problems sanding and finishing alabaster

[dondougan@zzzzzzzz]

Dulce;

The trick is to get the marks out at the very beginning of the polishing
process - the bruises and toolmarks need to be removed with the 80 grit (or
60 or even 40 grit) abrasive before you move on to the finer grits.

I know the bruises/marks are hard to see at that coarse a grit, but wetting
down the stone before moving to the next grit will help you determine where
you need to do more work.

Only after all the marks are removed should you go to the finer grits.

As far as polishing like glass -- after the 1200 grit use some tin-oxide
powder mixed with water for a slurry, and rub with a felt or soft cloth
'rubber' -- until your arms feel like they are going to come off!
Alternatively, you can use a lambswool buffer on a powertool to polish the
tin-oxide, but you will use a lot of tin-oxide and make everything within 30
feet spattered with white dots.

Good carving to you
Don
http://www.dondougan.com