meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 164
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Post by meta7 on Dec 8, 2011 3:19:26 GMT -5
I am looking to buy 3000 girt aluminum oxide to use in a rock tumbler. I think that 7 microns is the same size as 3000 grit.
Does anyone know where I can purchase it?
:-) Dave
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 8, 2011 9:53:24 GMT -5
Diamond belts list 6 micron as 3000. Never heard of 3000 grit. 1000 or 1200 is about the finest I've seen. Ever try Tripoli?
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meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 164
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Post by meta7 on Dec 8, 2011 12:07:19 GMT -5
I think Tripoli is only around 1000 grit. My tumbling sequence is 50-100, 220, 600 and 1500 SC and then #61 rapid polish.
I want to experiment with a 3000 step (just like with Nova wheels) and see if it makes a noticable difference.
:-)
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Post by pghram on Dec 8, 2011 13:54:57 GMT -5
If you run your 1500 SC longer it should breakdown to 3000. You might give that a try. By the way, I have used both 1000 SC & tripoli & I get the same or better results with tripoli.
Peace,
Rich
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meta7
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 164
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Post by meta7 on Dec 8, 2011 14:31:37 GMT -5
I have run a few small batches of 50/100, 220, 500, 1500 for 1 week and then kept some of it going for 3 weeks and there is a small difference but nothing that noticable.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Dec 8, 2011 14:55:58 GMT -5
1 week in 50/100? If so,maybe you should run several weeks in coarse charges,that is the most important stage in tumblig in my opinion.Rough 'em out good,polish shouldn't be a problem later.
snuffy
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Dec 8, 2011 23:24:24 GMT -5
I agree with Snuffy totally on this. One week is the very minimum I run first stage with 60 grit unless I am doing something of minmum hardness. I go from 60 to 220 then on to 400-1000 or sometimes I do a run of 600 if stones are looking good before I move to prepolish and finish with Raybrite A. The best polish there is in my opinion. And I always add a teaspoon of Borax to polish also.
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