|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 30, 2014 9:48:39 GMT -5
You put rough gravel in during the polish stage? Wouldn't that scratch your stones? One of the reasons I try to make my rocks perfect in the first stage is so they don't carry grit to later stages. But I also do it so that the rocks themselves don't scratch each other up. Everything that goes into later stages is smooth so they won't scratch each other up.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Dec 30, 2014 10:18:19 GMT -5
I measure my grit in tablespoons so had to convert your measurements. At 1 1/4 cups you have 20 tbs. which is lortones suggested amount for a 12 pound barrel. I use 16 tbs. in my 12#er which is 1 cup. So you could get by with a little less grit, in my opinion, and do just as well. Overall I don't think your way out of line on grit usage. Your right at lortones guidelines along the way and they work pretty well.
As far as dried polish or a polish haze your right on again. If the polish dries in a crack or such it's like cement and nearly impossible to scrub out. Run a burnish (wash) cycle after polish. Use soap, ivory shavings or dreft, and borax. Don't let the rocks dry between the cleanout and the burnish. After I rinse mine I place them in a bowl of water until all done then do the burnish. You can do 2 or more burnishes if needed. Polish in cracks or voids that doesn't come out in the wash can be scrubbed out with a toothbrush if it hasn't dried.
I wouldn't have put "fresh" gravel in my polish run. Always used ceramic for filler in my rotary runs.
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 13:22:58 GMT -5
Does anyone have any reason to prefer 40-60 over 80? I would love to buy the 45# box for $75 after shipping, at Kingsley... but does 80 slow the process much?? SO my thoughts on the fresh gravel... the majority of it is not quartz... and is probably much softer than quartz... It shouldnt scratch the finish?? But... I will keep that in mind for now on and I plan to recycle my polish slurry and fines, so they will all be rounded and partially polished for now on...right? Ive had the new batch in for 3 days and Im dying for it to be like day 30!! Im gonna check this batch once a week and pull rocks that "look ready"... then add new ones to take up space. Im gonna, THIS TIME, use the method of adding fresh grit every check instead of doing a full clean out... take good notes... then next tumble I"ll do a full clean out on each one (well.. unless I am thoroughly pleased with this method...ya know!) Thanks again all... Here comes a few pics. You've seen better. Just keep in mind this is my first tumble!!! A small sample of what came out... Close up showing pitting and actual dullness of polish... in the end, Im sure these rocks will get re-worked! Not quite yet though!
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 13:31:24 GMT -5
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 13:36:20 GMT -5
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 13:40:21 GMT -5
And a nice agate that has a LOT of potential to be beautiful... I actually think I will throw this into my new rough tumble batch tonight! Little different light shows the dullness.... Nuther view shows how badly flawed it still is....
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2014 14:05:23 GMT -5
That's a success hornseeker. Any step that does not grind the last step out can effect your polish. So it can be hard to figure which step/s it was. If you want a better shine you could run them 3-4 more days in polish, but I would pull a few before rerunning to compare.
The alternative is rerun them 2 steps back. Once you get to the 500-1000 grit it is hard to tell, especially from a photo, where the problem is. Ya kind of operate with instinct and luck on those finer steps.
You are close. If that is your first time or two, you did real well.
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 14:07:15 GMT -5
First Time! Thank You!
I think I will pull a select few that are really close and re-run them in 500... then 000 then polish... It'll be a while though!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Dec 30, 2014 14:15:07 GMT -5
If you had 1000, I would do 1000 and then polish. They 'look' like they did not run in polish long enough. But hard to tell as mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 30, 2014 15:48:42 GMT -5
I think those look pretty good. There's room for improvement, but that's a really good start.
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 16:21:19 GMT -5
Thanks again. I can probably see even more flaws because I can move them around and get the light to show just right.
I do have a question that I'd like to hear some feedback on... I am about to order from Kingsley... I can get 45# of 80 grit for 1.77 a pound after shipping! I can get 50# of 47-60 for 2.86 a pound after shipping. Is the 80 coarse enough??? For my rotary? Will the 47-60 reduce tumble time much?
Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 30, 2014 16:45:13 GMT -5
I've never used anything but 60/90 and 80 grit. I know @drummondislandrocks uses something more coarse.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Dec 30, 2014 16:53:33 GMT -5
I ordered my 2nd box of 80 a few days ago, that's 2 this month. Not like it goes bad. I use 15 lb Thumler's. I'm going for the deal while it's still there!
ETA: 80 or 60/90 is a coin toss. That 47/60 WILL be more aggressive and could cut a short amount of time off your coarse grind. I'd go with the 80 at a buck less a pound. The 47/60 is also more wear on the inside of your barrel.
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 30, 2014 16:59:22 GMT -5
Thank You!
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Dec 30, 2014 18:29:51 GMT -5
I think those look pretty good. There's room for improvement, but that's a really good start. I agree with Rob. Great first batch. Coarse grit is the only option for removing large/ deep imperfections. You can't rush the coarse grind. They're done when they're done. After coarse, very little material is removed. When I don't like a polished stone and think it needs more work, it automatically goes back to coarse grit. sometimes rocks "undercut". There's not much you can do about it. It's usually the material, not your methods. I've found that coarse durable sand acts like a much finer grit than SiC. It can sometimes reduce the undercutting in susceptible rocks. thanks for showing your tumble. It's an outstanding first batch!
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Dec 30, 2014 19:05:19 GMT -5
Congrats on finishing your first batch of rollin' rocks, hornseeker! They look very nice and shiny. Is that a Montana?
|
|
|
Post by pghram on Dec 30, 2014 21:26:09 GMT -5
Congrats on your first batch, nice shine.
Rich
|
|
hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
|
Post by hornseeker on Dec 31, 2014 9:58:29 GMT -5
Yeah Ginger, Montana. Everything I have right now is Montana! Yellowstone Agate, Yellowstone Pet Wood... and a variety of other stuff!
These rocks look good, but Im real excited to take the next batch "to the next level"... I ordered the 45# box of 80 grit yesterday and I"ll get my two new 15# barrels running asap!!! I will probably turn my Lortone 12 into a designated polisher, and in fact, just use the two 6# barrels.... I can then you my 12# barrel on my other frame I dont have a motor for yet. Holy smokes, I could have two 15's, a 12 and two 6's going all at once here real soon!!!
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Dec 31, 2014 10:25:08 GMT -5
How's that electric bill workin' out for ya? Again, a link from RockTumbler.com - rocktumbler.com/rocktumbler.com/blog/electricity-costs-of-a-rock-tumbler/interesting reading Nice first batch Ernie! 4th pic is my favorite. 2nd pic... some rocks just aren't meant to be tumbled and that may be one of them. I did a batch of brecciated jaspers awhile ago and some of the stones had pits all the way through. No matter how much material I tumbled off them I couldn't get past the pits. You showed a "small sample of what came out" ... where is the group shot? Are you using any fillers? Ceramics early on or plastic pellets in the final stages? Looking forward to watching your progress. It's been fun over my 7 years here watching people go from owning one small POS tumbler to having shops with enough equipment to make the cover of some lapidary type magazine. And, from no clue to masters of their rocks. You seem to be starting off with a bang, and I expect to be seeing drool worthy tumbles in no time! Keep these pictures hosted, they will be a starting point to look back on down the road.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 31, 2014 11:12:19 GMT -5
Brent, can you tell me more? What do you mean by "coarse, durable sand" and how do you use it to reduce undercutting?
|
|