Whats the best polish?

foogy
starting to shine!

Member since October 2012
Posts: 26

Whats the best polish? Oct 31, 2012 15:59:40 GMT -5

Quote

Post by foogy on Oct 31, 2012 15:59:40 GMT -5

Hello again! just finished polishing my first batch of stones and I'm quite pleased with the results but they seemed to take forever to get any kind of shine to them, I was using zinc oxide as recommended with the kit I bought but they seemed to reach a point where they weren't getting any shinier despite leaving them for days at a time so I switched to tin oxide which made a tremendous difference and I'm happy with the shine they now have but I see that a lot of people use cerium oxide for the final polish so was wondering how it stacks up to tin oxide or is cerium oxide specifically for certain types of stone? All help and opinions are much appreciated as I have some quartz now rattling around in tin oxide, thanks!

Bikerrandy can identify rocks - even green ones Say what?? Member since September 2005 Posts: 15,688	Whats the best polish? Oct 31, 2012 16:32:27 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 31, 2012 16:32:27 GMT -5 Depends on the stones that you're tumbling. I use aluminum oxide from the rockshed, everything that I tumble on the MOHS is 6.5 and above.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks

Member since June 2012
Posts: 452

Whats the best polish? Oct 31, 2012 19:06:16 GMT -5 Marie likes this

Quote

Post by Mattatya on Oct 31, 2012 19:06:16 GMT -5

Hi Foogy,

Rockshed AO is the way to go as Bikerrandy mentioned above. From what I have taken in on RTH regarding polish, members do well with purchasing mostly OA polish on a majority of stone types. Seems Rockshed is the most popular on here and I have switched myself to Rockshed as well.

It is recommended that you stick with the same company/brand for purchasing all your grit steps and polish too.
I searched and found a specific stone polish list linked from Mama's Minerals that you may find useful.

Actinolite: Tin Oxide
Agate: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide
Alabaster: Tin Oxide
Amozonite: Tin Oxide
Amber: Tin Oxide
Amblygonite: Tin Oxide
Andalucite: Tin Oxide
Apatite: Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Aventurine: Tin Oxide
Azurite: Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Apophyllite: Chrome Oxide
Aragonite: Chrome Oxide
Axinite: Cerium Oxide
Barite: Chrome Oxide
Benitoite: Cerium Oxide
Beryl: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Diamond
Bloodstone: Cerium Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire)
Brazilianite: Tin Oxide
Calcite: Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Cassiterite: Tin Oxide
Celestite: Chrome Oxide
Cerossite: Chrome Oxide
Chrysoberyl: Diamond
Coral: Tin Oxide
Corundum: Diamond
Cubic Zirconia: Diamond
Danburite: Tin Oxide
Datolite: Tin Oxide
Diopside: Chrome Oxide
Dioptase: Cerium Oxide
Diorite: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Enstatite: Tin Oxide
Epidote: Tin Oxide
Euclase: Tin Oxide
Feldspar: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide
Fluorite: Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Garnet: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Diamond, Chrome Oxide
Goldstone: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide
Hematite: Cerium Oxide
Hickoryite: Linde A (Sapphire)
Howlite: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Hypersthene: Tin Oxide
Jadeite: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Jasper: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Kyanite: Tin Oxide
Labradorite: Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Lapis Lazuli: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Lepidolite: Chrome Oxide
Limestone: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Malachite: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Moonstone: Tin Oxide
Nephrite: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Obsidian: Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Onyx: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Chrome Oxide
Opal: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide
Peridot: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Diamond
Petrified Wood: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Phenacite: Tin Oxide
Pollucite: Tin Oxide
Quartz: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide
Rhodochrosite: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Rhodonite: Cerium Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Ruby: Diamond
Rutile: Linde A (Sapphire)
Sapphire: Diamond
Scapolite: Cerium Oxide
Scheelite: Chrome Oxide
Serpentine: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Chrome Oxide
Smithsonite: Tin Oxide
Sodalite: Cerium Oxide
Sosolite: Cerium Oxide
Spinel: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Diamond
Spahlerite: Chrome Oxide
Spodumene: Tin Oxide
Sunstone: Tin Oxide
Thompsonite: Cerium Oxide
Tigereye: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire)
Titanite (sphene): Tin Oxide
Topaz: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Diamond
Tourmaline: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire), Diamond
Turquoise: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire)
Unakite: Cerium Oxide
Varicite: Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire)
Vesuvianite: Cerium Oxide
Williamsite: Linde A (Sapphire)
Wonderstone: Tin Oxide, Linde A (Sapphire)
Wulfenite: Chrome Oxide
Zircon: Tin Oxide
Zoisite: Cerium Oxide

link origin mamasminerals.com/pages/List-of-Recommended-Tumbling-Polishes-for-Selected-Rocks-%26-Minerals.html

Hunting rocks is the best way to get stoned!

Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks

A COUPLE LAKERS

Member since August 2011
Posts: 891

Whats the best polish? Oct 31, 2012 22:29:18 GMT -5 Marie likes this

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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Oct 31, 2012 22:29:18 GMT -5

Quite a few of the minerals in that list aren't really suitable for tumbling, so I suspect the list is really more for hand polishing. Zinc Oxide has a hardness of only 4 Mohs I think, so I wouldn't expect it to work very well as a rock polish. Not all AO is created equal (trust me). Some "polish" just won't give you a very good shine, so stick with what is recommended here.

Recovering Analytic (it's a 22 step program)

jspencer freely admits to licking rocks Member since March 2011 Posts: 929	Whats the best polish? Oct 31, 2012 23:03:20 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jspencer on Oct 31, 2012 23:03:20 GMT -5 Just to throw another name in there for you. I did not see Raybrite A mentioned. It is more expensive than AO but I find it works great on everything I have tried it on.

johnjsgems gets rocks for Christmas Member since August 2007 Posts: 6,959	Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 8:42:49 GMT -5 hplcman likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by johnjsgems on Nov 2, 2012 8:42:49 GMT -5 I think Raybrite A is a .5 micron aluminum oxide.
	John at JS Gems www.jsgemslapidary.com

Drummond Island Rocks
no longer being taken for granite

Member since October 2011
Posts: 8,913

Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 9:58:39 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 2, 2012 9:58:39 GMT -5

I got some rapid #61 polish with my lot-o tumbler and the only info I have found suggest it might be a .3 micron A/O. Works great on mohs 6 and up so far. Can anyone give anymore details on it or is it still sold anywhere ?

Chuck

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johnjsgems
gets rocks for Christmas

Member since August 2007
Posts: 6,959

Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 10:21:58 GMT -5

Quote

Post by johnjsgems on Nov 2, 2012 10:21:58 GMT -5

Rapid Polish 61 (formerly "Myer's) was bought by Val at Minnesota Lapidary Supply. It is a .3 micron aluminum oxide. It is a great polish. I relabel it with my brand but after paying shipping and buying expensive jars I think I sell it a little higher than Val ($19.95 on line, $18 to RTH). Val still calls it Rapid Polish #61 and only dropped the Myer's from the name. Myers went through health problems and sold out. He has since recovered and was across from us each year at the Abilene, TX show. He polishes everything in a 10 lb. Gy-Roc vibe tumbler using Rapid Polish 61. Everything from obsidian to hardest cabs had a mirror finish. I sold a lot of Gy-Roc tumblers at that show due to his good results. I'm tumbling mini slabs right now. Lapis came out great as did dino bone. Malechite only satin. I've got more dino and Picasso coming out today. Anything not shining I'll try 25,000 Vibra Dry next. Most hard stones you would tumble in a rotary will come out fine with a coarser aluminum. TXP is about a 3 micron and works great in rotaries for about half what #61 costs. Won't work as well as #61 in a vibe.

John at JS Gems

www.jsgemslapidary.com

Drummond Island Rocks no longer being taken for granite Member since October 2011 Posts: 8,913	Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 10:28:19 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 2, 2012 10:28:19 GMT -5 Thanks for that info John! that was just what I wanted to know. Chuck
	www.instagram.com/drummondislandrocks/ www.facebook.com/Drummond-Island-Rocks-302839849816115/ www.etsy.com/shop/DrummondIslandRocks

Jugglerguy
gets rocks for Christmas

Alpena, MI

Member since December 2011
Posts: 6,874

Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 11:34:52 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 2, 2012 11:34:52 GMT -5

Can someone give a comparison between TheRockShed aluminum oxide and Rapid Polish 61 in a vibe? Is Rapid polish always better or only with certain rocks? I'm assuming that TheRockShed AO is a slightly larger size (maybe .5 micron). If so, would that break down over time to be the same as the smaller (.3 micron) Rapid Polish 61?

Rob
Michigan Rocks YouTube Channel

johnjsgems gets rocks for Christmas Member since August 2007 Posts: 6,959	Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 13:17:55 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by johnjsgems on Nov 2, 2012 13:17:55 GMT -5 I e-mailed the Rock Shed a few years ago asking for micron size. They have not answered yet.
	John at JS Gems www.jsgemslapidary.com

Jugglerguy gets rocks for Christmas Alpena, MI Member since December 2011 Posts: 6,874	Whats the best polish? Nov 2, 2012 14:40:11 GMT -5 ataraktos likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 2, 2012 14:40:11 GMT -5 "yet" I like that you still have hope.
	Rob Michigan Rocks YouTube Channel

Deleted
Deleted Member

Member since January 1970
Posts: 0

Whats the best polish? Nov 3, 2012 15:14:49 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2012 15:14:49 GMT -5

Greetings Ladies & Gents, [foogy] a picture of your rocks could help others identify what you
picked up in Canada, anyway there is 297 minerals found within the locality of the Bay of Fundy
New Brunwick / Nova Scotia Canada, & that does not include the Igneous rock group!

Would you like an Asprin container filled with Lortone's 1.0 micron (25,000 grit)
Aluminum Oxide polish about 10.5grams (0.370oz) & the way i use polish, it would last me
running a polish batch every week for about 7 years!

Please send me a Private Message with your full name and phone number an 01 would be preferable,
but a mobile will do & a list of times & days you will be available at that number.

This offer is only open to you only as you will need to come & get it anyway!

The price is Free, however if you wish to pay, whatever amount you decide to pay
will be gratefully accepted.

[mattatya]
There are errors in that list, such as Non-crystaline Quartz (Tiger's Eye) Polishes on Aluminum Oxide
after Fixed400, you need to fine grind beyond F1000 with Cerium Oxide, Tin Oxide just gives
a silky finish (not polished)!

Union Carbide's Linde A, is 0.3 micron (90,000 grit), Linde B is 0.5 micron (50,000 grit),
Linde C is 1.0 micron (25,000 grit) , Linde D is 2.0 micron (12,500 grit),
Linde E is 4.0 micron (6,250 grit).

Union Carbide's Linde brand is better known as Aluminum Oxide than synthetic Sappire,
if your interested in getting some note the price almost doubled to $16 per 28.5grams (1oz)
or $181 per 0.454kg (1lb) for each of both Union Carbide's Linde A & B.

[johnjsgems]
John i asked Shawn via the phone on 12 Sep, if it was
Lortone's 1.0 micron (25,000 grit) polish repackaged with RockShed's branding?

Shawn replied no, but after checking he confimed that RockShed's Aluminum Oxide
polish is 1.5 micron (17,500 grit).
--
I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come
for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity!

Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum,
3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes!

Last Edit: Nov 4, 2012 13:26:01 GMT -5 by Deleted

jamesp Cave Dweller Member since October 2012 Posts: 36,603	Whats the best polish? Nov 5, 2012 7:41:56 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2012 7:41:56 GMT -5 Aluminum oxide from Rock Shed.

johnjsgems
gets rocks for Christmas

Member since August 2007
Posts: 6,959

Whats the best polish? Nov 5, 2012 8:32:41 GMT -5

Quote

Post by johnjsgems on Nov 5, 2012 8:32:41 GMT -5

1.5 micron would explain why it works apparently well in rotary tumblers. The 3-4 micron TXP is very good at twice the coarseness. Now I can stop waiting for a reply. Rock Shed's price was really low back then and it sounds like you get good advice based on actual user experience too. That should count for something in this age of web sales only by cut rate dealers selling things they know nothing about.

John at JS Gems

www.jsgemslapidary.com

RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head

Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."

Member since December 2009
Posts: 668

Whats the best polish? Nov 5, 2012 9:46:44 GMT -5

Quote

Post by RockIt2Me on Nov 5, 2012 9:46:44 GMT -5

Nov 5, 2012 8:32:41 GMT -5 johnjsgems said:

That should count for something in this age of web sales only by cut rate dealers selling things they know nothing about.

And this is why I do business with John.
He is always willing to help, whether he is making a sale or not. Someone else might be a teeny bit cheaper, but good experience and advice has no price.

Nancie
"Rock It 2 Me"
the Original Fatsister!

Don't take life so seriously...It's not like you're going to get out alive ;-)

Deleted
Deleted Member

Member since January 1970
Posts: 0

Whats the best polish? Oct 22, 2013 23:23:23 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2013 23:23:23 GMT -5

Nov 2, 2012 10:21:58 GMT -5 johnjsgems said:

Rapid Polish 61 (formerly "Myer's) was bought by Val at Minnesota Lapidary Supply. It is a .3 micron aluminum oxide. It is a great polish. I relabel it with my brand but after paying shipping and buying expensive jars I think I sell it a little higher than Val ($19.95 on line, $18 to RTH). Val still calls it Rapid Polish #61 and only dropped the Myer's from the name. Myers went through health problems and sold out. He has since recovered and was across from us each year at the Abilene, TX show. He polishes everything in a 10 lb. Gy-Roc vibe tumbler using Rapid Polish 61. Everything from obsidian to hardest cabs had a mirror finish. I sold a lot of Gy-Roc tumblers at that show due to his good results. I'm tumbling mini slabs right now. Lapis came out great as did dino bone. Malechite only satin. I've got more dino and Picasso coming out today. Anything not shining I'll try 25,000 Vibra Dry next. Most hard stones you would tumble in a rotary will come out fine with a coarser aluminum. TXP is about a 3 micron and works great in rotaries for about half what #61 costs. Won't work as well as #61 in a vibe.

Greetings John, I found this article about Bill Myers, that states "Rapid Polish #61" is 0.25 micron
(equivalent to 100,000 grit) Aluminum Oxide.

Central Texas Gem and Mineral Society Newsletter May 06 (1.9mb)

Please check out my Sticky's below.
--
Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined!

I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come
for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity!

Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum,
3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes,
5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!

Last Edit: Oct 22, 2013 23:25:30 GMT -5 by Deleted

thestripedone off to a rocking start since lortone is going out of business, I need bearing for my 33b. anyone know where I could get the Member since January 2020 Posts: 15	Whats the best polish? Mar 20, 2024 14:35:23 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by thestripedone on Mar 20, 2024 14:35:23 GMT -5 Im using ceridium oxide for #5 Polish. Is there anything after that for a "super polish" ? thanks Bruce
	Last Edit: Jun 2, 2024 12:07:19 GMT -5 by thestripedone