always had good luck with Cerium as well, tho most "poo-pooed" it. The secret is pretty much what youve heard. You want those final vibe steps to be almost a paste. You really have to watch it closely every day so it's not to thick/thin. Which is kinda fun when you think about it (; But even in the vibe I'd let the 120/220 go for a week. I know it's hard, but trust me, youll be glad you did!
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Sept 4, 2008 15:24:15 GMT -5
i always used the co for a pre polish and then do my final polish with ao or tin oxide. also i have used another polish called m-5. i use a heaping tablespoon of m-5 with a tablespoon of dawn dish liquid along with some water to form a creamy type paste it works pretty well. this is in a rotary 3 pound tumbler.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Sept 5, 2008 4:26:40 GMT -5
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Sept 5, 2008 16:46:19 GMT -5
Lynskin posts that she likes M-5.So do I,but I polish with Rapid Polish#61[A.O.] then buff with M-5 on a leather belt for that little bit of extra gleam.Mike.
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we all want a ton of when polishing rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
