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Post by arghvark on Sept 14, 2018 10:35:25 GMT -5
Finally got my first batch of obsidian through. Lots of rotary in 3lb barrels with 80g and some agate smalls. Couple days in lot-o with 120/220 and about 50% non-abrasive ceramic smalls. Same again with 500g, then 1200 ao. Thorough hand wash between stages but no tumble wash. No additives. 36 hours with raybrite followed by a couple hours burnish with borax. Had an issue in the first 12 hours of polish. Somehow it looks like the edge of the lid came up, all the water evaporated and by the time I got home it was bone dry. Beat the crap out of them. Everything was looking really good til then. So this batch has lots of defects, some big. But the finish is pretty nice. Also a few tiny pits I didn't get the polish out of (possibly due to completely drying in there.) obsidian group shots: Generated from my Samsung GALAXY S5 using tools.rackonly.comThe blacks were basically fill, but they look pretty nice. A couple are covered with tiny white flecks- this is the rock, not polish-filled pits. obsidian closeups: A couple of those show more reflection than rock. I just kinda like the reflection of the clouds. Crappy photos - phone cam has a hard time with high contrast. The single round one has one pit, the others are dust flecks. Thanks for looking. Argh Edit: the second-to-last photo is really a spectacular rock, has some lovely sheen. But over on the right side you can see a huge gouge. :-(
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Post by fernwood on Sept 14, 2018 10:40:29 GMT -5
Nice gloss on all.
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Post by MsAli on Sept 14, 2018 10:48:08 GMT -5
Really nice shine on those
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 14, 2018 10:57:18 GMT -5
Nice, nice, nice, nice job!
Great colors, shapes, and yes, gloss!
Thanks for sharing them.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 14, 2018 11:11:47 GMT -5
Very nice. Obsidian is one of the worst to photograph. Dust is always a problem. Second to last photo is cool. Bummer about your lid. That has happened to all of us though. I used to use a small elastic bungee cord on it but now I have rubber band holding it on.
Some flaws in obsidian just do not show up till polish stage. I just sort them and any that have flaws when I am all done go back through the whole process again.
Chuck
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Sept 14, 2018 11:17:37 GMT -5
Fantastic shine and shape!
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Post by miket on Sept 14, 2018 14:33:18 GMT -5
Beautiful.
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Post by arghvark on Sept 14, 2018 15:27:33 GMT -5
Very nice. Obsidian is one of the worst to photograph. Dust is always a problem. Second to last photo is cool. Bummer about your lid. That has happened to all of us though. I used to use a small elastic bungee cord on it but now I have rubber band holding it on. Some flaws in obsidian just do not show up till polish stage. I just sort them and any that have flaws when I am all done go back through the whole process again. Chuck Yeah, thought I had the lid-popping solved with a bungee. It didn't come off, but one edge must have been up. Came back to white powder on the outside of the tub. Oh sh*t. A few of the most beautiful ones with big defects will get some grinding before going back through.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 14, 2018 16:09:24 GMT -5
Very nice. Obsidian is one of the worst to photograph. Dust is always a problem. Second to last photo is cool. Bummer about your lid. That has happened to all of us though. I used to use a small elastic bungee cord on it but now I have rubber band holding it on. Some flaws in obsidian just do not show up till polish stage. I just sort them and any that have flaws when I am all done go back through the whole process again. Chuck Yeah, thought I had the lid-popping solved with a bungee. It didn't come off, but one edge must have been up. Came back to white powder on the outside of the tub. Oh sh*t. A few of the most beautiful ones with big defects will get some grinding before going back through. A member here posted pictures of a lid that he 3D printed that included a loop on top to attach a hold down to. Good thinking. cant remember who it was off hand. Edit: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/74448/lot-replacement-capChuck
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Post by aDave on Sept 14, 2018 18:37:18 GMT -5
Nice work - well done.
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Post by arghvark on Sept 15, 2018 11:52:31 GMT -5
Thanks to all of you! The process is sound, and the damage should be easy to manage in future batches.
The real reason for this good gloss on a first batch is all the great expertise I've been able to learn from here.
So thanks again! Argh
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Post by TheRock on Sept 15, 2018 13:33:39 GMT -5
Great job, Nice Shapes, and Beautiful Shine!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 17, 2018 16:57:05 GMT -5
Beautiful... Obsidian is a very hard material to work with and you nailed that polish and shine!!! Thumbs up
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