marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Nov 8, 2012 8:32:17 GMT -5
over the summer i bought some tourquoise doublets at a rock auction. they have a black backing, and are pinky nail size to thumbnail size, all different shapes,and in need of a good polishing. having never worked with turquoise before i was wondering what grit belts to use and best polish for this softer stone.
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Post by mohs on Nov 8, 2012 8:51:41 GMT -5
good question ! what little I worked I had good results finishing 0n the 3000 grit Nova then buffing on a cotton wheel with Zam it becomes an art and I'm sure other will have more specific advice Ed
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Nov 8, 2012 9:43:05 GMT -5
As Ed mentioned, ZAM on a cotton buff is popular. Others swear by AlOx on leather. About a year ago I started using the 3M Trizact Cerium Oxide discs. I have a shelf full of just about every type of polish made - diamond, cerium oxide, AlOx, tin oxide, etc. However, since I started using the 3M product I haven't touched anything else. These things are simply amazing. They will put a water wet polish on just about every type of stone you can imagine - including turquoise . Not only is the polish superb, it usually only takes 10-20 seconds per stone. I did have some yttrium fluorite that wouldn't polish with the Trizact yet nothing else worked either. Since I'm cutting (and selling) close to 100 cabs per month, I really don't want to mess with any type of polish that is more time consuming. The only source I know of for the Trizact discs is Rio Grande - www.riogrande.com/Product/3M-Trizact-Self-Adhesive-Cerium-Oxide-Abrasive-Disc-6-White/337629?pos=3. Each disc will easily polish 300+ pieces.
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Post by mohs on Nov 8, 2012 9:52:05 GMT -5
I have Trizact belts never heard of the discs
my success with the belts have been spotty perhaps more experimentation is in order?
Rio Grande is a favorite vendor though !!
that where I got the Trizact belts and the 3-M Diamond belts 120 & 220 incredibly long lasting belts! Ed
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Nov 8, 2012 10:45:18 GMT -5
ditto the zam on a buff!
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milto
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by milto on Nov 8, 2012 10:56:43 GMT -5
Have trizact belts from 220 to 2000 grit I bought at Indian Jewelers Supply, they were out of 3000 the day I was there. VERY VERY poor results with them, I have tried lot of water, small amount of water, light pressure and not able to have consistent results.Sure would like to know your method as I really would like to use them.I talked to the 3M rep at IJS one day last year and he was demoing the belts but only on metal, he was none commital about rock, I found that odd seeing he was in a lapidary/jeweler supply house.
milto
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Post by Tonyterner on Nov 8, 2012 13:09:54 GMT -5
I tried those Trizact discs but didn't get one bit of shine from them. Guess I didn't do something right. I've been using Holy Cow polish and haven't found anything that it would shine up.
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Nov 8, 2012 14:08:55 GMT -5
i may try the zam on a buff method, sounds like that would cost less than buying the discs. thanks for the info.
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Nov 8, 2012 16:43:21 GMT -5
I use alum ox on a buffalo leather disc (i use buffalo leather for all final polish) rough side.
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Post by mohs on Nov 8, 2012 22:34:20 GMT -5
I guess the question to ask is what make the Trizact belt so difficult? It seems like an excellent belt with the C/O is it the riffles in the belt that causes the difficulty?
Also, as anyone tried the aluminum oxide micro finish belts?
Sorry marinedad---don't mean to hi-jack the thread
I was at a supply shop and the owner showed me a 4" leathery flap/floppy stitched wheel
He told me it was what Indians used, with ZAM, for buffing turquoise.
Ed
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Nov 9, 2012 0:14:01 GMT -5
not to worry deeptime, hi-jack away, i'm still learning and like the different options.
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cccbock
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2011
Posts: 502
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Post by cccbock on Nov 9, 2012 8:36:41 GMT -5
2 cents.....I polish with cerium oxide on a leather disk....I have very little on the disk and I run it dry...shines quite well....I have not polished something like opal that might be sesitive to heat......
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Post by gingerkid on Nov 9, 2012 9:14:14 GMT -5
Hi, Marinedad! Haven't ever polished turquoise before, but since it can be polished with ZAM on a leather pad, maybe try the chrome oxide Battstik on a leather pad with lots of water? I tried using ZAM before and like it, but love the Battstik.
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Post by Tonyterner on Nov 9, 2012 9:16:58 GMT -5
Oops, meant to say I haven't found anything that Holy Cow "wouldn't" shine up.
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Post by sheltie on Nov 9, 2012 12:33:52 GMT -5
I ust googled ZAM and couldn't find anything lapidary about it. Could someone point me in the right direction?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Nov 9, 2012 13:34:30 GMT -5
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Post by frane on Nov 10, 2012 8:37:26 GMT -5
I have not done too much turquoise but I have only used diamond on what I do have, up to 50,000 grit. Seems to polish up really well.
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