kimberly
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2022
Posts: 2
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Post by kimberly on Feb 19, 2022 8:56:05 GMT -5
So I'm new to this and just finished my second batch of rocks in non vibratory tumbler, the rocks are beautiful but when I look very closely with magnifying glass or even from picture close up I can see white polish (I assume) in tiny crevices of most rocks. How can I remove this without ruining where I am at with them? My first batch I didn't look at them so close but they were just as glossy and shined like these but after polishing I added borax and tumbled for 24 hours and some of them had lost the shine and I was disappointed so I have a few that need to be re-polished I assume but my question is how to remove these white spots as tiny as they are?
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badrock
starting to shine!
Member since January 2022
Posts: 30
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Post by badrock on Feb 19, 2022 16:50:22 GMT -5
What are you polishing them with? Obviously, for rocks with cracks use a polish of larger size. Like TXP which is 3 microns. Also, keep the rocks wet so that the polish doesn't dry in the cracks. Final tumble in soap and use a tooth brush. Maybe a Waterpik (haven't tried). It still happens, so I'll come back for better ideas.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 19, 2022 22:05:19 GMT -5
You could try an ultrasonic and see if it gets the polish out. I know it would work with the polish still wet. You'd have to try it to see if it works on the dry polish.
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Post by rmf on Feb 20, 2022 3:37:19 GMT -5
kimberly an ultrasonic cleanse them best. If you do not have tumble them in some water with dish soap for 10 min or so. Drain them don;t dry them and put them in the freezer. sometimes the water in the cracks acts like hoarfrost and will lift the polish out of the cracks.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,238
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Post by quartzilla on Feb 20, 2022 7:51:26 GMT -5
I third the ultrasonic cleaner. Mine removes 95% plus of any polish residue in my rocks that have fine cracks and tiny fractures.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Feb 20, 2022 14:56:40 GMT -5
Maybe a Waterpik (haven't tried).
That said, what I do - to admittedly limited success - is: (1) Keep stones wet between stages; (2) Use a set of steel dental picks and a loupe to gently remove obvious polish between stages; (2a) Rinse and repeat picking; (3) Run a 1-2 hour soap/OxyClean stage between stages.
As I indicated, I have only had minimal success, so take this with a grain of polish.
After contemplation, I'm probably going to buy the ultrasonic cleaner that fernwood recommended in another thread and start using that between stages. |
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afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152 
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Post by afterburnt on Feb 21, 2022 13:07:17 GMT -5
Keeping the rocks wet between stages and using an ultrasonic cleaner have given me very good results.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 992 
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 3, 2022 1:46:10 GMT -5
Maybe a Waterpik (haven't tried).
That said, what I do - to admittedly limited success - is: (1) Keep stones wet between stages; (2) Use a set of steel dental picks and a loupe to gently remove obvious polish between stages; (2a) Rinse and repeat picking; (3) Run a 1-2 hour soap/OxyClean stage between stages.
As I indicated, I have only had minimal success, so take this with a grain of polish.
After contemplation, I'm probably going to buy the ultrasonic cleaner that fernwood recommended in another thread and start using that between stages. When I bought my double barrel tumbler from Harbor Freight we bought the sonic cleaner they have too. Im going to try the sonic after polish on my next batch out. |
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 550
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Post by LazerFlash on Mar 3, 2022 14:47:07 GMT -5
When I bought my double barrel tumbler from Harbor Freight we bought the sonic cleaner they have too. Im going to try the sonic after polish on my next batch out. |
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