nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 4, 2018 22:40:08 GMT -5
Is there any differences between the many flavors of obsidian, which would require different approaches to polishing them? I had very good success with a straight load of mahogany recently, and have more mahogany plus silver sheen and rainbow that I would like to run simultaneously. Would there be any issue with doing so?
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El JeffA
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by El JeffA on Apr 4, 2018 22:46:50 GMT -5
They should all be of similar hardness...so, no, should not be a problem tumbling together. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing the results.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 4, 2018 23:12:13 GMT -5
They should all be of similar hardness...so, no, should not be a problem tumbling together. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing the results. If they turn out as well as my last batch, I will definitely post pics.
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Apr 4, 2018 23:25:56 GMT -5
Did you post the last batch? =)
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 4, 2018 23:33:04 GMT -5
Did you post the last batch? =) No, I didn't, and i'll tell you why. Although they came out with a great shine, many of them had small crevices which trapped the polish. After they dried, the white residue really detracted, in my opinion, from the overall appearance. I'm either going to attempt to clean out the polish, or I may run them again to remove the crevices.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 4, 2018 23:36:24 GMT -5
Would love to see the pictures of what you have done and your next ones. I've been wanting to see what silver sheen and rainbow look tumbled
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Apr 4, 2018 23:39:17 GMT -5
Did you post the last batch? =) No, I didn't, and i'll tell you why. Although they came out with a great shine, many of them had small crevices which trapped the polish. After they dried, the white residue really detracted, in my opinion, from the overall appearance. I'm either going to attempt to clean out the polish, or I may run them again to remove the crevices. Good to know - to learn from for next time! Rocks don't have to be perfect here to post =) Only garage rocker does.
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Post by gmitch067 on Apr 5, 2018 0:44:14 GMT -5
Did you post the last batch? =) No, I didn't, and i'll tell you why. Although they came out with a great shine, many of them had small crevices which trapped the polish. After they dried, the white residue really detracted, in my opinion, from the overall appearance. I'm either going to attempt to clean out the polish, or I may run them again to remove the crevices. I had similar problems... until I started to do a few things... (Note: The following is not a recipe of consecutive steps leading to a polish... they are just suggestions to make polish residue less problematic) First - Especially with glass or Obsidian(s) - Rotary Tumbling - Get the shape right - Minimize places the polish can hide in: Use a short 80-grit run to rough shape the stones; Then shift to 220-grit (50/50 rocks and ceramic media) until you have successfully eliminated as many cracks or pits as you can... checking every 3 days to remove those with good finishes. I even use a high speed dremel grinding wheel to help accomplish this. Instead of adding fresh rocks, I replenish bulk using the ceramic media. (I might do a second run to have enough stones to proceed with other polishing steps.) After all have passed I recombine them and continue the polishing stages to completion. Second - Burnish Run: Immediately after removal from the tumbler, and hose washing, I place the rocks back into the rotary drum (or vibe) and run them for 12-24 hours in water with borax and a squirt of Dawn foaming hand soap added (3-4 hours for vibe). The time is really determined by how porous the rock's surface is... and your level of OCD affliction. There will be spots that even the extended burnishing will not get out. Third: Begin by keeping the rocks wet after the polish stage AND the burnish. If the rocks dry out before they are thoroughly cleaned the polish sets-up in the cracks and pits... VERY hard to get out. As I remove them from the initial rinse with the hose, I transfer them to a tub of water to await a little hands-on cleaning. I remove each individual rock and scrub them with a toothbrush and hit any remaining cracks and pits with a water-pic.. a bit messy with water everywhere, but does a good job of getting most of the leftover polish. If I am working with preform cabs, I pay special attention to the cab's face with the water pic... just in case... After all that... and the polished rocks are dry and on display... you find a few that still have some trapped white polish... put the rocks in a tub of warm soapy water laced with borax for a few hours. The borax should loosen the polish. Hit those spots with the water pic again. I hope this helps you. Glenn
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 5, 2018 17:12:16 GMT -5
Thanks to all for the helpful info. I feel pretty confident on my technique for obsidian, I've just learned to spend more time initially to remove as many imperfections as possible. I now have access to a tile saw, so I'll probably start pre-shaping also.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 5, 2018 18:02:42 GMT -5
Would love to see the pictures of what you have done and your next ones. I've been wanting to see what silver sheen and rainbow look tumbled Mahogany is all I have that is finished (sort of). Those are the ones that need a little extra TLC because of the aforementioned residual polish. Since there seems to be some interest, I may go ahead and post pics, and then after another clean up, repost. I currently have a load of Arizona pet wood in the QT6 for initial grind, as soon as they're finished, I'll probably put in the other mahogany, silver sheen, and rainbow.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 21, 2018 16:09:45 GMT -5
People think I'm crazy with the way I tumble rocks, Obsidian and etc... With Obsidian I go through the first three stages a week per stage.. Than I roll pre polish for a week.. Than I roll A/O for a week, rinse, wash and run another cycle of A/O. than repeat, after one week, rinse, wash and run C/O for a week.. Than clean the batch, run Ivory soap (shaved) for 14 hours...Rinse, let dry... (If they aren't shining,keep rolling with polish till they shine)...
Between each batch at clean out and cycle change I use two gallon buckets with warm water.. I pressure wash all the material first, than run them into the first gallon of water (Hand rinse), than put them into the second gallon of water(hand rinse), than into the rubber tumblers.. This is with a rotary of course!!!
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 21, 2018 20:13:22 GMT -5
I actually posted these somewhere else, maybe another thread, but since some of you have shown interest, I'll post again. I'm not completely satisfied with these, and may run them again, but here they are. I hope I'm posting these properly, I don't want to cost the forum any undue fees. click on pic for larger view There is a piece that actually shows a little silver sheen at the bottom of the pic.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Apr 22, 2018 9:57:06 GMT -5
I once ran an obsidian batch that had Mahogany, Silver sheen, black, Snowflake, with Apache tears for smalls. Came out good.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Apr 23, 2018 4:01:47 GMT -5
I found a particular mahogany obsidian to be easiest to get a polish on. Clear obsidians not as easy. I will say glass varies 4.5 to 6.5 in Mohs hardness. Glass and obsidian one in the same. Hard to say how many different concoctions nature produced. Some opaque glass abrades faster than clear glass where banding occurs. Red opaque glass for instance in my glass stock wears faster than clear glass. www.tedpella.com/company_html/hardness.htm
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