sak
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 88
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Post by sak on Jun 27, 2014 2:51:09 GMT -5
Hi all -
I'm using a rotary tumbler & my understanding is that Tin oxide is ideal for rocks with Moh's below 5. Has anyone had any luck using tin oxide for moh's 7+ stones such as Rose quartz, Amethyst etc?
Thanks for all your responses.
Sak...
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jun 27, 2014 3:33:12 GMT -5
I don't do really well with "softer" stones. I've used tin oxide on really hard agates and they came out with a mirror shine.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 27, 2014 9:45:44 GMT -5
Back in the days when the rocks were still warm cerium was the standard and tin was used when cerium didn't work. It cost more than cerium so cerium always got first shot. Softer stones are not going to do well in a rotary anyway but I think the sub micron (.3 or .5 micron) aluminums cover a wider range of rocks. The tin oxide would work fine on the quartz family but a little pricey.
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Post by pghram on Jun 28, 2014 13:17:33 GMT -5
I only use Tin Ox & I have not found a stone yet that it will not polish, especially hard agates. I let them roll for 3 weeks & I recapture the Tin Ox & reuse it. I do add a little new sometimes, but I think it works better w/ time.
Rich
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Post by Starguy on Jul 4, 2014 12:46:04 GMT -5
I agree with Rich pghram. Tin oxide always works. I think it gives a superior polish on any hard agate. I haven't tried recapturing it though. How do you recapture it Rich?
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 4, 2014 13:41:54 GMT -5
I'm guessing if you used a dedicated polish drum you would already have it "captured".
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Post by Starguy on Jul 4, 2014 21:53:48 GMT -5
I'm guessing if you used a dedicated polish drum you would already have it "captured". Right now I have a 12# Lortone for rough grinding and a 3# Lortone for fine thru polish. With the cost of tin oxide, it would probably pay off to get a second dedicated barrel. Thanks johnjsgems. That is an excellent suggestion. I'll check your website for a second barrel. later Brent
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Post by pghram on Jul 5, 2014 10:52:39 GMT -5
I have a an old plactic jug w/ a wide mouth that originally contained pretzles. I place a collander over the top & pour the liquid through and into the jug. I rinse the stones in the barrel a couple of times & pour that into the jug. The collendar catches stones or plastic pellets that may drop out.
I set it aside and let as much water evaporate as possible. If necessary, I pour off the water after the polish has settled.
When I reuse it, I use a plactic spoon & scoop out an abundance of wet polish & put it into the barrel w/ the stones. Then I stire up what's left & use that as the water for the barrel. In this way, I have much more polish than recommended, but so far, in this case, more is better.
You do lose some polish in the process, so ocasionally I add a small amount to the barrel just to keep the supply high.
Rich
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