Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 8, 2005 12:20:26 GMT -5
I found that I was running 4-5 weeks of 60/90 coarse in order to get decent shaping. I went ahead and purchased some 46/70 to see if that might work any faster. Does anyone use this? Do you still recommend running a 60/90 cycle or can I just jump to the 220? (Or can I just run the 46/70 a little longer assuming it will break down...).
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 8, 2005 12:30:55 GMT -5
I have some 40/70 as well and after I started in 60/90 I went to 40/70 to try to get it to go faster, but I put them in 220 from there - my batch is in polish now and I'm not seeing a shine, I think don't think 60/90 can be by-passed if you use 40/70 first
Can anyone correct me on this?
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Mar 8, 2005 14:32:20 GMT -5
Theoretically the grit will break down and you should be fine provided you ran it long enough. You should be able to tell by rubbing you fingers together in the sludge. By the time you come out of 500 or 600 you should have a somewhat matte shine. If you don't, then it is time to run them longer in the 500-600 or back up to 120/220. I'd check them out with a lupe to see what size the scratches are at that point.
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Post by connrock on Mar 8, 2005 19:41:06 GMT -5
You can use 46/70 but use much less water. I'm using 1-1/2 lbs 30/60,,,12 lbs of rocks,,1-1/2 cups of water.I run my roughing tumblers at twice the normal speed and change grit every 3-4. On my last roughing cycle I add 1 cup of water after 3-4 days and then let it run another 3-4 days.I then go to either stgaight #220 or 120/220. Tom Ps:If you want to speed up your tumbler increase the diameter of the "drive" roller with what ever you can imagine.I use 1/4" "O" Ring stock wound tightly around the rooler and just duckt tape it at both loose ends.
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 8, 2005 23:40:34 GMT -5
Ps:If you want to speed up your tumbler increase the diameter of the "drive" roller with what ever you can imagine.I use 1/4" "O" Ring stock wound tightly around the rooler and just duckt tape it at both loose ends. That's a pretty sweet idea. My CE tumblers already run pretty fast but maybe I could boost my Lortone. The only catch is that you are going creating more drag on the motor... Actually the existing roller pretty much just has plastic tubing shoved over it. You could probably slide the drive roller out and just slide on a second, larger tube.
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Post by guest on Mar 9, 2005 3:13:49 GMT -5
Having worked for a major lapidary equipment company-I do not suggest you speed up your RPM's-the general extra wear on the parts is not worth the imaginary short cuts in the tumbling process--The research and developement boys all have pre-set their equipment for maximum efficiency..
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