meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Aug 28, 2011 14:25:56 GMT -5
I'm sure I read something about this somewhere here, but I didn't have a rotary tumbler and wasn't using the vibe much. So now I've got both and tons of material to tumble, so here's the question:
When do you use plastic beads? When ceramic?
I've got both, and I know not to use media from one grit batch to a different one, but is one better for one type of rock (apache tears? amethyst?) vs shape (slabs? large chucks? small pebbles?) I also know it's best to keep a variety of shapes and sizes in every load and not to mix hardnesses...
You help (as always)...appreciated!
Sue
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Aug 29, 2011 18:21:01 GMT -5
Bumping....
It's been read >40 times...surely SOMEONE has an opinion?!
Sue
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Aug 29, 2011 18:28:39 GMT -5
As a general rule of thumb, don't use plastic in a vibe. I mostly only use plastic in the later stages on a rotary tumbler as fill is needed with the decreasing volume. Some rocks, such as obsidian, may need plastic pellets as cushining from the get go. Ceramic is mostly used as a filler in a vibe. The best cushining in a vibe is to keep the vibe as full as possible.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 29, 2011 18:39:12 GMT -5
Sue,I was waiting for someone else to answer your question. I can tell you what I used to do.In the rotary,I used various plastic beads,safety glass,marbles,tile spacers. Now I use nothing but different sized rocks,with the exception of glass and obsidian.In my Lot-o's,I sometimes use ceramics, sometimes all rock.Now see why I didnt want to answer your question,but you made me. ;D
snuffy
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 29, 2011 21:57:35 GMT -5
I started using plastic in rotaries after getting a batch of chipped rocks after polish. I didn't like the keeping plastics dedicated by batch and switched to small ceramics. I kept some plastic in case I ever find the can of Apache tears I tried early on and gave up on. Ceramics don't embed with grit so you just rinse them with the rocks and move them on from step to step. As mentioned, vibes need to be loaded so the weight of ceramics is better with vibes. Also as mentioned if you have enough small rocks, saw trimmings, etc. you can use those as filler/cushion/grit carrier.
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Post by susand24224 on Aug 30, 2011 0:26:59 GMT -5
I detest plastic pellets--the only time I use them is when a Lortone belt is on the way out and I am trying to minimize weight. I've never had a chipping problem with them, but with brittle stuff like Apache Tears, I always add Ivory Soap shavings as well.
You don't need to keep ceramics in separate batches for different grit. I even use the same ones for polish, although some don't.
Susan
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Aug 30, 2011 12:05:05 GMT -5
Thanks for your input. Any information will be useful as I gain my own experience with the process. I just thought there would be more controversy over the subject. And RTH'ers are not KNOWN for suppressing their opinions! Sue
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 31, 2011 10:54:55 GMT -5
Running totary tumblers, for rough stages, we run only rock, no padding. Per reading on the forum, we tried plastic pellets in the polish and soap burnish runs, with leather scraps we run as padding. Used the sinking rather than floating air shot beads and found an improvement in polish quality. In the soap run the beads caused noticeable sliding and crashing [product damage] so we quit using them in that stage.
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