How to Polish Apache Tears
Question:
Good morning Dale, I'm tumbling some Apache tears and they refuse to polish up to that fine glass finish we all love. Can you give me some pointers? Thanks for all your help and guidance.
-Sherry in Coulterville, California
Good morning Dale, I'm tumbling some Apache tears and they refuse to polish up to that fine glass finish we all love. Can you give me some pointers? Thanks for all your help and guidance.
-Sherry in Coulterville, California
Instructions
Answer:
Ah yes, Apache Tears-those lovely little drops of obsidian.
They're also one of the most difficult materials to tumble polish.
I remember my first batch it took nearly four months of trial and error to get it right.
Here's the method I finally mastered for tumble polishing Apache Tears:
Use LOTS of plastic pellets in every stage, from coarse to fine.
This prevents conchoidal chips and cushions the stones throughout the process.
The real secret is in the polish stage.
Place the Apache Tears and pellets into the polish barrel. Before adding water, saturate it with white table sugar to create a thick syrup.
This sugary mixture adds even more cushioning to protect the delicate glass pieces.
Make sure the barrel is 4/5 full with pellets included.
Then add cerium oxide about 1.5 times your normal amount plus a dash of Ivory flakes.
Run the polish stage for about 10 hours before checking.
Enjoy your beautifully polished Apache Tears!
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
Ah yes, Apache Tears-those lovely little drops of obsidian.
They're also one of the most difficult materials to tumble polish.
I remember my first batch it took nearly four months of trial and error to get it right.
Here's the method I finally mastered for tumble polishing Apache Tears:
Use LOTS of plastic pellets in every stage, from coarse to fine.
This prevents conchoidal chips and cushions the stones throughout the process.
The real secret is in the polish stage.
Place the Apache Tears and pellets into the polish barrel. Before adding water, saturate it with white table sugar to create a thick syrup.
This sugary mixture adds even more cushioning to protect the delicate glass pieces.
Make sure the barrel is 4/5 full with pellets included.
Then add cerium oxide about 1.5 times your normal amount plus a dash of Ivory flakes.
Run the polish stage for about 10 hours before checking.
Enjoy your beautifully polished Apache Tears!
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
Materials
No materials listed
Tools
Stainless Steel Shot - 1 lb Bag
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WireJewelry 4 Step Rock Tumbler Abrasive Grit and Polish Kit with Plastic Filler Pellets, 5 Batches
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WireJewelry Single Barrel Rotary Rock Tumbler Madagascar Mix Deluxe Kit, Includes 3 Pounds of Rough Madagascar Stone Mix and 2 Batches of 4 Step Abrasive Grit and Polish with Plastic Pellets (2021 Version)
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WireJewelry Single Barrel Rotary Rock Tumbler Madagascar Mix Starter Kit, Includes 1.5 Pounds of Rough Madagascar Stone Mix and 1 Batch of 4 Step Abrasive Grit and Polish with Plastic Pellets (2021 Version)
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WireJewelry Single Barrel Rotary Tumbler, Jewelry and Metal Polishing Kit, Includes 1 Pound of Jewelers Mix Shot and 8 Ounces of Shinebrite Burnishing Compound (2021 Version)
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- Category: Stones
- Technique(s): Tumbling
Dale Armstrong
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