yooper10
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2010
Posts: 23
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Post by yooper10 on May 10, 2011 10:41:39 GMT -5
Hello Everyone, I purchased a Lortone lapidary saw to cut some of my Lake Superior agates. My question is how to polish the surfaces of these cut specimens. I do not have any really big ones so I do not need anything too extensive. Most of them are no bigger than a half dollar but are very nice. What do you suggest I use? What will be the method to use that does not cost me alot of money? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, Robyn from the U.P. Michigan
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Post by Gem'n I on May 10, 2011 12:03:30 GMT -5
Robyn, Cheapest way to go would be using a pane of glass with the standard series of grits and polishes...it might take a while and you must keep things clean but it would be the cheapest way.
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GlamRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 105
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Post by GlamRocks on May 10, 2011 13:28:14 GMT -5
Hi Robyn, Yes indeed - the cheapest way is the manual method - it's very satisfying when it's finished but is not a mass production technique! Set aside some time to work one up. It's how I polished my first rocks as a kid Happy days. However if you keep your eyes open and search about a bit - a flat vibe would put a polish on the flat surface without the hours of graft and fingernail destruction! I don't know prices in the US - but I wouldn't want to pay serious money - a second hand £40 unit would be bang on - I see one now and then on Ebay etc... Have fun and any queries - just holler. Cheers, Harry. Oh - BTW.... The handy advice 'aint free! You've got to post pictures of the amazing and beautiful Agates you've found when your done! I love a juicy agate!! - H
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yooper10
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2010
Posts: 23
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Post by yooper10 on May 10, 2011 21:22:54 GMT -5
I have decided to try it the old fashion way. I am in search of the right piece of glass to use. I will post pictures when I am done with a few of them. If anyone has a used flat vibe they are willing to part with that will not cost me an arm and a leg just let me know.
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Post by rockmanken on May 10, 2011 21:50:50 GMT -5
If, I said if, you are going to do a lot of them, the best way is to get an Ameritool flat lap. With it you can do flats and cabachons. But, the only drawback is you cannot do crosses or hearts. DO NOT get an Inland machine. Piece of junk. My :2cents: Ken
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Post by Rockoonz on May 15, 2011 0:17:07 GMT -5
If you can find glass shelves from old refrigerators they are nice extremely flat hard tempered glass. Keep in mind that you remove the glass as fast as you remove rock, so as much as possible use all the surface of the glass.
A flat lap as Ken suggested, is pretty cost effective too. Older flat lap all-in-ones are dime a dozen.
Lee
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Post by mohs on May 15, 2011 23:57:02 GMT -5
Fantastic advice above!
I’m fascinated with hand lapping a stone (no wise crack comments please) another suggestion is a diamond hone plate perfectly flat and they have rough to fine last long time and sharpen your knife at the same time Gerber & EZ lap make them
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Post by Woodyrock on May 16, 2011 1:11:13 GMT -5
An easier way to go on the cheap is to buy a polished marble tile from a big box store, or a free cut out from a stone counter top company, and use wet/dry silicon carbide sand pater for your abrasive. To stick the paper to the granite, or marble tile, just wet the backside. It will stay in place. You can get SiC paper in grits from very coarse to micron size. Use a squirt bottle filled with water, and wee bit of dish soap for your lubricant.....use plenty to wash away the ground off material. Doing flats off the saw, you can get a very good polish if you go down to one micron. Woody
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Post by johnjsgems on May 16, 2011 20:33:28 GMT -5
Where do you find 14,000 (1 micron) grit SC paper?
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Post by Woodyrock on May 17, 2011 0:01:47 GMT -5
John:
I actually found it at our local hardware store. Some local knife guys had the store bring it in. It feels about as rough as tin foil. The technicians doing fiber optics use it in five inch disc form, and have it down to .25 micron. They are pretty good about giving away their used discs. Woody
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