redwings1
starting to shine!
Member since July 2009
Posts: 45
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Post by redwings1 on Sept 14, 2009 13:39:17 GMT -5
When I use cerium and water only, it beats the heck out of my granite. When I add (1) pump of Soft Soap to the load, the thin foam seems to prevent the polish from sticking to the rock. The best luck I had was adding Soft Soap and Plasic Pellets, but the vibe action slows down to nothing after a couple hours. What I'm trying to accomplish here is finding a good cushion without sacrificing good vibrating action. I even like using corn syrup with the finer grit stages but have not had good results with the corn syrup in the polish. Thanks for any tidbits of info!
-Jef-
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 14, 2009 14:19:52 GMT -5
I just now started a vibe load with only about 30 preforms - all are hard jaspers or agates - and about 4 pounds of 3 sizes of ceramics, in graded 220 grit. This is my first try at preforms in the vibe, so it's an experiment.
Some on here say they add some flakes of Dove soap. I'll be trying that after the 220 - I bought a bar of Dove a couple days ago for just this purpose.
Tom
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Post by Toad on Sept 14, 2009 14:27:37 GMT -5
I don't actually use soft soap, but rather borax. Alas, was not an option.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 15, 2009 7:33:40 GMT -5
I use polish and water only. I do my polish stage for at least 5 days (longer than recommended for a vibe) and get a mirror finish on everything.
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redwings1
starting to shine!
Member since July 2009
Posts: 45
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Post by redwings1 on Sept 15, 2009 8:21:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips everyone...last night I put a big pinch of grated Dove bar in with a generous amount of small ceramics and knew it was cushioning well right away because it was quiet and was pleased this morning to see that everything was still moving around. I checked a stone and it is well on its way! I am going to experiment with Borax on my next load.
Randy - Do you leave the initial charge of polish in for the whole 5 days?
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Post by connrock on Sept 17, 2009 7:20:01 GMT -5
redwing,
polish doesn't break down like the grit does so you can run it as long as you want without re-charging .
connrock
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 23, 2009 10:49:06 GMT -5
Hmmm. OK - my vibe is the "Berry's Blue" made by Covington - it has the big, open blue bowl, not like the Lot-O or UV-10. Well, last night I rinsed, Boraxed, rinsed, then restarted my load of 1/4 preforms and 3/4 ceramics with a couple teaspoons of "Super Cerium" and one swipe of a Dove bar across the fine cheeze grater. One hour later, I checked, and it was pretty much a solid mass of soapsuds, all orbiting the bowl at about 5 rpm, with absolutely NO tumbling at all!
Needless to say, I took it all out, rinsed thorougly, and restarted, this time WITHOUT the Dove soap.
Planning to run this batch for several days with the Super Cerium.
Tom
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redwings1
starting to shine!
Member since July 2009
Posts: 45
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Post by redwings1 on Sept 23, 2009 12:25:11 GMT -5
Tom - I hear ya. Thats what was happening to me with a pump of soft hand soap. I cant say for sure but maybe the Dove is too sudsy, like dish soap would be. Ive been having good luck with a pinch of grated Ivory soap, and that works the best when I use the minimal amount of water necessary. I need to use some sort of cushioning agent when I do the granite and quartz as it gets beat up with just ceramic and polish. The trick for me was to find the right soap to use and then the right balance of soap to water. Toad said he uses borax instead of soap, I'm going to try that too. Good luck!
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