POLISH POWDER FOR TUMBLING ~ CERIUM OXIDE ~ ALUMINIUM OXIDE ~ PUMICE POWDER

Choose from three popular lapidary / stone tumbling polishes.

In a standard rock / stone tumbling cycle which involves tumbling the stones in increasingly fine grits with a rotary or vibratory tumbling machine, the usual final stage is to polish the stones.

Cerium oxide is generally regarded as the premium polish option, ensuring the best results possible, achieving a silky sheen. It is salmon pink in colour and can also be used as a high quality polish for a range of purposes.

Aluminium oxide and pumice powder are more economical options and get good results. Aluminium oxide, which has long been used as both a lapidary polish and a pre-polish has long been popular. The popularity of pumice has been driven more recently by environmental concerns associated with the disposal of oxides. Pumice, a more inert substance, is therefore increasingly popular.

Polish specifications

Cerium Oxide - 2.5 microns (0.0025 mm) per grain
Aluminium Oxide (1200 grade) - 3.0 microns (0.003mm) per grain)
Pumice Powder (FF grade) - 75% of grains finer than 44 microns (0.044mm)

Instructions for use:

Within the tumbler barrel, cover the stones with water by 1cm and add 1 level tablespoon of polish powder per 700 grams of stones to give a thin creamy consistency.
If the stones are producing a harsh and banging sound in the tumbler then you may need to add more polish powder to thicken the consistency, or alternatively add some plastic pellets to the tumbler. In all cases, try to avoid the chance of damage to the stones at this final stage.
Run the tumbler for 5-7 days.

Further information

Quantities available - 50 grams to 1 Kilogram
Polish is supplied in re-sealable plastic bags.