julieooly
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721 
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Post by julieooly on May 21, 2019 20:44:18 GMT -5
Ok I have a handful of cabs that are driving me nuts. I'm grinding up to 220 then moving to 280/600 Nova then 1200/3000 etc
So when I can't get the tiny scratches out at 220 I figure it's time to move up to the 600 but this seems to not be enough or the scratches get polished over.
I also have 220 silicon carbide paper, and 600 (and up) diamond papers.
No combination of all this seems to be working.
When I've worked it forever on the 280 and it doesn't "come out" on the next step what am I doing wrong. I suppose some pics might help here.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 21, 2019 20:53:09 GMT -5
 Velvet obsidian  Polish flint  Sodalite  Bruneau  Glass  Glass |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 21, 2019 22:15:57 GMT -5
Maybe it's just my eyes, but I honestly can't see any scratches on any of those cabs.
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Post by stardiamond on May 21, 2019 22:19:36 GMT -5
I've had a lot of problems with scratches. Montana is hard and scratches won't go away on the 600. My biggest problem with scratches is not seeing them until polish and I have really tried. I have space for other grit wheels on my Genie because the 600 and 1200 are on my 8 inch machine. I bought a 325 soft wheel and when I find scratches after polishing, I start with that and move on to 600. The 600 will take care of scratches on softer material.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on May 21, 2019 23:36:02 GMT -5
I keep a 360gt Crystalite Crystalring wheel mounted in my line-up just for such occasions. I wish that DP made a 360 or 400 grit Nova.
Larry C.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 22, 2019 6:57:37 GMT -5
Maybe it's just my eyes, but I honestly can't see any scratches on any of those cabs. Oh they’re there the pics don’t show them. I only see them with my 6+ readers on. Maybe I’m taking it all to seriously? How close do people look?! |
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 22, 2019 6:59:32 GMT -5
I keep a 360gt Crystalite Crystalring wheel mounted in my line-up just for such occasions. I wish that DP made a 360 or 400 grit Nova. Larry C. Thanks. I have a spot available on my rock saw combo. Maybe I’ll get one! |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 22, 2019 7:03:39 GMT -5
I don't see any, either.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 22, 2019 8:54:50 GMT -5
Maybe it's just my eyes, but I honestly can't see any scratches on any of those cabs. Oh they’re there the pics don’t show them. I only see them with my 6+ readers on. Maybe I’m taking it all to seriously? How close do people look?! Maybe it's your 6x glasses that have the scratches and not the rocks!  |
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 22, 2019 9:01:19 GMT -5
Well that's the thing, maybe I'm looking too closely? I only see them when I look REALLY hard under magnification but I know they are there and its from the wheels. I think I'll finish up the cabs and maybe send them off to someone willing to critique and return them - or- find a paper or wheel at an in-between grit.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 22, 2019 9:01:45 GMT -5
Well that's the thing, maybe I'm looking too closely? I only see them when I look REALLY hard under magnification but I know they are there and its from the wheels. I think I'll finish up the cabs and maybe send them off to someone willing to critique and return them - or- find a paper or wheel at an in-between grit.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 22, 2019 9:23:32 GMT -5
Maybe you should try the 220 Nova wheel instead of the 280 Nova. Tela swears by it. I'm going to get one eventually when I need to replace my 280.
I think you may be obsessing over those scratches. I really can't see any in the photos. Why don't you finish them and then post close up photos so we can try to see the scratches? Photos always show stuff we don't see normally.
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 22, 2019 12:48:16 GMT -5
Yeah the pics were more to show you the materials I'm having issues with. The scratches are super light. My 280 is practically brand new, maybe when it wears out I'll go down a step. I ordered a piece of Diamond paper for my expandable drum on my combo saw, I think it's a 325 mesh. If I can't get good results with that plus what I have then I'll consider that I'm looking too closely  |
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pocketfullarocks
having dreams about rocks
I love being a rock and mineral nerd!
Member since March 2019
Posts: 60
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Post by pocketfullarocks on May 28, 2019 20:45:26 GMT -5
Just my .02 on this- I don't see your scratches, but I definitely have this same problem myself. I also go from my 220 to my NOVA 280 and with the harder stones, I feel as if I am 'banging my head against a stone' trying to get out those last scratches, mostly toward the center. [As my rule of thumb on the final polish, if the light reflection balloons out as I tilt the stone it is not right (the line of light must stay a line from edge to edge)]. Anyway, my theories are: I may be pressing too hard on the 220; or giving up too soon on the 280. I do find the 600 will get out scratches on softer stones with much patience. Best wishes ~ by the way, those are awesome cabs!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,049 
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Post by gemfeller on May 28, 2019 22:28:16 GMT -5
I keep a 360gt Crystalite Crystalring wheel mounted in my line-up just for such occasions. I wish that DP made a 360 or 400 grit Nova. Larry C. I have an extra shaft adapter for my Genie mounted with a 6-inch expando. I use 400 grit carborundum after the 280 and I find it's a great intermediate step. It's wide enough so I can wear down one side of the belt and leave the other with fairly fresh grit to adapt to whatever degree of scratches I have. The only hassle is waiting for the rpm's to spin down so I can mount the expando. I used to use a 1000-grit hard wheel before Novas were available. I used it after the 220 hard to knock down scratches. It left a few facets that were easily removed when I went back to lower grits. |
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julieooly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2018
Posts: 721
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Post by julieooly on May 29, 2019 9:59:32 GMT -5
Just my .02 on this- I don't see your scratches, but I definitely have this same problem myself. I also go from my 220 to my NOVA 280 and with the harder stones, I feel as if I am 'banging my head against a stone' trying to get out those last scratches, mostly toward the center. [As my rule of thumb on the final polish, if the light reflection balloons out as I tilt the stone it is not right (the line of light must stay a line from edge to edge)]. Anyway, my theories are: I may be pressing too hard on the 220; or giving up too soon on the 280. I do find the 600 will get out scratches on softer stones with much patience. Best wishes ~ by the way, those are awesome cabs! Thanks! No you can't see the scratches in the photos but they are definitely there. I picked up a 325 Diamond belt for my expando and I'm gonna try this sequence 220 grind 280 Nova 325 Diamond paper 600 Nova What I really want is a 325-400 Nova but they don't exist. Maybe we should write a letter  |
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 14, 2019 13:15:23 GMT -5
I cut a 40x30 Guadalupe yesterday and inspected it through polishing and didn't see any scratches. After polishing I saw the scratches which is typical for me. I went back to 325 and saw no scratches but I remembered my scratch detector which is running a pencil over the face and the scratches were very apparent. I went back to 220 hard and 220 soft and kept repeating until the scratches were finer. I did the pencil check after each grit and at 1200 they were gone. Completed the polishing through 100k and no scratches. I followed the process on two other cabs with scratches and they are also scratch free.
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Post by greig on Jun 14, 2019 13:42:29 GMT -5
I cannot offer any advice, but have to say the material you are working with is outstanding. Love the pics!
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Post by Peruano on Jun 14, 2019 15:01:41 GMT -5
Taking a different tangent, when I have problems getting rid of tiny scratches it can often be that I think it's close and hence go gently when I return to the wheel when in fact I need to put some pressure on the stone and adequately address the offending scratches. Don't be afraid to adequately work your stone. It helps prevent several returns to the wheels.
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