firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Mar 20, 2009 8:26:36 GMT -5
In reading through some of the threads it seems most of you run your final polish cycles for approx. 3 weeks. I'm getting ready to run my first batch through the final polish, but what I can't find in reading back through the threads is whether this process is the same as stage 1/2, in that you rinse and recharge the drum each week, or do you just allow the rocks to run for the 3 weeks without disturbing them?
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 20, 2009 9:38:05 GMT -5
You won't be making slurry so can just let it roll. I'd check it after a week and see how a sampling looks. If you do a good job on the early stages you may get a satisfactory polish in less time. Depends on rock type, tumbler, and type of polish also
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Mar 20, 2009 13:39:34 GMT -5
I never have the patience for a 3-week polish! Maybe 10 days, and then sometimes I even forget to burnish after (a soap run for 1-2 days). I'm a perfectionist in terms of pits or cracks (none allowed), but if it's shiny, that's good enough for me. Of course, then I really drool at some of the results other post here... their shines are incredible! But I know myself, and I'm happy with mine!
Amy
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Mar 20, 2009 19:48:48 GMT -5
John and Amy, thanks so much for your input and advice. Amy, I hope I'll have the patience to go the three weeks, especially with this being my first batch to polish. But I look at it this way, I already have several weeks into these rocks, and if I rush this last stage, then I've wasted all the weeks I've put into them. Of course, that sounds good on paper, but whether or not I can convince myself to let them go that long will be a whole 'nother deal.  My MIL lost her pet parakeet of over 11 years and it just happened I had some blue/white rocks in this batch, which was the color of his feathering, so I want to give those rocks to her in memory of her little bird, so I really hope these turn out. |
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Mar 20, 2009 21:26:47 GMT -5
I run for 2 weeks in polish, and I just open barrel after 1 week and add 1 more tablespoon of polish, then continue.
Terry
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Mar 22, 2009 9:08:11 GMT -5
Terry, thank you for your input. I was sure I had read somewhere on here that some people added a TBS of polish at the half way point. I'll plan to do that and hopefully this first adventure will meet with some level of success.
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My MIL lost her pet parakeet of over 11 years and it just happened I had some blue/white rocks in this batch, which was the color of his feathering, so I want to give those rocks to her in memory of her little bird, so I really hope these turn out. 
