Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Jun 25, 2005 5:17:27 GMT -5
Cuervo,
Tumble them alone! They are very soft. The agate will pulvierize them!
You're looking at 1/3 the time over most other stones. If you have alot and don't want to hand-polish, I'd use the smallest barrel. The ones I have were pretty solid without any fractures.
Just get them to the shape/smoothness you want in 60/90 and move them up to the next grits, lather rinse repeat. It could take a surprisingly small amount of time compared to other stones. I just can't stress enough that you need to tumble them alone with no other stone. If you need something else to throw in there, try plastic pellets.
As for the polish, you can hand polish (I described how in a post above) or polish on a felt wheel. I think I used either SISA or Tin Oxide. I polished those cabs in less than a minute on a felt wheel (I really need to mark stuff better!)
Goodluck!
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 25, 2005 9:41:31 GMT -5
Emerald- could you give me more info on the felt wheel- Is this something you can purchase or is it something you adapted from a buffer?
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 25, 2005 9:52:14 GMT -5
lookin good em i wanna see the jewlery you make with them
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Post by creativeminded on Jun 25, 2005 9:54:31 GMT -5
Very pretty, you did a great job on those.
Tami
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Jun 25, 2005 14:51:28 GMT -5
Stefan Kingsley has them here: www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/search_results2.php?catID=&keys=felt&start=25&count=34Spin-On Polishing Heads A 6” lightweight, flexible molded polish heads with a 1/4-10 stud for threading into the end of most arbor shafts. Available with a plain 3/16” rubber face for use with sanding discs, diamond discs etc. or with a felt top bonded to a 3/16” rubber disc for polishing.
and here: www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/search_results2.php?catID=&keys=felt&start=20&count=34Felt Polishing Disc Made of the best grade wool felt, highly compressed into disc shape. 1/8in. thick to be used on face plate, flexodiscs, etc. Use wet with your polishing compounds: tin oxide, cerium oxide, linde A, etc. Two sizes to choose from.Depending on equipment you have, the leather ones work well too! Personally, I use the felt one mounted on the far right side of my lapidary unit. I save the leather ones I have for harder material. For the leather: www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/search_results2.php?catID=&keys=felt&start=15&count=34(scroll down the page and you'll find them) Canvas and Leather Pads Inexpensive polishing pads with a foam rubber backing so that they will conform to the shape of your stone. All have rigid plastic back plate with a 1/4in. 20 thread bolt that will fit Diamond Pacific, Lortone, Contempo, Raytech and other machines designed for such attachments. The canvas pads come either treated with a special resin for use with diamond compound, or untreated for use with other polishing compounds. The leather pads come either smooth or rough side up. (I use the leather pad with the rough side...holds polish better I think.) |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 25, 2005 19:52:29 GMT -5
Excellant job, Helen. They all came out really well, I'm looking forward to seeing the mounted pieces. And, yeah, I', an agate girl myself, I like those the best. I'm really impressed with the
shine on the Petosky stones, difficult stone to do.
Great job!
cookie
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 27, 2005 7:56:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the info!!!!! I have a leather belt coming for the Lortone- but I've been looking at the bare shaft ends and thinking there might be some use for em (typical male thing- can never leave well enough alone!)
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Post by Cher on Jun 27, 2005 12:42:21 GMT -5
Good job Helen, good luck in the classes too. Looking forward to seeing the finished products.
Cher
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jun 27, 2005 19:02:22 GMT -5
Hey Emerald!!!
Beautiful stones ... You are doing some beautiful work!
I have got to get back on my Genie ... it has been close to three weeks since I have cut a cab! I hope I remember how.
If not, can I ask you for some pointers?
Thanks,
John
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