beetle101
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by beetle101 on Jan 10, 2016 16:18:49 GMT -5
Something went bad... I had merlinite and labradorite in the final polish stage. I added ceramic/ small medium to fill the barrel. i think one the rocks broke and the piece scratched the mix.
What next to fix this? I' m burnishing the stones now to see the real damage. Should I polish using cerium oxide? Or repeat step 3 pre polish?
thanks!!!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 10, 2016 17:23:21 GMT -5
Do you have any photos of the scratches? Are they deep or just surface scratches?
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Post by broseph82 on Jan 10, 2016 22:34:07 GMT -5
Lab supposedly does best in dry polish
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beetle101
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by beetle101 on Jan 11, 2016 9:12:15 GMT -5
Hi- I'm trying to upload a photo. May have to wait till I get home, as I don't see the option on my phone . But yes I have both scratches and some small chips - bruising (?) . Also, the fine rock fissures... Is that why I've read the use of a super glue coating. Would the dry tumble be with the use of hulls and cerium oxide? Last stage if polish dry? What about the ceramic medium? I thought the batch was Looking ok until I added the ceramic. Thanks for your support- this is probably the hardest batch- labradorite- although I have a batch of Apache tears in a stage 1. !!!! ?
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 11, 2016 11:04:35 GMT -5
Depends on scratches. You may have to start over. Did you keep the barrels 3/4 full throughout? If not the stones will get damaged in later steps. Sometimes the scratches just show more the more polished you get and are from earlier steps. The dry polishes I've used are used in vibe tumblers.
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beetle101
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by beetle101 on Jan 11, 2016 20:51:55 GMT -5
OK - As per the directions the downloaded photos will magically appear once I "create this post." Here goes.... or maybe not.
But to answer the above suggestions...yes I loaded the barrel 3/4 full each time.
One helpful member asked if the ceramic media was brand new, having sharp edges not yet worn down. The answer is yes, I had only a few plastic pellets left and filled in with brand new ceramic pellets.
I think everybody's answer is correct, each playing a part to equal one result. So, I may try step 2 / 120 grit for a few days and then pre and polish. This time using only plastic. Sound logical?
Thanks for all of your help!!!!!!
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