lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
|
Post by lablover2484 on Oct 28, 2009 0:05:41 GMT -5
I know some people probably think this is dumb, but anyway
How long does it take a polish cycle?
I have run my polish cycle for 9 days now and when I took a rock out and rinsed and dried it, it wasn't shiny. Is it because it needs to be washed after polish and not just rinsed?
I was just seeing what progress it was making but now I am worried.
It is in a new 3lb barrel with new pellets, and I ran them in a wash cycle (borax) before starting them. There is 4 tablespoons of polish in with it.
I think I need help this is driving me nuts, if I can't shine them then why bother,
Please help am I just being impatient?
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Oct 28, 2009 1:06:18 GMT -5
I run polish for 7 to 10 days. I use cerium oxide. If it's CCP, it's 2 weeks. It doens't hurt to let it go a few days longer too.
Did you run a prepolish? Softer stones like jaspers and obsidian do better if you have a 1000 grit SiC or tripoli prepolish before the final polish.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Oct 28, 2009 5:58:07 GMT -5
What kind of stones are you polishing? Hardness matters. What polish did you use?
|
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Oct 28, 2009 7:22:34 GMT -5
Yes, what stones, what polish, how much polish, how much water? Also, a good burnish after never hurts. If you are in a hard water area mix polish with distilled water.
|
|
|
|
Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 28, 2009 9:36:59 GMT -5
I run a Thumler's rotary with 3lb barrels, and I can tell you that 4 tablespoons of polish in a 3 pound tumbler is at least 2 tablespoons too much.
Tom
|
|
ratcals
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 17
|
Post by ratcals on Oct 28, 2009 12:05:56 GMT -5
I'm just curious as to why 4tbsp is too much?
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Oct 28, 2009 12:17:25 GMT -5
I think I used that much in my 10 pound vibe or maybe less. No sense putting extra in, polish is expensive - generally.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 28, 2009 12:47:57 GMT -5
Hi
In Rotary
It can take me up to 3 months to do a rough rock batch
From stage 2 220Grit a month to 6 weeks
Polishing stage 2 to 3 weeks
You Can save the polish dont throw it away
I put it and the first wash in a tall jar and letit settle pour off thenearly all the water , and re use
How long have you run in the stages ?
Have you followed the RTH polishing Recepie ?
And most important did you wash to clinical standards after each stage ? ( to stop cross over grit contamination )
Hope this helps
No Question is a dumb question , Only the one you dont ask and subsiqencly will never find out !!!!!
have a good day
jack
Yorkshire UK
|
|
rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
|
Post by rockdewd on Oct 28, 2009 13:21:47 GMT -5
I'm with Jack on the washing out the barrels between grits. I think you got contamination in your polish meaning that there was some grit mixed in with the polish or similar contamination from one of your previous stages.
When using the same barrel through all stages you need to wash your stones with soap and water and scrub the barrel and lid with a good stiff brush. Also, you might want to be sure to wash off all surfaces in the area where you wash out your barrels.
|
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Oct 28, 2009 15:10:31 GMT -5
The rock is the most important. Is it a rock that polishes?
Next is was it ready for polish? If you go straight form 220g to polish, it will take many weeks. IF you went 500, 1200 (0r 1000 AO pre-polish) thne polish, it should only take 8-14 days.
3rd is whether the barrel is right? Too little water or too much, or not enough small bits, and the polishing action is retarded. If you are getting a fairly thin slurry, thicker than milk, not as think as pancake batter, you barrel is likely OK.
So, let s start with what kind of rock? THen exactly what you did for how long.
Later
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Oct 28, 2009 17:20:51 GMT -5
For the sake of repeating myself, let me suggest that the problem may not be in your process but could possibly be related to your polish- especially if you are using a Lortone "grit kit" -their polish (in my experience) is but a pre-polish at best.
|
|
lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
|
Post by lablover2484 on Oct 28, 2009 23:51:33 GMT -5
I don't think cross contamination is a problem. The rocks are a mixed bunch, I am a newbie so I am not real good with the kinds of rocks. the ones i know are amethyst and some white rocks and some citrine I think. The barrel is brand new and this is its first use. I also washed it before use. The rock load was in rough for about 6-8 weeks, picking through them after each run, and then they ran 10 days in 220, 10 days in pre-polish(500) grit. And then I ran them in a borax cycle for 24 hours. Then put them in a polish cycle, the barrel is mostly at 3/4 full and the water is just at the bottom of the top layer of rocks, there are also pellets in with it to. the polish is Aluminum Oxide polish as far as i know the water here is fine, you can drink straight out of the tap anyway. All the grits and supplies came from the rock shed.
I'm really not sure on the rocks kinds though, they were a bought box of mixed tumble. And I only know a few of the kinds so far.
So any suggestions on what is going on, will they shine up when they are finished?
Or am I doing something wrong. I hope I am just being impatient.
|
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Oct 29, 2009 0:11:05 GMT -5
Can you post some pics? That might help us be able to tell what is going on to help you better.  |
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Oct 29, 2009 1:18:17 GMT -5
Ahhh I think we might be onto something- you suggested that maybe you're "just being impatient" if you think you might be you almost certainly are!
Seriously though, I'd say you don't seem to be rushing- apart from one minor bit and that is skipping from 500 straight to polish.
For a 3lb barrel I usually don't use more than 2-3 tablespoons of anything, grit polish or borax my guess is that your going a little heavy on the 500 grit is not giving it a chance to break down and do the job of pre-polishing,
What you describe seems like the right general plan but I'd try either running longer in 500, maybe using about half as much grit so it gets a chance to break down a little more- or try something like a 1000 grit Alox or Tripoli as an additional pre-polish.
Rock shed alox is great stuff for lots of rocks, so even if there are some less than perfect materials in your mix, you still should expect a lot of very shiny rocks.
I'll set aside those that don't quite get as shiny as most, and run them with a cerium oxide, and if that doesn't fix 'em I'll run them a few days in Tin Oxide, but if the previous stages have done their thing, Rock Shed Alox should put a good polish on just about anything
Patience certainly is a virtue in this rather "forced-zen" hobby, but I'd say you've paid your dues, a little tweak to the recipe should give you some results you'll be happy with
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 29, 2009 1:54:08 GMT -5
Hi First heres a link to the RTH polishing recepie www.rocktumblinghobby.com/cycle/cycle.htmlBE PAITIENT !! I have use the same mix of rocks from Rockshed and got a good gloss on them I use CO as a polish As Rallyrocks says add a 1000 stage will help I have used the same system as you with no problem One Question -- -- after 24 hour burnish had the rocks a dull shine ? Thy Should have if they hadnt they are not ready for the polishing stage and need more 500G I find this is a good test. Jack Yorkshire uk PS OH !!!! something that might be contaminating Did you run the plastic pellets ALL the way through ? |
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Oct 29, 2009 6:01:03 GMT -5
As Jack suggested - plastic pellets can carry grit from one stage to the next. Don't use them myself, but if you do, you might use different pellets in each stage - unless someone that actually uses pellets has different advice of course.
|
|
lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
|
Post by lablover2484 on Oct 29, 2009 13:58:05 GMT -5
The pellets are new, I had to buy new ones the old ones I had didn't float, but anyways they are new, the 500 is what I thought the pre-polish was, I didn't know I needed a additional cycle of 1000. They did have a dull shine after the borax, I will just continue to run them for a few more days and see what happens. Do I need to add cascade to the final borax wash? I will post some pictures after they come out of the cycles and you can see them(after I figure out how to post pictures).
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Oct 29, 2009 14:05:37 GMT -5
Right, but are you using different pellets for each cycle? I remember reading comments by folks that use pellets that grit can get stuck in the pellets and move to the next cycle. Could have an impact.
|
|
lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
|
Post by lablover2484 on Oct 30, 2009 0:43:53 GMT -5
yes the pellets are different for each cycle, I haven't reused any of these kind they are new. But I wont use pellets in different cycles, I have pellets just for pre polish and pellets just for polish.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 30, 2009 4:24:54 GMT -5
Hi Lablover,
Sounds like your on the right track
Just like us all when we start to impatient ,
Stick em in the tumbler and give em a 2 to 3 week polish followed by a good Burnish/was in Borax and Ivory and you will be swinging at the results
Oh !! make sure you take all the sharp edges out and any broken stones each cycle especially in the last few stages.
Jack
Yorkshire UK
|
|
