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Post by HankRocks on Nov 4, 2017 11:26:28 GMT -5
I have been setting aside rocks that are too soft and just don't take a good polish in the Vib Tumbler. As soon as I get a Load I will begin some testing. Have some Cerium Oxide, Tripoli, a pound of CITE(?) and a pound of X-OX(?). The last two are almost 50 years old from a Abrasives company I worked for. The company sold Optical polishing powder so one of them may be what I need. Never been able to find anything out about the CITE or X-OX. Would be nice if I could get the single barrel mini-sonic running as it would be nice to run 4 lbs batches instead of in the UV-18. Maybe filling the Barrel with toothpaste would do the trick!! At least they would be minty fresh.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 4, 2017 12:12:27 GMT -5
I have been setting aside rocks that are too soft and just don't take a good polish in the Vib Tumbler. As soon as I get a Load I will begin some testing. Have some Cerium Oxide, Tripoli, a pound of CITE(?) and a pound of X-OX(?). The last two are almost 50 years old from a Abrasives company I worked for. The company sold Optical polishing powder so one of them may be what I need. Never been able to find anything out about the CITE or X-OX. Would be nice if I could get the single barrel mini-sonic running as it would be nice to run 4 lbs batches instead of in the UV-18. Maybe filling the Barrel with toothpaste would do the trick!! At least they would be minty fresh. Lots of names for alum-ox over the years. Those odd names may just be plain ole alum-ox. Betcha X-OX is alum-ox. Impressed with those mini sonic hoppers. I just ordered a few of them at $55 each to tinker with. May make a fixture to run 3 at a time on the deck of the Vibrasonic. May make a little high speed vibe out of one of them. Yes, small is better for experiments !! Consider the toothpaste. Different companies may use different abrasives..... Mini sonic hoppers built like a Sherman tank, good grief:
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 4, 2017 12:37:10 GMT -5
Need to get the single barrel running, found a new switch mechanism online for $37 which hopefully fixes it. The gentleman who gave me the single barrel also has a double barrel he will sell me so I will probably pick that up on my next trip to see him.
My garage is becoming a retirement home for old rock equipment!! Hope I don't need to setup a Bingo night!!
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Post by amygdule on Nov 4, 2017 13:38:04 GMT -5
This Rock makes me Dizzy.
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Post by gmitch067 on Nov 4, 2017 17:27:58 GMT -5
Thank you for your advice and very interesting info on the AO polish abrasive qualities jamesp . I have the UV-10 and UV-18 vibes already to have fun with, but will consider the Lot-O if I want to expand further. Thanks again! Glenn so are you making all these runs in the UV ? No jamesp I ran both Hematite and Gabbro in Lortone 3A tumblers from 80 - AO polish.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 4, 2017 21:15:38 GMT -5
This Rock makes me Dizzy. Could be an LSD agate
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Post by amygdule on Nov 5, 2017 4:45:18 GMT -5
This Rock makes me Dizzy. Could be an LSD agate It looks like it is melting into my mind.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2017 6:00:49 GMT -5
It looks like it is melting into my mind.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2017 6:04:04 GMT -5
so are you making all these runs in the UV ? No jamesp I ran both Hematite and Gabbro in Lortone 3A tumblers from 80 - AO polish. 3 pound barrels are a big help for creating a gentle action. That would be in your favor. Good thing about a vibe is the way it works quick for finishing.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2017 6:04:56 GMT -5
Need to get the single barrel running, found a new switch mechanism online for $37 which hopefully fixes it. The gentleman who gave me the single barrel also has a double barrel he will sell me so I will probably pick that up on my next trip to see him. My garage is becoming a retirement home for old rock equipment!! Hope I don't need to setup a Bingo night!! Are you talking about a single barrel Mini Sonic ?
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 5, 2017 7:09:19 GMT -5
Yes, single barrel.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2017 9:36:12 GMT -5
I looked at the specifications. Says they do 3500 vibes per minute but are adjustable to go slower. Have you had it running ? How slow would it go ? Like a lot slower ?
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 5, 2017 10:28:45 GMT -5
It was not in working condition when I got it. It's on my list of Projects. There is a speed adjustment on it so I would assume 3600 is the high end with lower speeds. I will contact Diamond Pacific about the part I need and get it ordered.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Nov 6, 2017 17:07:23 GMT -5
It's SO nice to see that you guys have still been very busy at it! jamesp, you will elevate yourself even further on my "rockstar" scale if you prove this out and I now have some hope of polishing anything below a 7 on the Moh's scale. In theory, wouldn't this also help with rocks that tend to undercut in the finer stages of polish? I have a bunch of beautiful granite and other rocks that are aggregates of softer/harder materials, and they look SO cool wet until AO 1000, at which point, the beer goggles wear out.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 7, 2017 6:40:07 GMT -5
It's SO nice to see that you guys have still been very busy at it! jamesp, you will elevate yourself even further on my "rockstar" scale if you prove this out and I now have some hope of polishing anything below a 7 on the Moh's scale. In theory, wouldn't this also help with rocks that tend to undercut in the finer stages of polish? I have a bunch of beautiful granite and other rocks that are aggregates of softer/harder materials, and they look SO cool wet until AO 1000, at which point, the beer goggles wear out. You may check out tkvancil's batch out of a UV vibe. He put some fine finishes on several types of soft rock including Mohs 4 howlite. I believe he used a 4 step. Used fine SiC right up to pre-polish and polish if I remember correct. The tumbling process applies equal mechanical forces. May never work on a rock with mixed make up. A whole piece of quartz or a whole piece of felspar can be done in the same load. But a mix in one stone like granite will likely be a problem
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Wooferhound
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Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Nov 8, 2017 12:24:20 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Nov 9, 2017 0:36:59 GMT -5
Problem with abrasives for polishing softer rocks is they need to be pure woofer. Pumice used for abrasive is Mohs 6 and pure with hopefully no Mohs 7 sand particles in it for instance. Such pumice is mined from pure source. Perhaps refined.
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