navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
|
Post by navi on Jun 5, 2009 9:58:19 GMT -5
working in a jewelry store, i tried this experiment. i had some agates that after burnishing, still had a film and some polish tucked in cracks. i put those into our jewelry cleaner, which has an ultrasonic vibration deal. as soon as they went in, i saw the film coming off in a cloud!!!
just a thought, large ones, enough to do a whole load are sort of pricey (i'm sure there are cheep ones to be had somewhere), and tiny ones can only do a few at a time.
but the results may be worth it!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Jun 5, 2009 13:25:04 GMT -5
A vibe tumbler full of water and a tablespoon, or two of borax will work as well as an ultrasonic cleaner, but may take a little longer.
It may cost a little more than an ultrasonic cleaner, but you get to polish more rock faster andan ultrasonic cleaner polishes no roack at all.
150FromFundy
|
|
darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
|
Post by darrad on Jun 5, 2009 22:41:47 GMT -5
What kind of film? I run a borax wash in my rotarys after 120/200 and each step after and have never had any kind of film.
|
|
navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
|
Post by navi on Jun 6, 2009 9:48:37 GMT -5
i have a rotary. i guess the film is some ploish. the stones look pretty after burnishing them, but dont shine. after the ultrasonic, they shine. maybe i should get some borax. silly question, borax is just some type of laundry soap, right?
|
|
darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
|
Post by darrad on Jun 7, 2009 1:23:14 GMT -5
Yep - a laundry soap. Actually it claims to be a laundry booster. Most stores have it in the detergent isle. 20 mule team borax. It's been around a long time.
|
|
MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by MikeS on Jun 8, 2009 8:44:12 GMT -5
if you can't find borax, use plain ivory bar soap shavings...actually I get better results with that than borax....
|
|
coasthunterjay
starting to spend too much on rocks
Carefull ive got a gun....and a closet full of rocks
Member since May 2009
Posts: 155
|
Post by coasthunterjay on Jun 8, 2009 15:29:54 GMT -5
You can get just plain borax from a fishing or hunting store also...they use it as a brine/preservative for curing salmon eggs and stuff like that. I think you can also get higher quality borax through a taxidermy store of somekind. There are several outlets like rineharts, cabelas taxidermy, etc. They use it to treat skins and capes while mounting animals. keeps skins from rotting and smelling gross. So boarx has alot of uses
|
|
DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
|
Post by DeanW on Jun 11, 2009 22:03:32 GMT -5
Here's what the box looks like at the grocery stores.  |
|
enidob23
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2009
Posts: 3
|
Post by enidob23 on Jun 20, 2009 14:13:09 GMT -5
I am new at tumbling,/ what is a good burnishing agent?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 26, 2009 2:25:20 GMT -5
Hi Enidob23,
Welcome to RTH where we all learn from one another
Borax is used with Ivory soap just before the pre polish stage to wash and burnish the rocks in preparation for the final polish
I run the burnishing stage 24 to 48 hours and you should see the dirty water that comes off
they then have a dull shine on them already
jack
Yorkshire UK
|
|
enidob23
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2009
Posts: 3
|
Post by enidob23 on Jun 30, 2009 22:09:14 GMT -5
Thanks Jack,
|
|
enidob23
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2009
Posts: 3
|
Post by enidob23 on Jul 1, 2009 16:57:01 GMT -5
Jack, from UK , Do you use a media during burnishing stage? I have been useing saw dust during polish stage& pre- polish. I use all... oxide 500 as pre polish, tin oxide as polish and then useing Ivory soap to clean.That wrong . So should I use Borox & Ivory before pre polish. If you want you can contact me at enidob23@yahoo.com or I will look here Thanks Robert Bodine.
|
|
navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
|
Post by navi on Jul 10, 2009 13:56:48 GMT -5
i just did a prepolish stage and ran a burnish in borax for around 30 hours. i was actually suprised at the difference and they aren't polished yet!!! started polish stage today. will burnish afterwards.
thanks for the tip!!
|
|
