Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 23, 2004 1:45:16 GMT -5
Can someone help me? I just finished a batch with some polish that I think is either tin oxide or alum oxide, I do not know which. It was in a small bag and came with a thumbler 3# tumbler. It gave the stones a beautiful 'wet shine' and I love it BUT... There is white polish in every tiny crack and pin hole of every stone. I ran it in Cascade with plenty of pellets for 4 hours to no avail. Anybody got any ideas, or anybody "been there, done that"? What can be done? Thanks! -Banjo Creek
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 23, 2004 8:38:07 GMT -5
Hey Banjo, I've had that same problem when using titanium oxide. Don't know what fixes it. I ended up doing a prepolish and then re-polish with a different polish. That's why I don't use titanium oxide anymore. Too bad, it does do a nice job other than that one problem.
Ron
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 23, 2004 14:54:16 GMT -5
Do you imagine, there might be some adhesive i.e. beeswax, or white glue, that you could apply and then remove to get the polish out of the tiny little pits? I'm even thinking of trying finger nail polish remover.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Feb 23, 2004 21:57:06 GMT -5
Have you tried running them through the silverware basket in the dishwasher and let the high pressure blast it away. Use a little cascade, won't cost much but will have your spouse thinking about having you committed.
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 23, 2004 22:37:41 GMT -5
I'll try anything. Man, I'm thinking; I need to step back a bit. I'm going nuts trying to come up with a plan for nothing more than a handful of shiney rocks!! This problem has the magnitude of a nuclear arms race in my own little world, and people at work think I'm nuts cause I asked every one I ran in to what they might recommend. I do get some creative answers though, from a propane tourch to Mercury. I think the dishwasher might be a little safer. Thanks
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Feb 23, 2004 22:57:43 GMT -5
just watch how you place them. the dish washer has a good bit of force its might knock them around or out of the holder if they are on the small side
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 23, 2004 23:26:41 GMT -5
wonder if you could put them in a knee high stocking or cut off a piece of pantyhose and knot the end before putting them in the dishwasher? or don't they make a bag for hose to go in the washing machine and you could just use it in the dishwasher? would keep them from going anywhere in the dishwasher and still they should get the force.
kim
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 24, 2004 0:35:47 GMT -5
I like the nylon stocking idea. I'm thinking I might take them to a high pressure car wash in the tied nylon stocking; Ya Think?
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Feb 24, 2004 19:02:13 GMT -5
get the car wash steamed up good first so no one can see you washing rocks, you could get a one way ride to the nut house
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 24, 2004 21:56:35 GMT -5
Hey Banjo, have you tried running the rocks in borax for about 4 hours? People say that it does a good job of pulling the grit out of the rocks and the the rubber barrel both. I just picked up a box of borax, but I don't have a tumbler open right now. Probably be a week before I get a chance to try anything with it.
Ron
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 25, 2004 0:03:38 GMT -5
I think that is the best idea, and the easiest so far- Thanks much, I'll try it. I'll let you know how it works out, cause I really like the shine it put on the rocks, but i'd be tumbling in the 60/90 for a month or more to get some of those pits out. I guess that is what I should be doing anyway.
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Post by puppie96 on Feb 27, 2004 20:12:03 GMT -5
I have a polish question. Wondering whether you should always use plastic pellets in the polish cycle, even if you have enough material to fill the barrel sufficiently. I thought originally the idea was just that they be a space filler and if you had a full load not necessary, but I'm not sure. Mostly I just don't like to use them because they are such a pain in the butt, sticking to everything and making a mess and generally driving me nuts.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Feb 28, 2004 0:19:12 GMT -5
for me the plastic pellets are to "cushin" the fall and keep the rocks from crashing together and denting or scratching each other
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 28, 2004 0:19:17 GMT -5
Hey puppie96, I hear you on that one! I tried my best to avoid using them as well, and the only place I normally use them is in the polish. If I simply can't get enough rock in the fine cycle, I'll reluctantly add some plastic. I had so much trouble with damage from rocks banging into each other and chipping that I had to start using the plastic again. I'm still trying to come up with something better. I've got plastic pellets splattered all over my workshop. I have to laugh when they say "just reach in with your fingers and grab a couple of rocks" to check on your polish progress. All I ever get is a fist completely coated with pellets!
Ron
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Feb 28, 2004 0:20:50 GMT -5
I use a kitchen tongs and rap the pellets off they fall right away
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 28, 2004 0:41:16 GMT -5
My grandaughter was asking about all the pellets in with the stones. I told here they were there to keep the stones from crashing into each other and cracking them. So now she calls them "Safety Pellets". I find if I don't use them during at least the last two phases I end up with a lot more stone chips and dings on the rocks.
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Feb 28, 2004 10:56:24 GMT -5
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