docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on Aug 18, 2009 19:17:09 GMT -5
U have a few pounds of this stuff. After several attemptss through 500-600 and porepolish/polish stages, I can't get more than a satiny luster on it. Any suggestions? i don't have any undercutting or much pitting, just a refusal to polish.
By the way (Mel?) does anyone know what the black material is? Is thuis stuff actually a jasper?
mark H.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
|
Post by Sabre52 on Aug 18, 2009 20:29:46 GMT -5
Mark, I have some too and I'd say it's not truly a jasper. I'd call it more of a rhyolite and it is a bit more porous than jasper too which probably contributes to the polishing difficulties. The black spots look like maybe manganese inclusions but that's only a guess....Mel
|
|
docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on Aug 18, 2009 21:09:11 GMT -5
Thanks Mel, your opinion is always valued. The spots aren't crystalline, for sure- no form to them at all and no difference in hardness with the ground material. Some of mine has a slightly browninsh or gray cast to the ground, which makes me think it could be a rhyolite too...
Mark H.
|
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on Aug 23, 2009 19:10:14 GMT -5
What polish are you using?
Have you tried Tin Oxide yet?
|
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Aug 23, 2009 22:00:32 GMT -5
I got better than satin, but not quite glass, in a vibe with AO.
|
|
huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
|
Post by huffstuff on Aug 24, 2009 10:16:06 GMT -5
I got a good shine using AO in a rotary. As above, I got better than satin, and not noticeably different from my other rocks.
Sorry it's giving you trouble.
Amy
|
|
docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on Aug 24, 2009 19:19:10 GMT -5
I use both AO as a prepolish then Cerium oxide in my vibe. I guess it's really better than a satin but not really glassy smooth. Definitely not like the hard jaspers and agates.I have heard the praises of tin oxide sung before, and wanted to try it until I priced it. The Scottish blood started to simmer and I had to back off before my brain exploded. I would consider it for a lap, but too pricey for the tumbler. I may cab some and finish them off with 14k or 50k diamond, to see what I can do with them. They sure are interesting and a nice polish would look really cool...
mark H.
|
|
