Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Mar 11, 2005 20:07:23 GMT -5
Just picked up a drill press attachment for my Dremel. (Thanks Tom for the advice!)
Now for the questions.
Do most of you drill after the polish stage?
I was thinking about drilling before pre polish, but wondered if the holes would get out of round?
What do ya'll say?
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 11, 2005 20:20:21 GMT -5
i drill the finished stones. and it is so sad when you break a good one.
KD
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 20:30:03 GMT -5
I've never drilled rock before, but I know I'd be concerned about blowout (small chips of rock on the underside of the stone).
Is there a way to prevent blowout on rocks?
Masking tape? put it up against a piece of wood? Another rock that's flush?
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Post by Cher on Mar 11, 2005 20:38:19 GMT -5
I've drilled a few with my dremel, just holding it by hand but it's not very easy. I've ruined a few just because I can't keep the drill straight.
Cher
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Post by Alice on Mar 11, 2005 21:24:03 GMT -5
you've never experienced blowout with rocks Cher?
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Post by Cher on Mar 11, 2005 21:50:26 GMT -5
I haven't drilled that many and have only had one that had a few small chips on the back side, not too bad tho. It's very nerve-wracking doing it by hand but I don't hold the stone in my hand, just the dremel. I have a piece of styrofoam insulation that I carve out a hole to hold the rock in place while I drill. I've messed up the polish on a few and had to run them back through a couple of stages again. I don't do it very often, I'm hoping one day to get a drill press for it. I really prefer to use the dremel for shaping the stones.
Cher
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Post by connrock on Mar 11, 2005 22:05:28 GMT -5
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 12, 2005 9:18:19 GMT -5
Alice, you can glue the rocks to a ceramic tile to prevent blowout.
I bought some of those little bread pans - they come 3 to a package. I then went to the tile store and they gave me a bunch of ceramic tile. I cut the tiles in half and they fit perfectly in the little pans. I then glue the rock to the tile, put it in the pan, cover it with water with a bit of borax added and it's ready to drill.
i drill the finished stones. and it is so sad when you break a good one.
I drill the finished stone also and IT IS the pits when one breaks! I have had a number of really nice ones break. Makes me sick because every one that has broken I have had plans for! Then there are the ones where the bit breaks off in the rock - had that happen more than once also.
I STILL haven't found drill bits that I am happy with.
llana
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Mar 13, 2005 12:18:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. Now a question for those who do drill rocks.
Do most of you drill after the polish stage?
I was thinking about drilling before pre polish, but wondered if the holes would get out of round?
what do ya'll say?
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Mar 13, 2005 14:19:01 GMT -5
I always drill finished rocks. I've always been a little afraid of contamination getting into the polish stage by hiding in the small holes. Blow out isn't a problem if you drill through the rock and into something backing it. Ceramic tile is perfect for that.
Ron
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