flwrbom
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 7
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Post by flwrbom on Sept 24, 2015 20:59:27 GMT -5
Hi, I have been tumbling for a while now - usually with good results, however, my latest batch doesn't seem to want to take a polish and I'm not sure why... I went through all the grit stages including scrubbing and a soap step before polish; now tumbling in a vibe with cerium oxide. After a week or so they look hazy, the surface almost like sea glass, very smooth but not shiny at all. I've checked them every few days and they don't look any different. They are all agates, a few different types, montana moss agate, brazilians and some blue-white arizona agate, etc. Any thoughts of why this may be happening, and what I can do about it? Thank you very much!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 25, 2015 6:51:40 GMT -5
That is a tough one to answer since you say you have been tumbling with good results. If you did not change anything in your process then your results should not be changing. I will say that for agates I prefer a good aluminum oxide polish over cerium. Sounds like this load is all very hard material and should of really had a near mirror shine after 48 hours in the vibe in 500 A/O. Did I read that right that you are leaving them in the vibe in polish for a full week? That seems very extreme. 48 hours for agates are plenty IMHO.
Chuck
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flwrbom
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 7
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Post by flwrbom on Sept 25, 2015 12:08:16 GMT -5
Thank you Chuck. I usually don't leave them in that long but after a couple of days they were hazy, so I tried another couple of days, and so on.
Would it be best to go back a couple of steps, or maybe just to the last grit stage? Lindsey
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 25, 2015 12:50:28 GMT -5
Thank you Chuck. I usually don't leave them in that long but after a couple of days they were hazy, so I tried another couple of days, and so on.
Would it be best to go back a couple of steps, or maybe just to the last grit stage? Lindsey Did you inspect them good after 500? You may just need to go back to that step. Here is a picture of a set of agate/jasper cabs I ran after 48 hours in 500 A/O (lot-o vibe tumbler). This photo is before 1000, and polish stage. Chuck
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flwrbom
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 7
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Post by flwrbom on Sept 25, 2015 20:40:11 GMT -5
WOW. Those are gorgeous!!! I think I will go back to the 500 stage and see if I can turn them around from there. Thanks so much for your input and for those great pics. So beautiful!
Lindsey
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 25, 2015 21:07:51 GMT -5
I forgot to mention the importance of ceramic filler. lack of filler in the later stages will show up as a haze on any flat areas of the stones. The cabs in that photo probably had 75% Filler in the load. i do not ran any batches with less then 25% filler.
Chuck
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 25, 2015 22:17:20 GMT -5
Hi Lindsey, Chucks point is good, are you using ceramic pellets for the 500 and polish stages? I would go back to 500 as you intend too. Let us know how it goes. chuck those are freaking awesome cabs.
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flwrbom
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 7
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Post by flwrbom on Sept 26, 2015 16:48:26 GMT -5
I think not enough filler is probably it - after I read Chuck's last post, I checked and realized just how overloaded this batch was, and not a lot of ceramic filler in with the agates!! I've taken out a lot of the rock, added more ceramic and will keep you posted! Thanks again!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Sept 26, 2015 20:11:33 GMT -5
I think it will make a difference, I hope it makes a difference?
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Sept 26, 2015 20:50:45 GMT -5
Chuck that's some mighty fine work (after AO 500!)
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verhexen
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2015
Posts: 73
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Post by verhexen on Oct 2, 2015 6:37:21 GMT -5
I agree about the filler, that's probably where the issues are coming from. That and possibly a longer run in 500. Chuck, those are incredible. How long do you run each stage for?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 2, 2015 7:04:12 GMT -5
I agree about the filler, that's probably where the issues are coming from. That and possibly a longer run in 500. Chuck, those are incredible. How long do you run each stage for? Tumbled cabs are a whole different animal from random tumbled rocks. Vibe only (no rotary). 80-90 percent of load should be mixed size ceramic filler. 120/220, 500, 1000, A/O polish all go 48 hrs. I only tumble cabs that are very solid material like brazilian agate, picture jasper, montana agate etc... Any cabs that have more than one mineral in them will undercut in the tumbler so those are finished on wheels. I also go back to the genie and clean up the girdle lines on my tumbled cabs. I have a thread on here somewhere describing that part too. This is just my version of how to tumble cabs I am sure there are a dozen other ways including rotary etc... Chuck
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verhexen
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2015
Posts: 73
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Post by verhexen on Oct 2, 2015 11:14:25 GMT -5
I agree about the filler, that's probably where the issues are coming from. That and possibly a longer run in 500. Chuck, those are incredible. How long do you run each stage for? Tumbled cabs are a whole different animal from random tumbled rocks. Vibe only (no rotary). 80-90 percent of load should be mixed size ceramic filler. 120/220, 500, 1000, A/O polish all go 48 hrs. I only tumble cabs that are very solid material like brazilian agate, picture jasper, montana agate etc... Any cabs that have more than one mineral in them will undercut in the tumbler so those are finished on wheels. I also go back to the genie and clean up the girdle lines on my tumbled cabs. I have a thread on here somewhere describing that part too. This is just my version of how to tumble cabs I am sure there are a dozen other ways including rotary etc... Chuck I was just curious with a shine like that. Three days in 120/220 two days in 500 and mine have never been that shiny. Crazy impressive! I have a feeling 50/50 mix of ceramic media to pendants is not quite enough lol
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 2, 2015 11:28:38 GMT -5
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verhexen
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2015
Posts: 73
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Post by verhexen on Oct 2, 2015 11:45:21 GMT -5
That's awesome. Also tells me I really need to get a genie. Ha.
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