sitheris
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by sitheris on Oct 20, 2016 19:20:17 GMT -5
Hey guys, I have tried tumbling my first batch of Flourite but I'm having trouble getting it to polish. I ran it through coarse grit for about 3-4 days in my HF rotary tumbler, then medium/fine grit in my Lot-O vibe for 2 days, followed by pre-polish for 2 days, and then polish (aluminum oxide) for another 2 days. Finally I burnished using some foaming handsoap I had around for a day. I had adequate cushioning of ceramic pellets large and small size. The problem is that the flourite came out with a haze over it like it never took the polish (see pics). Any tips? Thanks! Photo
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 20, 2016 19:32:53 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH Fluorite is one of the most difficult stones to work with. Your "haze" is most like frosting. I almost wonder if the very hard ceramic media is not some of the problem. Hard ceramics constantly rubbing against a very soft stone. Dry tumbling fluorite is a popular method. Noce soft corn cob instead of ceramics too. Click the link below for a some instructions. www.therockshed.com/instructions3.htmlChuck
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,768
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Post by Mark K on Oct 20, 2016 20:31:46 GMT -5
I think Chuck has your answer. I was thinking that you should cut up some 1/2 inch chunks of oak and try that in the polish. Chuck's idea might be better.
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Post by spiceman on Oct 20, 2016 21:54:05 GMT -5
Look at you tube. The guy uses a chisel by hand no hammer. A technique that looks difficult.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Oct 21, 2016 21:13:10 GMT -5
Tuff stuff to tumble polish. I've done about 30 lbs: rough tumble, dry corn vibe polish. Had about a pound of really nice stuff, but snatched up at recent party. Darker stuff does better. YMMV
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Oct 25, 2016 16:52:28 GMT -5
Look at you tube. The guy uses a chisel by hand no hammer. A technique that looks difficult. I watched that and tried it with a piece that I had purchased. It's not as hard as he makes it look. It's WAY harder. I had hand-polished it with sandpaper, and it came out pretty respectably, but then I wanted to see if I could get those nice cleaves and... no dice. I did end up with several, much smaller pieces of fluorite though.
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Post by spiceman on Oct 25, 2016 21:09:12 GMT -5
I could not get it shiny. Started with 80 sc wet/dry, moved to 220, then 400,then 800, then 1500 all wet. Finished with 5 micron paper...dry. Still frosty.
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