|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 15:59:34 GMT -5
The Rockshed is taking their time shipping. That's fine. Gives me time to do some research. I looked in the tutorial section for some help and had to wade through a lot. Is BikerRandy's thread still good info? Has anything dramatically changed? This is my plan. Does this sound feasible? I want to get together a bunch of preforms that I don't want to cab and drill a hole in them. Then I will shape them, maybe on the groove grinder. I have a grinding discs for it. And then run them together (agates and jaspers) in the lot-o. What I really need to know, at this very early time, is - If I shape them with the 80 grit, will the scratches come out in the tumbler? Or, should I go to 220? Because they will all be flats, is there anything I different I will need to do? I have pellets and the ceramic media from rockshed if I need it. How soft is too soft for the lot-o. I'm sure I couldn't run indian paint stone, but what about marbles or rhodochrosite? I have a feeling y'all will be soooo sick if me by the time I'm done. Thanks in advance. I appreciate your time in re-answering all the newbie questions. Y'all are the best in the world. There's not a better group of people to ask for help from.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 23, 2019 16:57:50 GMT -5
I have a batch of cabs running right now. The batch I have are actual domed cabs though so the process is a bit different. I have run batches of preforms like you are talking about before though. I would go to 220 on the girdle edges prior to tumbling. I have a 220 for the glass grinder but it is just as easy to do that step on the genie. The load I have going right now has 15 cabs and the rest of the volume is all small size rockshed ceramics so easily 90% ceramic. I think you could easily do 20-25 cabs a time though.
For me to tumble cabs that have to meet two requirements. Number one being that they have to be solid materials not mixed hardness stuff. The second thing is they have to be hard materials. Generally jaspers and agates. If they do not meet those requirements then I know I could do a better job over at the genie. On the other hand if they do meet those requirements I know I can do a better job in the lot-o.
I do not tumble cabs as a way to cheat I tumble them to improve them. I actually put a lot more work into the domed tumble cabs. I dop and fully cab them on the genie to the soft 280 wheel then they go in the loto up to 500. After 500 I take them out and re-do the girdle edges starting at the 120 wheel going up to the 1200 wheel. This removes the radius left by the 120/220 stage in the lot-o. After the girdles are fixed it is back to the loto for 1000, and polish. Stay tuned next week for some pictures.
Chuck
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 17:40:05 GMT -5
After 500 I take them out and re-do the girdle edges starting at the 120 wheel going up to the 1200 wheel. This removes the radius left by the 120/220 stage in the lot-o. Chuck Do you mean that the lot-o will round over the edge? I'm not sure I would mind that.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 23, 2019 18:10:39 GMT -5
After 500 I take them out and re-do the girdle edges starting at the 120 wheel going up to the 1200 wheel. This removes the radius left by the 120/220 stage in the lot-o. Chuck Do you mean that the lot-o will round over the edge? I'm not sure I would mind that. The 120/220 will round over the edges but just slightly. Enough to bother me if I were trying to sell a domed cab and bothers me a little when wire wrapping myself. Groove wraps are another story. For those I like the rounded over girdle. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 23, 2019 18:21:04 GMT -5
Here a couple pictures that may help. These are what I consider tumbled preforms. I would not and do not classify these as cabochons. This is how much you can expect the edges to round. I have also taken preforms and ground a quick 45 on both sides and that makes a much more pronounced radius after tumbling. This is a tumbled domed cabochon showing the radius at the girdle at the 500 grit stage. This is where I stop and fix them. This is after sharpening the girdle on the 220 hard wheel. I do this at the 220 hard wheel followed by 280 soft, 600 soft and sometimes a quick 1200 soft. After that back to the loto for 1000 then polish. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 18:23:31 GMT -5
Yes, visuals are great! Thanks! I don't mind the radius for my purposes.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 23, 2019 18:24:37 GMT -5
Yes, visuals are great! Thanks! I don't mind the radius for my purposes. Yep I agree. Just figured it would explain it a bit further while I was at it. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 18:25:57 GMT -5
Yes, visuals are great! Thanks! I don't mind the radius for my purposes. Yep I agree. Just figured it would explain it a bit further while I was at it. Chuck Yes, it was perfectly clear. I'm glad you posted pictures because I had something much more drastic in mind.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 18:45:42 GMT -5
Heard from Shawn abt my order:
Hi, I thought I'd drop you a note about your order. Sorry for the delay. We were waiting for a shipment of tumblers which we expected on Monday or Tuesday. As luck would have it, a storm moved in the area and shut everything down for a couple of days. Including a power outage here for 2 days. ...
Can't be upset abt Mother Nature.
|
|
|
Post by Rockindad on May 23, 2019 18:50:50 GMT -5
Heard from Shawn abt my order: Hi, I thought I'd drop you a note about your order. Sorry for the delay. We were waiting for a shipment of tumblers which we expected on Monday or Tuesday. As luck would have it, a storm moved in the area and shut everything down for a couple of days. Including a power outage here for 2 days. ... Can't be upset abt Mother Nature. Think of it as good practice as you will need it being a tumbler, even when using a vibe! Al
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 20:30:09 GMT -5
Heard from Shawn abt my order: Hi, I thought I'd drop you a note about your order. Sorry for the delay. We were waiting for a shipment of tumblers which we expected on Monday or Tuesday. As luck would have it, a storm moved in the area and shut everything down for a couple of days. Including a power outage here for 2 days. ... Can't be upset abt Mother Nature. Think of it as good practice as you will need it being a tumbler, even when using a vibe! Al Reminds me of that old catsup commercial.
|
|
|
Post by Rockindad on May 23, 2019 20:34:55 GMT -5
Think of it as good practice as you will need it being a tumbler, even when using a vibe! Al Reminds me of that old catsup commercial. Throwback Thursday?!? That commercial is hilarious. Not so hilarious is that I remember it from my childhood. Al
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 23, 2019 20:42:23 GMT -5
Reminds me of that old catsup commercial. Throwback Thursday?!? That commercial is hilarious. Not so hilarious is that I remember it from my childhood. Al Did you notice baby faced Corey Feldman? Now I really feel old.
|
|
|
Post by oregon on May 23, 2019 23:39:15 GMT -5
Because they will all be flats, is there anything I different I will need to do? I have pellets and the ceramic media from rockshed if I need it. Flats like to stick together, the outer edges of the face will get polished before the center in that case. So have enough smalls/media, etc so you don't see them rolling around stuck face to face. (they like to stay that way once they've mated...
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2019 4:46:28 GMT -5
Because they will all be flats, is there anything I different I will need to do? I have pellets and the ceramic media from rockshed if I need it. Flats like to stick together, the outer edges of the face will get polished before the center in that case. So have enough smalls/media, etc so you don't see them rolling around stuck face to face. (they like to stay that way once they've mated... Perfect thank you.
|
|
|
Post by grumpybill on May 24, 2019 7:21:18 GMT -5
Because they will all be flats, is there anything I different I will need to do? I have pellets and the ceramic media from rockshed if I need it. Flats like to stick together, the outer edges of the face will get polished before the center in that case. So have enough smalls/media, etc so you don't see them rolling around stuck face to face. (they like to stay that way once they've mated... Even with lots of smalls, the flats will sometimes stick together. When this happens, I squirt enough water into the bowl to get them sliding past each other.
|
|