Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Banjocreek on Mar 30, 2004 12:35:14 GMT -5
I have learned something this month and have a few photos to document my story. I had a bunch od Snowflake Obsidian splinters and scrap I threw in a tumbler and brought full cycle to polish. After nearly 3 weeks in the Tin Oxide, I found that the pieces were satin in texture, but not glossy. I gropped around in the pellets and polish and came across a rock that had at least a little depth to it, and "Wullaa", it had a beautiful shine. My conclusion is that the pieces were so flat (some less than one eight inch thick) that were was not enough contact. Whereas the rocks (only 3 or 4) that began with more of a third dimension came out beautiful. I believe that I need to maybe slice some of these in half of maybe quarters to give them some thickness and send them into the 1000 grit, and then back to the Tin Oxide after they have a little more mass(?). Anyway thats my story. The photos have the thicker stones in the center and you can see the difference against the wide flat ones on the outside. There were only enough scraps to fill the bottom of a 1.5# barrel up to one half inch. The rest was pellets and polish foam. So I think I'm on track and started my 15#er with Obsidian and this is my test and a good learning experience.    |
|
James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
|
Post by James on Mar 30, 2004 14:09:20 GMT -5
Not bad at all Banjo. It sounds like your barrel my have been too empty and therefore the sones had little or no contact with one another. You're right though, the more "round" stones polished great! The flat odd shapes on the other hand are still dull. The 1000 grit should remedy that problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 30, 2004 14:14:53 GMT -5
they are all beautiful but i see what you mean. if you cut them if 1/2's or 1/4's won't you need to go all the way back to rough grind to grind those rough cut edges down? otherwise they'll be sharp on the cut edges and scratch up the rocks while in the 1000 grit. wonder if you put them in 1000 uncut would they go on and take the polish?
kim
|
|
Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Banjocreek on Mar 30, 2004 14:40:11 GMT -5
Thats a good point Kim. Maybe back to 500 then and keep the hard edge Hmmmmmmm?  If I use a 220 grit disc on the dremel, it should let me advance to the 500? |
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 30, 2004 21:51:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Mar 31, 2004 0:10:59 GMT -5
Those are nice, but you are right they need a little more of something in order to really get a shine.
Tami
|
|
Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Banjocreek on Mar 31, 2004 0:39:29 GMT -5
Kim-
I'm curious what you used for a prepolish;
And for how long.
But, I honestly don't know much about those stones your'e working on.
I am finding that I'm not getting a thorough enough step before my polish and the polish just can't do all that I am asking it to do.
Its like trying to cut down an oak tree with a hacksaw.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 31, 2004 1:08:08 GMT -5
banjo - the 400 grit has been my pre-polish but i have some 1000 a.o. coming from the rockshed and wiz and i have ordered some SISA for 1.99 for 5 lbs so we won't swear on that until we see it (we might be getting a pamphlet on SISA lol). ron suggested i take it back to pre-polish - i'm gonna try the 1000 when it gets here and then he said polish it by itself and check frequently. the best polish i've had so far has been on the driveway gravel  . nowhere but up to go from there ;D. this hobby has been the best brain work-out i've had maybe ever. no matter how much rock info i pack in there i haven't cracked a dent in what there is to know - shame they didn't offer classes this challenging in school! kim |
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 31, 2004 1:12:14 GMT -5
oh and i went 7 days on the pre-polish.
kim
|
|
Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by Banjocreek on Mar 31, 2004 2:26:54 GMT -5
I am waiting on some 1000 and SISA myself. I am hoping this is the 'missing link' to a lot of my problems when the finish is less than 'High Gloss'. Good Luck!  |
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 1, 2004 10:55:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 1, 2004 12:15:35 GMT -5
that's gorgeous, ron. where do you get them?
kim
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 1, 2004 13:01:37 GMT -5
Hey Kim, Thomsonite is found around Lake Superior. Some of the shops in the UP of Michigan or northern Minnesota are most likely to have it. Might start at: www.dayooper.comThey link to some Thomsonite sites. |
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Apr 1, 2004 15:38:07 GMT -5
That is a cool site, my nephew is going to love the page about the dinosaur.
Tami
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 7, 2004 10:55:49 GMT -5
Hey Kim, here is a picture of a piece of Thomsonite rough that I found in the field next to my house. It doesn't look like much. They are really soft, like 5 to 5.5. You can see the scuff marks where I put it in a bag with some other rocks. I am tying to collect enough rock in the 5 to 5.5 range to try and tumble some. Unfortunately, most Thomsonite that is found is not any good for polishing. We'll see. Ron  |
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 7, 2004 19:52:19 GMT -5
looks great why is it not good for polishing?
kim
|
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 7, 2004 20:19:32 GMT -5
Is it just me or does anyone eles think Banjos thumbnail photo looks like a Rolling Stones album cover? ;D
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 7, 2004 21:35:32 GMT -5
It's just that they tend to be so soft, and the softer the stone is, the harder it is to get a good tumble. They damage so easily. I have a batch of rocks that are 5 to 5.5 hardness, but fooling around with those ?rubies? so long has put my tumblers way behind schedule. It's probably going to be six weeks before I get a chance to start them. Of course, the softer rocks take a lot less time as well. Processing should be less than half of what the harder Quartz and Agates get. I don't know Cookie, all I know is I just don't get no satisfaction! |
|
. nowhere but up to go from there ;D. this hobby has been the best brain work-out i've had maybe ever. no matter how much rock info i pack in there i haven't cracked a dent in what there is to know - shame they didn't offer classes this challenging in school!
