gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Feb 5, 2019 8:47:55 GMT -5
I've been using the 500, 1000, 14,000 AO process with ceramic media and but no Ivory or Dawn soap, and I am wondering if there is something better that someone has found using a vib tumbler.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Feb 5, 2019 9:34:50 GMT -5
I do the same grit schedule but I include a tablespoon of borax in each step. In between I also run with just Borax for an hour to clean.
Never had shinier rocks in my life
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Feb 5, 2019 11:24:17 GMT -5
WHY ARE YOU YELLING?
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Feb 5, 2019 19:40:04 GMT -5
Because I have received some great ideas about how to get a mirror shine on agates!
What do you do to get an amazing shine?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 5, 2019 20:25:42 GMT -5
If you are not getting a shine on agates in a vibe tumbler using those steps then there is another issue. Those are the recommended steps. The agates in this video never even went into 1000, 14,000 or burnish. The video is taken directly after the 500 step in a loto vibe tumbler. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/86221/1-23-mexican-agate-videoMaybe look into how much water, how much grit/polish or how much time in each stage. What brand and size vibe tumbler? You mention 14,000 polish but what brand and source? Chuck
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Feb 6, 2019 8:27:48 GMT -5
Great info, and you have a great website with some gorgeous rocks. Using finer grit like 1,000 or 14,000 and burninshing doesn't do anything to improve their appearance?
I've been using a TT Mod B but recently purchased a TT Ultra-Vib 18 with extra bowl.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Feb 6, 2019 8:33:17 GMT -5
I do the same grit schedule but I include a tablespoon of borax in each step. In between I also run with just Borax for an hour to clean. Never had shinier rocks in my life I don't exactly understand what the borax does. Is it just a barrel/bowl cleaner like Ivory soap or Dawn or does it have some property that acts like a super fine grit or some type of buffer or does it jazz up the slurry? I've only gone to the 14,000 grit polishing stage and stopped there without ever using borax, etc. I'll have to test it to see if there is any difference.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Feb 6, 2019 8:46:26 GMT -5
TT Ultra-Vib 18 is the tumbler I just bought and am learning to use. I also bought an extra bowl just for polishing. I'm using a TT Mod B for Stage 1 course tumbling. I found a good post in the tutorial section about using Vib tumblers. I'm surprised by the length of time the poster uses for the polishing stage in the Vib, 5-6 days! forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/29369/instructions-vibe-tumblers
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 6, 2019 10:56:39 GMT -5
My final stage is two TBSP of shaved Ivory soap and warm water, add to barrel of material, tumble for four more hours... Rinse and they come out with a beautiful shine..
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 6, 2019 11:02:12 GMT -5
Great info, and you have a great website with some gorgeous rocks. Using finer grit like 1,000 or 14,000 and burninshing doesn't do anything to improve their appearance? I've been using a TT Mod B but recently purchased a TT Ultra-Vib 18 with extra bowl. My normal steps in the vibe are normally 120/220, 500, optional 1000 and then Rockshed AO polish. I will often run an extended 500 stage and skip the 1000 going straight to the polish. This is another mixed batch of rocks out of the loto after and extended 500 run. No 1000 or polish step. This is not something I recommend but I took the pictures to document the results because I think some people would be content with the results forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/86334/judgeChuck
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 213
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Post by rodeodan on Feb 6, 2019 11:36:06 GMT -5
In the past I have shaved some flakes off of a bar of Ivory soap and burnished for a few hours but not sure if it made a difference for me. If a batch isn't as shiny as I would like, I just run it for another week in polish (no clean out as at this stage, I check a couple of stones before rinsing the batch). I'm relatively new to using a vibe but have learned that too much water is the enemy, keep the slurry thick and after 3 days, the agates are nice.
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joejansal
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2009
Posts: 98
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Post by joejansal on Feb 7, 2019 2:57:37 GMT -5
hi I use 120 - 220 3 days, then 500 a o pre polish 3 days, 1000 a o pre polish 3 days, a o polish 7 days nice shine but I have seen better.
all from rockshed, where do you guys get 14,000 polish, have tried tin oxide but very dull shine, I use lortone rotary tumblers, tried vibe but got matt looking finish. I do seashells that are 5 on mohs scale is the a o polish from rock shed 14,000 or where can I buy it. when I use 14,000 on my genie I get a great shine. any help will be very much appreciated.
thank you joejan
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 17, 2019 10:31:47 GMT -5
hi I use 120 - 220 3 days, then 500 a o pre polish 3 days, 1000 a o pre polish 3 days, a o polish 7 days nice shine but I have seen better. all from rockshed, where do you guys get 14,000 polish, have tried tin oxide but very dull shine, I use lortone rotary tumblers, tried vibe but got matt looking finish. I do seashells that are 5 on mohs scale is the a o polish from rock shed 14,000 or where can I buy it. when I use 14,000 on my genie I get a great shine. any help will be very much appreciated. thank you joejan Should start your own post - I think this one played out... Good luck
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