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Post by HankRocks on Apr 3, 2017 11:40:46 GMT -5
I have several 2 to 4 inch slabs that look impressive as a whole and just could not bring my self to cut them into smaller Preforms. Decided to just bevel the edges and put them in the 15 lb rotary along with about 170 smaller preforms and about 3 lbs of Pea Gravel. Running them on 80 SiC instead of 46/70 as I only want to smooth them down just a bit.
What's the biggest slab anyone has tumbled?
H
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Apr 3, 2017 13:08:12 GMT -5
I have tumbled some 6" X 2" slabs that were a bit less than 1/8" thick. Did fine.
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Post by Pat on Apr 3, 2017 14:13:50 GMT -5
I don't tumble rocks. However, I do have lots of slabs I don't want to cut up; too pretty as is.
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Post by Psycho on Apr 3, 2017 20:22:06 GMT -5
Ditto Pat, I don't tumble just yet and I have some Mary Ellen Jasper that Toivo Hooked me up with, it's just to damn pretty to cut up !lol
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 3, 2017 20:46:16 GMT -5
I have two slabs that I can't cut. One belongs to my wife and one belongs to my brother. I check in with both of them every now and then to see if they still remember I have them.
Both slabs are in the 6" x 9" size range so could not tumble even if I wanted to.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
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Post by SirRoxalot on Apr 8, 2017 11:03:53 GMT -5
I tumble lots of small slabettes, but 4" is the most my vibe can handle. Takes an extra-long time to polish those big flat faces, ten days in polish and it still wasn't perfect.
Read somewhere that a lady was doing a full barrel of slabs. Simply stack them, separate them with smalls, and let them roll!
I've never done this, but would like to if I ever get a monster vibe that can finish them.
Edges get most of the grinding action, so no real need to pre-grind, though it certainly helps to grind off ugly bits and the worst concavities, knife-edges, or fractures.
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notjustone
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
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Post by notjustone on Apr 8, 2017 11:38:51 GMT -5
I tumble lots of small slabettes, but 4" is the most my vibe can handle. Takes an extra-long time to polish those big flat faces, ten days in polish and it still wasn't perfect. Read somewhere that a lady was doing a full barrel of slabs. Simply stack them, separate them with smalls, and let them roll! I've never done this, but would like to if I ever get a monster vibe that can finish them. Edges get most of the grinding action, so no real need to pre-grind, though it certainly helps to grind off ugly bits and the worst concavities, knife-edges, or fractures. goes against what ive heard. when running lots of flats the edges don't wear well. I haven't run any slabs but can tell you the cut rocks usually end up concaving on the flat cut face.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Apr 8, 2017 12:04:26 GMT -5
Depends on your mix, I guess. I typically run a couple pounds of slabettes in with ten or so pounds of normal. They're done long before the non-flats.
I've never seen a hint of concavity, doing coarse in rotary and rest in vibe. Takes extra time to polish the flat faces in the vibe.
Now if you're running a barrel of all slabs with small filler, you may be right.
Anybody hesitating to tumble slabs or slabettes, don't, it's a great way to make something very pretty and very useful out of a low or even medium-value slab that you don't want to bother trimming and cabbing. There are countless pounds of relatively dull slabs out there, as so many lapidaries spent their days and months slabbing one Brazilian agate after another for some reason. Hammer the fractures and tumble it!
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zekesman
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Member since May 2016
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Post by zekesman on Apr 8, 2017 14:34:22 GMT -5
No. And if you have any just send them to me and I will cut them up for you. Vic
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 8, 2017 15:10:32 GMT -5
I tumble slabs a lot,yes some are perfect the way they are.......
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