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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 4, 2014 17:43:59 GMT -5
Got the first batch of the year under our belt. I think the Kingsley North 80 grit is slowing us down a litte (we were using Rock Shed 46/70) I just added the Jasper pictures. I forgot to post those and they might be my favorites. Jaspers Montana agates Moss agate Moss agate Flint ridge Quartz Pudding stones Misc Thanks for looking Chuck
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carloscinco
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Member since July 2008
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Post by carloscinco on Jan 4, 2014 18:13:26 GMT -5
That's a handsome batch but that moss is the boss!
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 4, 2014 18:35:36 GMT -5
80 grit is slow on my coral Chuck. The Atlanta rep for Washington Mills(Niagara NY) salesman stops by to see me on occasion and swaps grit (samples) for rocks to tumble for his Mother In Law and son's tumblers.
He is explicit about the best range of grit is 30-60 for agate and quartz. I have been using 30/60 and it is my favorite.
The 80 is too fine. The 8 and 16 does not break down efficiently. It shears in flat ineffective plates and does not cut well(in my tumblers w/coral).
He claims that the largest particle that breaks into smaller 'round/effective' pieces is 30 grit.
I do not know where your stones come from but their quality is exceptional. And the finish is always -like that. Those Montana's could sell by the carat:)
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 4, 2014 18:43:49 GMT -5
He is explicit about the best range of grit is 30-60 for agate and quartz. I have been using 30/60 and it is my favorite. Thanks James. I was really happy with the 46/70 but thought I would try the 80 grit at half the price. It did not take long to see the difference. I might start re-loading with grit after 3 or 4 days now just to try to speed things back up and get rid of the 45 pounds I got. Chuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 4, 2014 19:07:15 GMT -5
The barrels on the fast shaft can flat mud out some grit in 3 days. The fresh grit may pay for itself in electricity savings due to quicker cutting/rounding in that stubborn 1st stage. Coarser grit wears my barrels quicker. No doubt.(the PVC). Not a problem but it does. A while back i had 3-50pound drums delivered from Vermont of 30/60 for $371. www.milessupply.com/product.php/pid/3/sid/44/prodid/379
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panamark
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Member since September 2012
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Post by panamark on Jan 4, 2014 19:09:36 GMT -5
Wow Chuck, those are fantastic! both the finish and the material. You have a great talent of being able to mix rock hardnesses. Did many of the quartz crack or chip badly?
Verdict is still out for me on the 80 grit. My 60/90 was breaking down very fast anyway, so I think at less than half the price I will just recharge twice as often and be ahead. I think I can usually tell by the tumbler sound when the grit is broken down and ineffective and that helps some.
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Post by pghram on Jan 4, 2014 19:40:27 GMT -5
Great batch, I especially like the MT's & the Mosses.
Rich
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 5, 2014 8:37:59 GMT -5
You have a great talent of being able to mix rock hardnesses. Did many of the quartz crack or chip badly? I never have had any problems with quartz cracking or chipping in my mixed rock loads in the loto. I do run my batches very full and always use some ceramics. The one lesson I learned in this batch was that the pudding stones looked better after 24 hours in polish and got worse after 72 hours. I need to do some experimenting with a full load of nothing but that stuff to try to figure it out. CHuck
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Tom
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My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tom on Jan 5, 2014 9:17:42 GMT -5
Nice batch Chuck!. Those Montana's are to die for. So many people just pass off Montana's for the more "exotic" stuff. I think, and a couple others in my club think, that people just think they are so common or something like that. Its one of my favorite stones.
Tom
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Jan 5, 2014 10:57:43 GMT -5
Loved that moss agate, I've got a couple chunks I'm saving for cabs that look a lot like it. Someone told me it was fossilized algae but I dunno. Loved those Montana agates also, really nice shine on them.
I'm also using the 80 from Kingsley and yea, maybe it takes a bit longer but I recharge once a week anyways and doing all my stage one on the rotary before it goes into the vibe.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 5, 2014 12:23:41 GMT -5
I love that first green moss agate. It's so mossy!
I just started using the 80 grit from Kingsley. I haven't been using it long enough to make a judgement, but it doesn't seem tons different than the 60/90 I was using before. I suppose you could mix it with a coarser grit to get something in between.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 5, 2014 21:34:35 GMT -5
I like the moss agates!
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
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Post by panamark on Jan 6, 2014 18:57:51 GMT -5
I just started using the 80 grit from Kingsley. I haven't been using it long enough to make a judgement, but it doesn't seem tons different than the 60/90 I was using before. I suppose you could mix it with a coarser grit to get something in between. Just as a check, today I opened a load with the 80 grit a couple days early. The remaining grit and progress was almost identical to what I would expect with 60/90 grit. So I don't think there is a significant difference. Sometime I will have to try some 46/70 or even 30/60 as apparently those are much more aggressive on the shaping. So much to learn
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bsky4463
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Member since September 2013
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Post by bsky4463 on Jan 12, 2014 10:02:00 GMT -5
Nice batch...you did those MTs proud
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