tomcloss
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 158
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Post by tomcloss on Mar 29, 2009 16:26:33 GMT -5
I know I don't post often. By the time I get a chance to respond to anyones post some one has already answered the question. Since I haven't posted in a while I thought I'd share a few pieces of Malachite I started tumbling then had to finish by hand polishing. Since my younger years of tumbling I would have never been able to tumble Malachite (my parents would have killed me). One thing was to get the finish I wanted I needed to hand polish the stones. If anyone is interested in tumbling Malachite and wants to learn from some of the mistakes I made let me know I'll gladly share. Here are a few photos.   Tom |
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 29, 2009 18:34:19 GMT -5
Oh Tom, that's beautiful. Love the teardrop shaped one, love them all! Jo
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 29, 2009 18:47:23 GMT -5
Tom!!
The Malachite is gorgeous ...
Malachite is one of my favorites and you have done the stone justice big time!!!
Very nice!!
Julie
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 29, 2009 20:17:11 GMT -5
Those look great Tom! Thanks for sharing.
Nate
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teaoflv
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2009
Posts: 19
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Post by teaoflv on Mar 30, 2009 14:12:01 GMT -5
Oh my all time favorite! Love all the different shapes too.
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chrisperez
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 457
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Post by chrisperez on Mar 30, 2009 15:07:24 GMT -5
I have some questions about polish, Tom.... I recently dropped a really cool piece of malachite I have on my glass table, and it broke  . Well, I decided to throw it in my tumbler ( just a little "toy " tumbler ) to smooth out the broken edges. I put in in with some harder stones ( agates, jaspers, etc.. ) that are all quite small, and checked it regularly. It has had about 3 days in 80 grit, 2 or 3 days in 220, and 2 days in 400. Now I'm waiting for the other stones to get ready for polish, and your post pops up  . So far, it has come out great, but I'll take any tips you would care to share on polishing, I don't want to mess it up  ... here is how it looks so far...  thanks Chris |
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Mar 30, 2009 15:16:08 GMT -5
I love Malachite but I don't dare mess around with something as expensive as that at this point in my lapidary journey. I'd be interested in your recipe for success. I'll keep a copy for my journal.
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Post by frane on Mar 30, 2009 17:44:56 GMT -5
Beautiful stones! I have never had any malachite so I am not sure of anything to do with it.
Fran
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Mar 31, 2009 11:57:31 GMT -5
Very nice tumbles i have been wanting to try malachite
Wolf
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mcgrave
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2008
Posts: 14
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Post by mcgrave on Apr 3, 2009 17:19:34 GMT -5
Hey tom thats awesome.  You got to show me the stones this weekend. |
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tomcloss
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 158
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Post by tomcloss on Apr 3, 2009 17:33:12 GMT -5
I love Malachite but I don't dare mess around with something as expensive as that at this point in my lapidary journey. I'd be interested in your recipe for success. I'll keep a copy for my journal. Wow those look great. Malachite is probably my favorite stone. If you have the stones rounded the way you want already you can easily hand polish the stones to finish. This will allow you to get the finish you want without the chance of chipping the the pieces by putting them in with harder material. I had to hand polish mine to get the final finish I wanted. I'd try taking a piece of cheap felt (you can purchase from Michale's for $0.25) put a very small amount of polish on the felt and wet it with a spray bottle. (It only needs to be damp.) rub the stones on the felt in the Polish until it shines. This should only take a few minutes. If the this doesn't work you may want to try wet sanding the stones with a 600 grit sand paper and then a 1000 grit sand paper. Then try to re-polish. It won't take much sanding since malachite is so soft. Important: Note: Malachite dust can be poisonous so be sure to wet sand and do not sand if you have any open cuts on your hands. I would recommend wearing a mask to be safe. I hope this helps (sorry for the later response I just don't get enough time to troll the boards) Good Luck Tom  |
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Post by LCARS on Apr 4, 2009 1:37:10 GMT -5
I never had much luck polishing malachite in the tumbler. I found out it's way faster and a better result doing the final polish with a dremel polishing pad, just need a steady hand and watch out for flying malachite if it does end up grabbing. ;D |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 8, 2009 2:13:36 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
I generaly do the final polish with Zam and can fuly recomend ZAM as a final polish it realy put a gloss finish on it
I use a felt pad on a end flat aliminium wheel of a small combination unit (so it is a quite a solid pad and you can put a bit of pressure on it)
I other words Not just a floppy Buff
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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. Well, I decided to throw it in my tumbler ( just a little "toy " tumbler ) to smooth out the broken edges. I put in in with some harder stones ( agates, jaspers, etc.. ) that are all quite small, and checked it regularly. It has had about 3 days in 80 grit, 2 or 3 days in 220, and 2 days in 400. Now I'm waiting for the other stones to get ready for polish, and your post pops up 
. 
... here is how it looks so far...
You got to show me the stones this weekend.
