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Equipment Discussions >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum

Pages: 1

Wolfdale
member

Reged: 10/20/12

Can i use this to polish new

#5638625 - 01/23/13 10:39 AM

Hello Tomorrow i will start with Polishing, Pitch i have already bought.
In many personal ATM sites i have read that ferric oxide can be used instead of Cerium oxide, If this is correct then can i use ferric oxide??
here i have sample image that is similar to one which found in local chemical store.

One thing i forgot to mention that in that Fe2O3 bottle it is mentioned that 95%, so what does that 95% mean?

Thanks in advance

Edited by Wolfdale (01/23/13 10:41 AM)

Post Extras:

Norm Meyer
member

Reged: 02/08/09

Loc: Warren, ME 04864

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5638693 - 01/23/13 11:09 AM

Wolf,
Fe203 is Jeweler's rouge and we do use that to polish glass.
The 95% probably has to do with the purity of it.
I would think you could use it to polish your mirror.

Regards
Norm

Edited by Norm Meyer (01/23/13 12:06 PM)

Post Extras:

FeynmanFan
sage

Reged: 02/18/11

Loc: N Colo front range

Re: Can i use this to polish [Re: Norm Meyer]
#5639196 - 01/23/13 04:24 PM

I would be leery of using it since it's doubtless ungraded for particle size. Optical grade rouge has been graded. You can do it yourself, using a technique in Texereau's "How to Make A Telescope", pg. 30. No doubt further info can be found by Googling "optical rouge".

Post Extras:

Wolfdale
member

Reged: 10/20/12

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: FeynmanFan]
#5640003 - 01/24/13 04:28 AM

Thank you

Post Extras:

SteveNH
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Millbrae, CA

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5640844 - 01/24/13 02:37 PM

Neal Howard's "Standard Handbook for Telescope Making" also describes a step by step method of creating a batch of washed rouge, where you siphon out larger particles from a clean rouge-water mix. The washed rouge works slowly but predictably, great for the final stages of correction. I've always used it on tempered burgundy pitch for the final stages, and found it produces a hard to beat ultra-smooth optical figure.

Post Extras:

JohnH
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/04/05

Loc: Squamish BC Moved!!!!!

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: Norm Meyer]
#5641016 - 01/24/13 04:35 PM

Quote:

Wolf,
Fe203 is Jeweler's rouge and we do use that to polish glass.
The 95% probably has to do with the purity of it.
I would think you could use it to polish your mirror.

Regards
Norm

My brother does jewelry and uses this stuff to polish but it CAN contain larger particles that on metal would be fine, but would result in scratches on glass

Post Extras:

John Carruthers
Skiprat

Reged: 02/02/07

Loc: Kent, UK

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: Wolfdale]
#5641945 - 01/25/13 04:59 AM

I would go for optical grade cerium oxide or tin oxide or optical rouge, any contamination can result in wasted labour.
As others have said, you can elutriate the rouge you have, put it in a tall jar with a tiny drop of soap and shake it up to break down any clumps, let it settle for a few seconds so the larger particles drop to the bottom, syphon off the liquid containing the small particles still in suspension. Run the saved suspension through a coffee filter paper, dry it and store it carefully.

Post Extras:

Wolfdale
member

Reged: 10/20/12

Re: Can i use this to polish new

[Re: John Carruthers]
#5642401 - 01/25/13 11:41 AM

Thanks looks it like its very critical. My money wasted in buying that. I dont want my mirror to be get scratch after lots n lots of hard labour.

I will purchase cerium oxide and i hope it will not contain any larger particle.

Thanks again for the help, but using rouge will be very risky i dont know that earlier otherwise, i would not have buyed it.

BTW in our local ATM club they are using it and forced me to buy it and giving me 100% assure that there will be no problem at all.