ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Mar 21, 2005 19:25:02 GMT -5
I've taken some good advice and really started using less water in my course cycle. It really makes a difference. What I need to know is, should you also go with much less water in the fine stage and in the polish stages? Will that beat up the rock more? Still learning, Trish
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 21, 2005 19:38:56 GMT -5
i can tell by the sound these days if i don't have enough water in the polish cycle. i've found that the Tin Oxide and Titanium Dioxide really suck up the water and after a few minutes you hear the stones beating each other up. they are really thick polishes. the Aluminum Oxide and this new stuff i've been trying (CPP) is thinner.
there is no clear rule and it's hard to judge sometimes after you add the (dang) pellets.
KD
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Mar 21, 2005 22:03:02 GMT -5
one thing i just found is that hematite sucks up water too. I put the normal amount of water, and then after 2 weeks in coarse grind it had created a thick goupy slurry that was so thick the rocks weren't falling and hitting properly. also, it was red!!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Mar 21, 2005 22:20:54 GMT -5
Less is more! Are you using a rotary or vibe? Either way, less water than what is called for seems to make a much better slurry. Just make sure the barrel quantity (3#, for instance) stays at that level. Add rock if you need too. The stones lose a lot of volume in the coarse stage so stay on top of it. If it gets too light (I found out the hard way) the stones will bang around and get bruised/scuffed. Check daily on the vibe and about every 4 days in a rotary (if you are running with less water) just to make sure they don't get too dry. My two cents ;D cookie
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ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Mar 21, 2005 23:04:04 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the good information. I am using a rotery tumbler. I added a little more water when I put them in the #500 grit and added pellets.
Trish
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Mar 22, 2005 4:55:45 GMT -5
Trish, I think you're on the right track there. When you get to polish, my experience is that (as others mentioned also) the polish tends to suck up a lot of water, so the reduced water thing might not be valid for this stage. But any stage with silicon carbide grit, at least up to 500/600, seems to benefit from less water, though I might not cut back quite as much on the 500 grit as I do on the 60/90. BTW, I run rotary tumblers only.
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 22, 2005 8:37:28 GMT -5
My lortone directions say to use 12 tablespoons of polish in a 6 lb'er. I was using tin oxide and it was turning into a paste inside the barrel. Now I cut down about half on the tin oxide and the waster is more creamer. I still get a good polish with less polish.
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