alaskadan
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 2
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Post by alaskadan on Sept 18, 2009 16:31:49 GMT -5
Cheers! I've just finished my first batch of rocks using an AR 12 and they look pretty great, all agates found on the beaches of southcentral Alaska. However, after completing the final polish run, I noticed that in the nooks, crevices, cracks and crannies of the agates, the final polish seems to have found a home even though I did as instructed and ran them overnight with powdered detergent and water.
My question... what specifically can I do to remove any collected material from said nooks and crannies outside of using a toothbrush or small brush? Any feedback/assistance would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 18, 2009 17:55:13 GMT -5
There was a recent posting reporting some success with degreaser fi the polish waw AO. Try searching for degreaser.
While pits often remain in the finished rock, nooks and crannies may indicate insufficient time in rough. Still, for this to have happened, the polish got too dry at some point. Now it is set like cement. The slurry in polish stage is generally the thinnest, and it is important that rocks do not dry out between polish and burnish. Burnish can wash off wet polish, but it can seldom remove cement.
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alaskadan
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 2
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Post by alaskadan on Sept 19, 2009 17:19:20 GMT -5
When I pulled the agates, there was plenty of water in the mix but the liquid did dry almost immediately on my hand. Should a guy continually add water throughout the polish stage? Everything looked great all the way through the pre-polish; it wasn't until after the polish that I encountered any issues.
Is there a specific type of degreaser I should seek to try to rectify the problem?
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Post by MyNewHobby on Sept 19, 2009 17:34:35 GMT -5
Here ya go!! Even though I have not tried it any further other than the one or two tries, one or two others say it looks to be a positive possibility. But heed the warning on the back of the jug to avoid aluminum. If the rock or stone has any aluminum in it ... do not use this degreaser! It will screw it up. If you choose to try this .... please let us know and post before and after pictures. Those help to show others that in fact it is tried and true. Have fun! forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=32948 |
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Sept 19, 2009 18:21:39 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 20, 2009 9:31:15 GMT -5
Try tumbling them in a wet mix of Borax or Tide detergent for a day. It will get rid of most of it, wash the rocks and the drum too. Best to do it before they dry.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Sept 20, 2009 11:35:22 GMT -5
I use an electric toothbrush and some hot soapy water to clean any leftover polish out of the cracks and pits, it seems to work well.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 20, 2009 13:14:47 GMT -5
Yep, I like the electric toothbrush and either hydrogen peroxide or toothpaste with that in it or dishwashing detergent. Best thing though is to grind off the cracks and pits or discard heavily cracked or pitted rough if it remains so during the coarse grind....Mel
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