Manchester Minerals are still owned and run by the Hilton family.
They moved from Stockport last year.
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Hi Phil
Welcome to the forum,
I'll leave the stones to the experts,
"The ultrasonic" I find that fairy liquid in hot water (in my ultrasonic) works just as well as some of the industrial strength mixes
I usually scrub the piece with a toothbrush at regular intervals because there's always some compound that won't let go.
I love polishing, I buff my work smooth and if I see fire stain ill use a stiff polishing mop and hit it hard dipping the piece in water
to cool it at regular intervals, I only ever use one polishing compound (works for me) Dialux Bleu.
Carlton
Try Gemporia. Steve Bennett knows his stones and has some more unusual ones ..or, if you (or anyone else knows what they want) I'm off to the Hong Kong show again at the end of next month (prob the biggest three shows in the world) and no problems with an excuse for going to the gemstone halls
Hi Phil,
As firescale is an oxide of copper, it can be prevented or much reduced, by painting on or dipping in flux, preferably slightly warming the metal first. If you are worried about toxicity, then there is nothing cheaper than a saturated solution of boric acid crystals in meths.
However the container must be kept safely away from flames.
That said, as with other members above, I can't be bothered except prior to annealing sheet metal. Firescale can be removed quite efficiently with green Scotchbrite wheels used dry, but hardly shows in any case if you opt for a satin finish or a busy texture.
My composite picture shows the Scotchbrite wheels for flex shaft and lathe. The green ones are the coarser.
I'd love a try at the Jooltool, mentioned by Carole, but don't really have the volume of work to justify it.
Welcome to the Forum, Dennis.
Welcome to the forum, Phil. I'll just jump in to second Joopy Gems as a stone supplier.
Also, shes got a 15% coupon listed somewhere on her site (can't remember where) for first time shoppers as well if you want to have a test run. She does carry tourmaline cabs.
If I use anything it will be Argotect. To make it safer, mix with water and a little washing up liquid in place of meths. Welcome, what part of France are you located? Les.
Hi Dennis,
Many thanks for your in-depth reply to my posting.
Great info and I will check it all out.
Phil
Hi Emily,
Many thanks for the info. I have just looked on the Joopy Gems site and everything is in US Dollars. Do they have a conversion chart from USD of GBP? - is it safe ordering from them and how long do things tend to take from Hong Kong?.
I have bought from China before without any problems, but Hong Kong yet.
Cheers
Phil philongold@gmail.com
Hi Les,
Thanks for the info re Argotect.
I live in Central Brittany, just outside Pontivy, but I am British. Do you know this part of France?
Phil