lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 10, 2018 14:03:48 GMT -5
Hello! I have smokey quartz going and this is what I have done so far-
7 weeks in lortone (changed out weekly)
2 days in Lot-O 120 1.5 days in Lot-O 500 1.5 Day in Lot-O 1000
I'll be a full day in 1500 tonight. I'd like to burnish with borax for a few hours tonight and be done as I have to go away for several days. They look about as clear and gorgeous as can be but don't want to skimp on the last step
Is 24hours enough time?
Thank yoU!
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Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 10, 2018 15:05:22 GMT -5
I don't run a Lot O , but usually 24 hrs is long enough in my vibe using Rockshed polish . I would sat depending on how long you will be gone , clean it out and burnish . Can always run a longer polish cycle when ya get back .
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Post by aDave on Aug 10, 2018 16:39:49 GMT -5
Hello! I have smokey quartz going and this is what I have done so far- 7 weeks in lortone (changed out weekly) 2 days in Lot-O 120 1.5 days in Lot-O 500 1.5 Day in Lot-O 1000 I'll be a full day in 1500 tonight. I'd like to burnish with borax for a few hours tonight and be done as I have to go away for several days. They look about as clear and gorgeous as can be but don't want to skimp on the last step Is 24hours enough time? Thank yoU! Just for clarification, are you planning on 1500 being your polish stage? That would typically be considered a pre-polish. 14,000 or thereabouts is a polish grit. Oh, as to your original question, I can't help as I only use rotaries. Sorry. ETA: Here is a recipe in a loto thread. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/926384/thread
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 10, 2018 18:08:27 GMT -5
ok thank you both!
I am using Am Oxide that I buy from the rock shed. I assumed it was 1500
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Post by grumpybill on Aug 10, 2018 18:17:43 GMT -5
My (limited) experience with quartz in a Lot-O is that the less time vibrating, the fewer the chips and bruises...unless you use a LOT of smalls and keep a fairly thick slurry.
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Post by aDave on Aug 10, 2018 19:39:20 GMT -5
ok thank you both! I am using Am Oxide that I buy from the rock shed. I assumed it was 1500 If you got aluminum oxide polish from the Rock Shed, you'll be good to go. From what I gathered from Shawn there, it's around a 13,000 grit product. That'll be fine.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 10, 2018 20:53:00 GMT -5
ok thank you both! I am using Am Oxide that I buy from the rock shed. I assumed it was 1500 If you got aluminum oxide polish from the Rock Shed, you'll be good to go. From what I gathered from Shawn there, it's around a 13,000 grit product. That'll be fine. honestly I get everything I use from him.
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Post by gmitch067 on Aug 10, 2018 21:06:18 GMT -5
I have not run any of the Quartz through the Lot-O yet (all my history with Quartz is with a UV-18 vibe). It seems that for a Mohs-7 stone, 1.5 days in 120 silicon carbide grit (220??) is a bit lite. I would recommend extending that out to 2 full days in the Lot-O.
I then use AO-500 for 2 days, and AO-1000 for another 2 days (as a pre-polish for both soft AND hard stones... maybe overkill... but I have not been disappointed with the results)
As for polish, I use AO-14000 that I got from the Rock Shed. 2 days in that seem to be good for most of the Mohs-7 rocks I have processed. Make sure by first checking a stone or two before terminating the polish stage (reach in and grab a few... wash them off and see if they shine when dry). If still no polish... I then drop back to AO-500 and AO-1000 - for a day each (maybe not necessary, but what the hecK...) - then shift to Tin Oxide polish for 2 days. (Note... Other members have stated that Cerium Oxide does not work well in a Lot-O. Since shifting to Aluminum Oxide AO-500, AO-1000 and AO-14000 runs, I have only had to use Tin Oxide twice.. I am really loving Aluminum Oxide grits!)
Hope this helps you.
Glenn
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 11, 2018 6:58:48 GMT -5
My (limited) experience with quartz in a Lot-O is that the less time vibrating, the fewer the chips and bruises...unless you use a LOT of smalls and keep a fairly thick slurry. I have run lots of loads in the Lot-O and I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with rocks chipping. I run two days in each stage (220, 500, 1000, and AO polish). I always use at least 30% ceramic media of mixed sizes, also from the Rock Shed.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 12, 2018 0:46:30 GMT -5
I have not run any of the Quartz through the Lot-O yet (all my history with Quartz is with a UV-18 vibe). It seems that for a Mohs-7 stone, 1.5 days in 120 silicon carbide grit (220??) is a bit lite. I would recommend extending that out to 2 full days in the Lot-O. I then use AO-500 for 2 days, and AO-1000 for another 2 days (as a pre-polish for both soft AND hard stones... maybe overkill... but I have not been disappointed with the results) As for polish, I use AO-14000 that I got from the Rock Shed. 2 days in that seem to be good for most of the Mohs-7 rocks I have processed. Make sure by first checking a stone or two before terminating the polish stage (reach in and grab a few... wash them off and see if they shine when dry). If still no polish... I then drop back to AO-500 and AO-1000 - for a day each (maybe not necessary, but what the hecK...) - then shift to Tin Oxide polish for 2 days. (Note... Other members have stated that Cerium Oxide does not work well in a Lot-O. Since shifting to Aluminum Oxide AO-500, AO-1000 and AO-14000 runs, I have only had to use Tin Oxide twice.. I am really loving Aluminum Oxide grits!) Hope this helps you. Glenn indeed, very helpful! thank you!
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 13, 2018 8:49:06 GMT -5
IMG_3730Thought I would share the final batch! Very happy with them, they are all completely smooth! I did lose about 25% of the batch to little cracks and dings that were not there after the tumble stage so I'll work on that next
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 13, 2018 10:02:08 GMT -5
Those look really good! The problem with transparent rocks is that they show every little interior imperfection. If you had success with those, rocks like jasper should be a piece of cake.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Aug 13, 2018 11:40:21 GMT -5
Thank you!
Yes the imperfections are very visible unfortunately. But they really smoothed up! Going to try carnelian and fire quartz next (different barrels)
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Post by grumpybill on Aug 13, 2018 12:04:58 GMT -5
I fractured several pieces of quartz during my first run in a Lot-O. But...some of the damaged pieces are beautiful when turned in good light. The fractures cause a prismatic light show, reminiscent of the fire in an opal.
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Post by aDave on Aug 13, 2018 13:07:34 GMT -5
Very nicely shaped and polished. Well done.
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