Comments on: Problems polishing Apache Tears/obsidian http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html Beginning Rockhounds Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:33:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Rob http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1575 Rob Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:39:48 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1575 Thanks Steve, that wasn't the issue. We always thoroughly clean the barrels before the next stage by running the rocks through a middle stage in water and laundry soap. We finally figured it out. First, we found that red rouge worked much better than the cerium oxide. Also adding sugar to slow the polishing progress. We finally got them polished like glass! I need to write up the process. Thanks Steve, that wasn’t the issue. We always thoroughly clean the barrels before the next stage by running the rocks through a middle stage in water and laundry soap. We finally figured it out. First, we found that red rouge worked much better than the cerium oxide. Also adding sugar to slow the polishing progress. We finally got them polished like glass! I need to write up the process.

]]> By: steve http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1574 steve Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:26:23 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1574 lastly do a 120 220 400 500/600 tin oxide, rouge. lastly do a 120 220 400 500/600 tin oxide, rouge.

]]> By: steve http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1573 steve Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:23:33 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1573 If you don't have extra barrels, scrub them in between with a heavy scrub brush as well as a toothbrush for the corners, as well as the gasket or lid. look at it in the light , if you see any metallic or silvery shimmer, there is still previous grit in the rubber. If you don’t have extra barrels, scrub them in between with a heavy scrub brush as well as a toothbrush for the corners, as well as the gasket or lid. look at it in the light , if you see any metallic or silvery shimmer, there is still previous grit in the rubber.

]]> By: steve http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1572 steve Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:17:51 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1572 You need to thoroughly wash your barrels in between grits what may be happening is that you are contaminating the grit with residue. When polishing it's often a good idea to have a completely separate barrels for the two final grits, and use the filler pellets in the final two, but use new ones for each grit.If there is one tiny piece of any of the previous grits you won't get the next polish level. You need to thoroughly wash your barrels in between grits what may be happening is that you are contaminating the grit with residue. When polishing it’s often a good idea to have a completely separate barrels for the two final grits, and use the filler pellets in the final two, but use new ones for each grit.If there is one tiny piece of any of the previous grits you won’t get the next polish level.

]]> By: Rob http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1561 Rob Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:15:35 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1561 Ron, I look forward to hearing about your experiences polishing the apache tears. We are still working on it. We have them polishing in red rouge now. We'll see how that works. Ron, I look forward to hearing about your experiences polishing the apache tears. We are still working on it. We have them polishing in red rouge now. We’ll see how that works.

]]> By: Movieman990 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/problems-polishing-apache-tearsobsidian.html/comment-page-1#comment-1559 Movieman990 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:06:30 +0000 http://www.rocks-gemstones.com/?p=35#comment-1559 Hey there... I collected a 5 gallon bucketfull of apache tears near Tonopah, NV some time ago and am now getting into the lapidary phase. I just acquired a tumbler and since I am going on a trip to the Hauser Geode Beds this month (April, 2010) it may be late in the month or even May before tumbling takes place, but I will let you know here what my experience is. Many of my Apache tears ARE polished by wind and sand on the top surface (shiny) while they have a matte finish on the surface that was below the surface of the ground. I find THAT a very interesting look for a "specimen" item. I sell these at a flea market along with geodes. Hey there…

I collected a 5 gallon bucketfull of apache tears near Tonopah, NV some time ago and am now getting into the lapidary phase. I just acquired a tumbler and since I am going on a trip to the Hauser Geode Beds this month (April, 2010) it may be late in the month or even May before tumbling takes place, but I will let you know here what my experience is.

Many of my Apache tears ARE polished by wind and sand on the top surface (shiny) while they have a matte finish on the surface that was below the surface of the ground.

I find THAT a very interesting look for a “specimen” item. I sell these at a flea market along with geodes.

]]>