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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Feb 12, 2010 19:47:19 GMT -5
So, I just moved on to 120-220 grit for my first batch, and I noticed something odd.
It seems like all of the rocks feel "rougher" to the touch. The rocks are still just as round as they always were, and they don't look rougher or anything, but the surfaces of them feel rougher to my fingers.
Is this normal?
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 12, 2010 19:49:08 GMT -5
What kind of rocks? Can you post some pics?
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 12, 2010 19:53:57 GMT -5
Rougher as in "bumpy" or rougher like your fingers seem to have gained a bit more traction when you rub them? The traction thing would be normal.
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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Feb 12, 2010 20:05:27 GMT -5
The traction thing, definitely not more bumpy.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 13, 2010 0:42:50 GMT -5
I just had this happen with some boulder opal. The first batch, which I added borax to, was very rough to the touch (or rather, to the "rub"). The second batch was not and no borax was added. My thought is that the grit to some extent always roughs up the surface, but as the grit breaks down, it smoothes it back out.
The grit broke down much slower in the batch with borax, so the rocks stayed rougher.
I'm not sure if this makes sense to anyone but me; but it is merely an attempt to figure out why this happens sometimes. In any event, it is harmless.
Susan
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Post by connrock on Feb 14, 2010 6:47:17 GMT -5
This situation can happen if the rocks in question are made up of different hardnesses.
The grit erodes the softer material nd leaves the harder material exposed which seems to be rougher to the touch but really isn't.
It's sort of like running your fingers over the back of a common comb and then over the teeth.
They're both pretty much the same "smoothness" but the "exposed" teeth make them feel rougher.
connrock
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