Quizzes & Puzzles0 min ago
Polishing Iceland Spar
12 Answers
Hi, last christmas I bought myself a lovely great big rhomb of calcite (about 3" square by 2" thick) and today I decided to polish it.
The method I chose was this:
Using a flat pane of glass to ensure a flat surface, I started working on it with sheets of wet and dry paper soaked with warm water and a drop or two of liquid soap, I worked up from 250 grit to 400, 800 and finally 1200 - same method with all; each sheet was laid on the glass and I used a moderately fast circular motion on the wetted paper.
I was careful to wash away all traces of slurry between the different grades and when I thought the surface was ready, I finally used tin oxide polishing powder on a folded up wet J-cloth.
Fascinating eh? :-)
Now here's the question: the result is fairly good but I'd really like an absolute mirror finish and I just aint getting it with the cloth and tin oxide method - how can I achieve this?
TIA
(photos to follow if anyone's interested).
The method I chose was this:
Using a flat pane of glass to ensure a flat surface, I started working on it with sheets of wet and dry paper soaked with warm water and a drop or two of liquid soap, I worked up from 250 grit to 400, 800 and finally 1200 - same method with all; each sheet was laid on the glass and I used a moderately fast circular motion on the wetted paper.
I was careful to wash away all traces of slurry between the different grades and when I thought the surface was ready, I finally used tin oxide polishing powder on a folded up wet J-cloth.
Fascinating eh? :-)
Now here's the question: the result is fairly good but I'd really like an absolute mirror finish and I just aint getting it with the cloth and tin oxide method - how can I achieve this?
TIA
(photos to follow if anyone's interested).
Answers
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I was going to suggest a medium such as jewellers rouge, or a gloss furniture polish if you re happy the surface is smooth enough, spread on a flat piece of leather and worked in a circular motion.
But I know nowt about it from experience so I thought I'd check and found that these people seem to suggest similar.
But I know nowt about it from experience so I thought I'd check and found that these people seem to suggest similar.
I think you're right about the leather (or denim as has also been suggested).
Admittedly I am trying to cut corners (pardon the pun) and what I really need is the use of a stone polishing 'lap' but in the absence of such a thing I am scouring (pardon the other pun) for a home-made solution.
The tin oxide powder I have is similar to jeweller's rouge.
Admittedly I am trying to cut corners (pardon the pun) and what I really need is the use of a stone polishing 'lap' but in the absence of such a thing I am scouring (pardon the other pun) for a home-made solution.
The tin oxide powder I have is similar to jeweller's rouge.
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