rockgirl102
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
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Post by rockgirl102 on Feb 11, 2015 15:39:36 GMT -5
I am new to this tumbling thing and I have a question, I have some 2 in quartz and rose quarts and I like the shape they have can I just go right to prepolish then polish since I don't want them perfectly round? They did 1 week in 60/90 and I don't want their shape to change.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 11, 2015 17:00:57 GMT -5
When you move rocks on with holes and cracks in them, you run the risk of carrying grit to later stages. If that's what you really want to do, you have to clean them really well. Start by cleaning them with a toothbrush, then run them for a few hours in soap. I use borax or Dreft. Shredded Ivory works well too. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. After 60/90, you probably want to go to 120/220 or 220, then 500, then polish.
If you like to keep the natural shape of your rocks, a vibratory tumbler does that better than a rotary. It also uses a lot less grit and finishes the job much quicker,
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Post by captbob on Feb 11, 2015 17:18:08 GMT -5
As you progress through the grits, going finer and finer, less and less material is removed. With 500 and higher, practically nothing is removed except the scratches left by the previous grit.
Going from 60/90 to a "pre-polish" (guessing 500?) won't help your polish very much. 500 will most likely leave the scratches from the 60/90 and I doubt you are going to be thrilled with the end result.
I'd use a 120/220 or straight 220 (whatever you have) to remove the 60/90 finish. A 120/220 cycle won't result in a LOT of shaping, really more smoothing out the 60/90 scratches. Just check the load every other day and move on when you're happy with the finish on the rocks.
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rockgirl102
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
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Post by rockgirl102 on Feb 11, 2015 17:23:18 GMT -5
Wow learning so much here! Thanks so much!
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rockgirl102
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
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Post by rockgirl102 on Feb 11, 2015 17:39:14 GMT -5
Wow learning so much here! Thanks so much!
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