farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 6:21:40 GMT -5
Hi!
New member here. Just started working with stones and need some help, advice, suggestions.
I have a Dremel, flex shaft, diamond burs, and the usual other attachments and accessories that come with it.
I bought some rough stones (Gold Tiger Eye, Chrysoprase, Citrine, etc...) and have been using my dremel with the diamond burs to shape them, remove scratches, etc.. but this is taking a really long time. I am patient but am hoping there is a bit quicker way to remove more material.
I have pieces that are square or rectangular and the dremel is not really suited to round them out. It will eventually but will take weeks (or longer) I figure.
Considered using a bench grinder (the standard one with 2 wheels) but after searching on the net it seems that it is not a good idea. Opinions?
Will those Eze-Lap or flat laps (coarse or medium grit?) work better. I don't mind doing it by hand even if it takes a while as long as I get to where I want to get to.
Can't afford those lapidary grinding shaping sawing machines so am looking for something manual. that I can use to get the job done.
All opinions, ideas and suggestions welcome.
Thanks in advance.
James D. Farrow
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2015 8:36:23 GMT -5
Hi James, and welcome aboard.
As you mentioned, using a cheap bench grinder isn't a good idea. Most are sealed against dust, but not water. Also, lapidary wheels are designed to run at 1725 RPM's. Most bench grinders run much faster than that.
I don't know what your financial situation is, but have you tried looking on Google for used & vintage lapidary equipment ? Often you can find good deals there on used grinding arbors. Someone on here may also have an arbor that they'll sell you cheap.
At the very least you're going to need 2 lapidary grinding wheels. 80 grit & 220 grit silicon carbide will do until you can afford the more expensive diamond wheels. Also an expanding drum and silicon carbide belts to fit it in grits up to 600. You'll also need a polishing wheel and cerium oxide polishing powder.
You'll also need a source of water to drip over your grinding & sanding wheels. I've used an inexpensive 2 gallon garden sprayer set on a shelf above my machines for this. Remove the spray nozzel from the end of the hose, and fit a small needle valve in the hose line to control water flow.
Those are the bare minimum things you'll need if you want to bring your rocks up to a high gloss shine.
Good luck. If you need help getting things set up, let us know. Most of us can talk you through it.
Don
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Post by DirtCleaner on Apr 4, 2015 8:39:47 GMT -5
Hello James. There are others with more expertise than I have ...yet. Maybe they can suggest some of the softer stones if you are truly limited to the dremel type equipment. What part of the country are you from? Some areas there are some great groups you could join. Many have shops with a full line of equipment to use for members. Keep checking on Craigslist or eBay for an older flat lap. They show up now and then priced low. Often times you have to provide your own motor if they ship them because of the cost. Good luck and keep reading on this site.
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 8:58:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. Don't have a lot of money for machinery, let alone place for it. I live in an apartment so space is scarce.
Any opinions on the Eze-Lap diamond plates? They have 2" x 8" in a few grit sizes. The dremel is designed to work on RPM and not torque. To much pressure and it jams or may even burn out. For sanding and polishing they work really well. But not for grinding. With the diamond plates I figure I can put much more manual pressure to grind away corners and rough round the stones.
The stones I have are at the most 1" to 2" in diameter, so they are not large pieces that have to be cut or whatever.
James
James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2015 9:37:17 GMT -5
One of the small 6" or 8" flat lap machines would serve you well. They don't take up a lot of room, are fairly quiet running, don't make a lot of mess and are self contained. Often you can find a good used one with a complete set of the discs at a reasonable cost. However, don't buy one of the Inland flat laps. They're junk.
A few of our members sell used equipment, and at least one will ship to Canada. Tony/catmandewe. He may read this thread and have something to say. If not, send him a message and find out what he has available. He's a good guy with fair prices.
Don
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 9:50:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply.
Also, does anyone have any experience with those Mini Bench Grinder and Polisher with flexible shaft? Looks like my grinder but with an added flex shaft. The one I just looked at on AMZ says it takes 1/8" collets just like the dremel. Doesn't show the HP but must be more that the dremel. Doesn't cost much either.
James
James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 4, 2015 10:00:00 GMT -5
I have polished fossils with a dremel tool,but rocks are harder to do with that tool! I finally invested in a "Poly" wheel polisher.... You might have to find the nearest rockhounding club near you or a hounding friend and use their equipment.........Good luck.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2015 10:32:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. Also, does anyone have any experience with those Mini Bench Grinder and Polisher with flexible shaft? Looks like my grinder but with an added flex shaft. The one I just looked at on AMZ says it takes 1/8" collets just like the dremel. Doesn't show the HP but must be more that the dremel. Doesn't cost much either. James James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Could you post a link to this machine ? We'll be able to better advise you if we can first see it. Don
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 10:42:55 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2015 11:13:12 GMT -5
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 11:23:05 GMT -5
Thanks!
Any opinions on those Eze-Lap diamond plates. They lay flat and you rub the stones on them. I can put more pressure than the dremel.
James
James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2015 11:40:06 GMT -5
The Eze-Lap stones are nothing more than diamond sharpening stones. You can find diamond files that are much less expensive, and will do the same job.
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 4, 2015 11:59:05 GMT -5
Thanks!
I have seen the files. Figured it would be easier to rub the small stones on the diamond stones than rubbing a diamond file on small stones.
What did people use to grind stones before they had all this fancy equipment? LOL!
James
James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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Post by Peruano on Apr 5, 2015 14:51:52 GMT -5
First, they probably used the ocean. Waves and sand can polish all but the hardest stuff given enough time. Secondly, they concluded that any stone rubbed against a harder one would be changed in shape and potentially smoothed. The second observation allowed them to do just about anything lapidary folks do. The word is that a modern lapidary person could walk into a lapidary shop in ancient Rome and pretty well understand everything being done. The opposite is not quite as easy. Tom
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Post by deb193redux on Apr 5, 2015 18:42:04 GMT -5
even the 150g is not course enough
get a used motor, a plastic bowl, and make a 6" diy flat lap
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Apr 7, 2015 11:04:56 GMT -5
"Thanks! Any opinions on those Eze-Lap diamond plates. They lay flat and you rub the stones on them. I can put more pressure than the dremel. James James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Read more: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/70252/shaping-rough-stones-help#ixzz3Wdj7TBEf" You've mentioned using more pressure w/ your diamond bits. This will not make things go faster, as the added pressure will burn up the diamond particles. Go slow, relax, and try to enjoy your new hobby!
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farrow
starting to shine!
James D. Farrow
Member since April 2015
Posts: 31
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Post by farrow on Apr 7, 2015 16:39:38 GMT -5
Thanks! I think maybe I am not using the right RPMs either. Any suggestions on what RPM I should be using to grind/shape with the diamond burs? My Dremel goes from 5000 to 35000 RPM.
Thanks in advance,
James
James D. Farrow Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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