rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Dec 3, 2007 13:39:02 GMT -5
I'm thinking of investing in a vibrating lap. Probably a 15". I have heard that they sometimes get contamination (a stray chunk of grit) that ruins a batch. Is this common? What's your experience with vibrating laps?
I have some slabs I would like to polish as specimens. Arizona pet wood and jaspers. And perhaps some book ends...
Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!
Rick
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Post by texaswoodie on Dec 3, 2007 16:13:56 GMT -5
In my experience they are good and bad. Very hard rock like Brazilian Agate, AZ pet wood, etc. do well. I've had no luck with anything softer than that. Even a fraction softer. Could just be me tho. Curt
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mirkaba
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 321
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Post by mirkaba on Dec 3, 2007 16:34:24 GMT -5
I have had pretty good experiences with mine it is a Contempo 18" ( now Pacific Diamond )with 4 pans. I start with 220 grit, 400, 600 and polish. Each in their own pan. So far I have not changed grit, just keep adding. I scrub the rocks really well with jet dry between stages and when I stack the pans the course grit goes on the bottem and the polish on the top. I cut sections of pvc pipe to protect the slabs and rocks and have rubber tubing liners around the inside of each pan. for weight on the slabs I just put a piece of plywood with a rock on top. The pvc keeps the rock in place. So far I haven't overloaded it and they make a kit to run 2 pans at once. ( The finer grit in the top pan) My only problem is my 10 inch slab saw........I want to make bigger book ends Hope this helps.....Bob
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 3, 2007 16:37:10 GMT -5
great for bookends. need bumpers if more than one end at a time. my 10" dries out after a few hours and I need to be around to wet. so hard to use overnight. they can also come off springs/balls with heavy rock.
slabs generally need weights on top, and may be better done on an endplate, likewise small half nodule/t-egg. (
used ones come up fairly often, perhaps but new abd also do endplate.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 3, 2007 17:35:28 GMT -5
I had a Lortone vibe lap. Did a nice job without too much trouble on agate type stones, pet wood etc. but the unit was not very durable and the bearings or whatever started clacking and wore out in only a few months of use....Mel
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 3, 2007 22:03:44 GMT -5
I have had great luck with my 20" Lortone. I have done Brazilians, Mexican lace flat chunks, geodes also do well. With slabs I will glue a large rock on top of the slab for weight and it has also worked for me. The only time my lap drys out for me is if I don't check it for over a day. I put more water in than most people do though. I made a shield around mine with boxes to contain all the splatter. I start with 220, 500, 1000 then polish and I run mine for 3 days in each stage.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2007 0:07:10 GMT -5
I had a Lortone and hated it. I sold it after trying my Barranca wet polisher. Look for vibrating laps like Covington or Diamond Pacific or (if you have lots of cash) Rociprolap. They all use grooves or dimples in the pan that gets the grit moving under the rock to speed action. Rociprolap is an industrial unit that is the fastest and most expensive. For my money I'd use the wet polisher with a rigid holder. You can also contour polish large rocks which you can't do with a lap. They cost less than a Lortone 15" and no grit to mess with.
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yogibear
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 100
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Post by yogibear on Dec 4, 2007 13:51:09 GMT -5
I have a 20" vibrating lap and the only problem that I have with it that you need to grind a bunch of things and then turn the plate over and then polish all that you have ready.
See my posts of today in Photo section (3). all of these were done on the lap.
Bill
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Dec 6, 2007 3:41:28 GMT -5
For my money I'd use the (Barranca) wet polisher with a rigid holder. You can also contour polish large rocks which you can't do with a lap. They cost less than a Lortone 15" and no grit to mess with. John, that's an interesting alternative. I'm curious though... how would this Barranca wet polisher work with a small, thin slab? I could see that it would be easy to hold steady a large piece or thick end-cut in a vice or whatever, but if one were dealing with a 1/4 inch slab, how would you hold that piece steady while grinding/polishing? It's too thin to hand hold, and too thin to vice hold. Can thin slabs be polished with the Barranca (if so, then how to hold the slabs steady?), or is the Barranca really meant for bookends and similar? -Don
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 6, 2007 17:26:28 GMT -5
I don't do much thin stuff but I use a rubber mat (like warehouse floor stuff with holes). Things generally stay in place pretty well. Slabs are easier than odd shaped pieces since you need to clamp or steady with one hand if they won't stand for you.
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