Comments on: Using A Rock Polisher To Get Shiny Polymer Clay Beads and Pendants http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/ "Make What You Love... Love What You Make!" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Loretta Carstensen http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41793 Loretta Carstensen Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:50:33 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41793 I bought my river rocks at Michaels. I bought my river rocks at Michaels.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41775 Phaedrakat Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:35:53 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41775 @Lonny: Sorry about your misfortune...that's messed up! Hope you get it back soon, and that you find the perfect stones, too. Wishing you luck...and more fun claying! @Lonny: Sorry about your misfortune…that’s messed up! Hope you get it back soon, and that you find the perfect stones, too. Wishing you luck…and more fun claying!

]]> By: Lonny http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41744 Lonny Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:58:34 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41744 I must be totally out of luck cause my rock tumbler broke down so I had to take it to some guy that would fix it and he luckily did :/ When I get my hands on my tumbler again, I'll report :) I must be totally out of luck cause my rock tumbler broke down so I had to take it to some guy that would fix it and he luckily did :/
When I get my hands on my tumbler again, I’ll report :)

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41742 Phaedrakat Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:31:03 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41742 Hi Lonnie -- I could've sworn I replied to you again, but there's nothing here so...maybe I've finally gone cuckoo? LOL Sorry about that...not sure what happened there. <i>Anyway</i>...river rock IS just river rock...just different rivers! If you have a river close by that naturally smoothes stones...perfect! You want small (approx. 1/4",) rounded, smooth, light-colored, un-polished rocks (no coatings on them, not buffed silky smooth -- obviously, if you get them at the river, this wouldn't be an issue.) Here in the US, if we do not have our own river [;~D] we can find river rock at craft, home improvement, or even dollar stores. Those are just a few ideas...there are lots of places to find them, actually. Where are you in Europe? Maybe someone from your country can pop in & tell you where they got their rocks, or other supplies you've been unable to find. Once again, I'm sorry it took awhile to get back to you. I hope you're able to find some rocks easily, and that you solved your "white powder coating" problem! Best of luck, Kat Hi Lonnie — I could’ve sworn I replied to you again, but there’s nothing here so…maybe I’ve finally gone cuckoo? LOL Sorry about that…not sure what happened there. Anyway…river rock IS just river rock…just different rivers! If you have a river close by that naturally smoothes stones…perfect! You want small (approx. 1/4″,) rounded, smooth, light-colored, un-polished rocks (no coatings on them, not buffed silky smooth — obviously, if you get them at the river, this wouldn’t be an issue.) Here in the US, if we do not have our own river [;~D] we can find river rock at craft, home improvement, or even dollar stores. Those are just a few ideas…there are lots of places to find them, actually.

Where are you in Europe? Maybe someone from your country can pop in & tell you where they got their rocks, or other supplies you’ve been unable to find. Once again, I’m sorry it took awhile to get back to you. I hope you’re able to find some rocks easily, and that you solved your “white powder coating” problem!
Best of luck, Kat

]]> By: Lonny http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41510 Lonny Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:09:41 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41510 Ah yes you read correctly but I didn't put comma in between. I meant river rocks after wet/dry sandpaper, alone, and in the end I would use jeans for buffing, separately :) Thank you for so much useful info though. It bothers me cause the country I live in .. well it's just so hard to get the right materials. Imagine no one knew what a rock tumbler is so I had to order it from USA (I'm from Europe). The same thing with river rocks. Just can't buy them. Is it the same if you find them at the river? Anyone knows? So nice to finally find some great infos. Ah yes you read correctly but I didn’t put comma in between. I meant river rocks after wet/dry sandpaper, alone, and in the end I would use jeans for buffing, separately :)
Thank you for so much useful info though. It bothers me cause the country I live in .. well it’s just so hard to get the right materials. Imagine no one knew what a rock tumbler is so I had to order it from USA (I’m from Europe). The same thing with river rocks. Just can’t buy them. Is it the same if you find them at the river? Anyone knows?
So nice to finally find some great infos.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41504 Phaedrakat Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:09:44 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41504 @<b>Lonny</b>: Hi Lonny, I still haven't bought myself a tumbler yet, although I can't wait to get the kind of results everyone's talking about! There are several threads about using the tumblers...I know you said all the comments have been confusing, and there certainly are a lot of them, LOL! Cindy has a video on how to do this, but if you're not planning to buy that, the best way is to read these threads and get tips from them. But just so you know, the method that Cindy finally chose for tumble-sanding her beads is smooth river rock. If you decide you want to read the other threads, try using the search box at the top of the page. Type in "rock tumbler" or "white powder on sanded beads" or whatever kind of information you'd like to find. I'd at least recommend reading the article for Cindy's <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-polished-beads-lortone-rock-tumbler/3890/#video">Lortone Rock Tumbler Tutorial</a> and seeing video intro to that tute. I purchased this video a few months ago, determined to get my tumbler right away, but then car troubles hit...bummer! <i>Anyway,</i> Cindy addresses this "white powder" issue in the video, as well as in the comments above (on Sept. 22, 2009.) She mentions it in the first paragraph -- that the white powder is just the polymer clay being "sanded" from the beads, and what to do about it. You said you were going to try using 600 grit sandpaper next, and then <i>"river rock and jeans for buffing..."</i> I'm not sure if I read that wrong, or what, but just to be clear, the river rock is used for sanding the beads. For buffing, the talk in these threads is about using things like microfiber, felt, chamois, things like that... Hope that helps! ~Kat @Lonny: Hi Lonny, I still haven’t bought myself a tumbler yet, although I can’t wait to get the kind of results everyone’s talking about! There are several threads about using the tumblers…I know you said all the comments have been confusing, and there certainly are a lot of them, LOL! Cindy has a video on how to do this, but if you’re not planning to buy that, the best way is to read these threads and get tips from them. But just so you know, the method that Cindy finally chose for tumble-sanding her beads is smooth river rock. If you decide you want to read the other threads, try using the search box at the top of the page. Type in “rock tumbler” or “white powder on sanded beads” or whatever kind of information you’d like to find. I’d at least recommend reading the article for Cindy’s Lortone Rock Tumbler Tutorial and seeing video intro to that tute.

I purchased this video a few months ago, determined to get my tumbler right away, but then car troubles hit…bummer!

Anyway, Cindy addresses this “white powder” issue in the video, as well as in the comments above (on Sept. 22, 2009.) She mentions it in the first paragraph — that the white powder is just the polymer clay being “sanded” from the beads, and what to do about it. You said you were going to try using 600 grit sandpaper next, and then “river rock and jeans for buffing…” I’m not sure if I read that wrong, or what, but just to be clear, the river rock is used for sanding the beads. For buffing, the talk in these threads is about using things like microfiber, felt, chamois, things like that… Hope that helps! ~Kat

]]> By: Lonny http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-41412 Lonny Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:32:17 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-41412 Amazing site and so many comments you got me all confused! :) I ordered my rock tumbler a while a go, paid A LOT for postage and I just finished my first bach. I used wet/dry sandpaper and buffed them with old jeans but they have this white powder as some of you said. So next batch I'm trying wet/dry sandpaper grit 600 or so, river rock and jeans for buffing. You think it sounds promising? :) I'll report anyway :) Amazing site and so many comments you got me all confused! :)
I ordered my rock tumbler a while a go, paid A LOT for postage and I just finished my first bach. I used wet/dry sandpaper and buffed them with old jeans but they have this white powder as some of you said. So next batch I’m trying wet/dry sandpaper grit 600 or so, river rock and jeans for buffing. You think it sounds promising? :)
I’ll report anyway :)

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Making Polymer Clay Beads http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-29066 Cindy Lietz@Making Polymer Clay Beads Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:40:35 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-29066 That is wonderful news Vladadeska! I love hearing success stories like yours! That is wonderful news Vladadeska! I love hearing success stories like yours!

]]> By: Vladadeska http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-29050 Vladadeska Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:38:05 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-29050 I just got my Lortone this evening. I popped my beads in with the smallest river rock I could find at the store (sorted for light color and smoothness), threw in a few squares of wet/dry sandpaper, and maybe like 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water for about 4 hours. I know you guys keep saying nothing beats a hand-sanding but I know MY hand-sanded beads never looked half this amazing. 20 seconds of polishing with my dremel and I have the nicest looking bead I've ever created. I used to spend 15 minutes to a half hour on a focal bead. I just cut that time down to 30 seconds of hands-on work. THANK YOU LORTONE and thank all you guys for your excellent tips and suggestions. I just got my Lortone this evening. I popped my beads in with the smallest river rock I could find at the store (sorted for light color and smoothness), threw in a few squares of wet/dry sandpaper, and maybe like 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water for about 4 hours. I know you guys keep saying nothing beats a hand-sanding but I know MY hand-sanded beads never looked half this amazing. 20 seconds of polishing with my dremel and I have the nicest looking bead I’ve ever created. I used to spend 15 minutes to a half hour on a focal bead. I just cut that time down to 30 seconds of hands-on work. THANK YOU LORTONE and thank all you guys for your excellent tips and suggestions.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Best Polymer Clay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/using-a-rock-polisher-to-get-shiny-polymer-clay-beads-and-pendants/690/#comment-26447 Cindy Lietz@Best Polymer Clay Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:41:57 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=690#comment-26447 That sound weird aims but it makes sense. My stones weren't polished at all so I didn't run into any problems. Ken may be onto something, buying the white marble chips, as long as they aren't too pointy and may scratch the beads. That sound weird aims but it makes sense. My stones weren’t polished at all so I didn’t run into any problems. Ken may be onto something, buying the white marble chips, as long as they aren’t too pointy and may scratch the beads.

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