habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
|
Post by habbie on Feb 2, 2012 13:46:32 GMT -5
I read (somewhere) that you are to break-in ceramic media before using it. I cannot find that info now, am I nuts or do you have to break in before using?
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 2, 2012 14:57:47 GMT -5
I think that is for metal finishing. For rock tumbling I wouldn't worry about it.
|
|
habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
|
Post by habbie on Feb 2, 2012 23:22:14 GMT -5
thanks John, put some in a rough load just to make sure. I will take them out tomorrow and get to business.
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Feb 3, 2012 0:32:13 GMT -5
I've put new ceramic media in at all stages, including polish, without problems.
|
|
|
Post by helens on Feb 3, 2012 2:27:35 GMT -5
I was just wondering that myself! I got the ceramic media that was out of stock at the Rock Shed today... and forgot if it should be tumbled at 220 grit, or the next grit to top up. I THOUGHT it was for topping up after some of the agates shrink from the grit change. (every grit change involves a 20% reduction of total mass after cleaning up, from observing my first batch...).
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Feb 3, 2012 7:29:23 GMT -5
What ever you use as a "filler",be it ceramic media,glass,etc, make sure it's not harder then what ever it is that you're tumbling. Take a piece of you media and try to scratch what ever you are tumbling. Some ceramic media is fired and may have a very hard "glaze" on it.
connrock
|
|
habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
|
Post by habbie on Feb 3, 2012 10:36:05 GMT -5
thanks for all the info. I can always count on getting my question answered on here no matter how trivial it is.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 3, 2012 11:02:42 GMT -5
If ceramic media is harder than the rock you're tumbling, what should you use instead?
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Feb 3, 2012 11:24:37 GMT -5
I'm tumbling very hard jasp-ag and generally run the first stage for 8-12 weeks. I no longer add ceramics on the first stage because there isn't much left for the second stage and was getting expensive. I use ceramics starting at the second stage and they hold their shape & size for many batches. First stage I use all the slab/trim pieces I save during sawing. The end pieces & chunks of ash make a great filler and slurry.
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 3, 2012 11:28:54 GMT -5
Pretty much any rock softer than ceramics won't tumble well in a rotary tumbler.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 3, 2012 11:39:53 GMT -5
John, do you mean softer rocks won't tumble well in a vibratory tumbler?
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 3, 2012 18:24:51 GMT -5
I've polished soft rock in vibes with both ceramic filler and Vibra Dry. I was referring to rotary tumblers before as it was mentioned 20% reduction after 1st stage. Soft rock will tumble quickly in rotaries but getting a good polish can be a challenge.
|
|