vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 13, 2022 11:46:49 GMT -5
Anyone ever tried a Mixed Grit cut for stage 1? Example I have a 4lb barrel so mixing 2 tbls 80 grit SiC and 2 tbls 220 grit SiC instead of just using 4 tbls 80 grit.
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 13, 2022 18:14:01 GMT -5
Personally, I think that's too much of a jump between grits...and the 220 would just be wasted. There are "mixed grits" that are out there such as 46/70 or 60/90...but those grits are "close" to each other as compared to the 80 to 220 jump...
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Sept 13, 2022 19:04:54 GMT -5
I just read somewhere on here recently someone doing exactly that. But it was coarse grit and larger barrels. It was a discussion on using the coarser 46/70 grit. I think they were mixing 46/70 and 60/90 and said they got better quicker stage one results when mixing the two grits.
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 13, 2022 19:09:13 GMT -5
I just read somewhere on here recently someone doing exactly that. But it was coarse grit and larger barrels. It was a discussion on using the coarser 46/70 grit. I think they were mixing 46/70 and 60/90 and said they got better quicker stage one results when mixing the two grits. Maybe My thinking is wrong on this, but arent 46/70 and 60/90 a range of different grits between those 2 numbers? I thought for example that 46/70 had grit sizes ranging from 46 all the way up to 70. Or is it a 50/50 mix of 46 grit and 70 grit?
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Sept 13, 2022 19:27:05 GMT -5
I think you're right. 46/70 and 60/90 are varied size grits. Just done because it cost less than a straight grade and it's not necessary in stage one. Here's the thread I was talking about.
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nursetumbler
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Post by nursetumbler on Sept 13, 2022 21:14:22 GMT -5
vance7197546/70 and 60/90 being mixed is closer than your original of, was it, 80 to 220, I can't remember real well tonight. It's a smaller gap of sizes. If you have a tumble bee are your barrels 2# or 4#?
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 13, 2022 21:49:38 GMT -5
I just read somewhere on here recently someone doing exactly that. But it was coarse grit and larger barrels. It was a discussion on using the coarser 46/70 grit. I think they were mixing 46/70 and 60/90 and said they got better quicker stage one results when mixing the two grits. Maybe My thinking is wrong on this, but arent 46/70 and 60/90 a range of different grits between those 2 numbers? I thought for example that 46/70 had grit sizes ranging from 46 all the way up to 70. Or is it a 50/50 mix of 46 grit and 70 grit? Vance, I think you might be right on the "range". I still stick with my thoughts on the range between 220 and 80 is too great. With the others, it's a range of 24 or 30 versus 140. Out of curiosity...what was your thought process on the combination of the 80 and 220? (Not a "dig" at your question...I'm just wondering if you're thinking of something I'm not contemplating. )
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quartz
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Post by quartz on Sept 13, 2022 22:44:31 GMT -5
Looks like you are going to try and mix two different tumbling cycles together, 80 is for roughing and 220 normally is a smoothing grit. When mixing them the 80 will wear down as it grinds and cuts rough places off the rocks and the 220 will pretty much go along for the ride and getting worn down in the process, doing very little grinding on the rock. Eventually everything will be reduced to slurry with the 220 having made little if any difference in the roughing of the rock. Don't waste your money, make it two seperate runs.
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 13, 2022 23:13:18 GMT -5
Maybe My thinking is wrong on this, but arent 46/70 and 60/90 a range of different grits between those 2 numbers? I thought for example that 46/70 had grit sizes ranging from 46 all the way up to 70. Or is it a 50/50 mix of 46 grit and 70 grit? Vance, I think you might be right on the "range". I still stick with my thoughts on the range between 220 and 80 is too great. With the others, it's a range of 24 or 30 versus 140. Out of curiosity...what was your thought process on the combination of the 80 and 220? (Not a "dig" at your question...I'm just wondering if you're thinking of something I'm not contemplating. ) My thought, and Judging from the responses, Incorrectly so, was that I could possibley mix the two, to a longer run and possibly skip a stage and go from stage 1 to stage 3 basically skipping stage 2 and shortening the process up some. But does not seem worth it now, but it was just a thought. I am doing 5 stage Polishes btw. Stage one 80 SiC, Stage 2 220 SiC, Stage 3 500 SiC, Stage 4 1000 AO, and stage 5 8000 AO Polish.
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 13, 2022 23:17:07 GMT -5
vance71975 46/70 and 60/90 being mixed is closer than your original of, was it, 80 to 220, I can't remember real well tonight. It's a smaller gap of sizes. If you have a tumble bee are your barrels 2# or 4#? I have the Single 4lb Barrel.
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Post by rmf on Sept 14, 2022 4:23:59 GMT -5
I knew a commercial rock tumbler that had steel drums that ran 1500 to 2000 lbs each of rock. He only used one grit (46/70) and he tumbled for a month or more. As the grit broke down it got finer and finer so it provided its own small grit. This is harder to do in plastic/rubber drums but could work. Don't see the point of adding the 220 grit in with the coarse though. Unless you are short of coarse and this is a "patch"
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 14, 2022 11:12:52 GMT -5
I knew a commercial rock tumbler that had steel drums that ran 1500 to 2000 lbs each of rock. He only used one grit (46/70) and he tumbled for a month or more. As the grit broke down it got finer and finer so it provided its own small grit. This is harder to do in plastic/rubber drums but could work. Don't see the point of adding the 220 grit in with the coarse though. Unless you are short of coarse and this is a "patch" I am betting at that weight, the rocks helped polish themselves quite a bit as well lol. But sadly I have a 4lb barrel but next time I order grit I might grab a lb of 36 SiC and give it a go just to see what happens lol.
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dshanpnw
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Post by dshanpnw on Sept 14, 2022 16:59:15 GMT -5
I am just now experimenting with the same idea of mixing grits. I agree with jasoninsd that 80 and 220 are too far apart, but it would be interesting to see what happens. I have mixed 36 with 60/90 thinking it would somehow grind down everything more efficiently. I think there was a noticeable difference than if I used just 60/90. I've done that mix once and I'm going to keep trying it. I am also trying a mix of 12,20,36,and 120. I'm waiting on the results. The reason for trying this mix of grits is to speed up stage #1. All the grit was gone after one week in a 12 lb. barrel. Also, I tried some super coarse grit, a little bit smaller than aquarium gravel, that seemed to have very little or no effect on the rough rock after one week. It might not have been good quality grit.
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 14, 2022 17:03:13 GMT -5
I am just now experimenting with the same idea of mixing grits. I agree with jasoninsd that 80 and 220 are too far apart, but it would be interesting to see what happens. I have mixed 36 with 60/90 thinking it would somehow grind down everything more efficiently. I think there was a noticeable difference than if I used just 60/90. I've done that mix once and I'm going to keep trying it. I am also trying a mix of 12,20,36,and 120. I'm waiting on the results. The reason for trying this mix of grits is to speed up stage #1. All the grit was gone after one week in a 12 lb. barrel. Also, I tried some super coarse grit, a little bit smaller than aquarium gravel, that seemed to have very little or no effect on the rough rock after one week. It might not have been good quality grit. I was starting on very limited on funds so I went pretty basic on grits, I went 80 SiC,220 SiC, 500 SiC(they were out of 500 AO), 1000 AO, and 8000 AO Polish. I do plan on trying the lower grits later on down the road, but 36 SiC is likely as low as I will go.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2022 17:06:33 GMT -5
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vance71975
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 14, 2022 17:15:37 GMT -5
Honestly, if they had 500 AO in stock when I ordered I would have likely left out the 1000 AO and went from 500 AO to 8000 AO Polish, But I do like what the 500 SiC does in the extra step fine honing out the rocks. But I did consider grit packs, I did order from Rock Shed so maybe in the Future. Right now im in the play around and learn stage. I do however have Mexican Lace Agate and Zebra Jasper waiting for me to feel ready to step up past the Leaverite rocks lol
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Sept 14, 2022 18:17:36 GMT -5
It's always good to do your own experimentation. But there's some threads you can search for on the forum talking about the coarser grits for stage 1. The conseces was that it didn't make a lot of difference in smaller barrels (3lb) But when you stepped up to the larger barrels it speeds things up. The theory is that the stones just don't have enough action and they don't fall far enough in the smaller barrels.
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Sept 14, 2022 18:22:54 GMT -5
It's always good to do your own experimentation. But there's some threads you can search for on the forum talking about the coarser grits for stage 1. The conseces was that it didn't make a lot of difference in smaller barrels (3lb) But when you stepped up to the larger barrels it speeds things up. The theory is that the stones just don't have enough action and they don't fall far enough in the smaller barrels.
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vance71975
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Member since September 2022
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 14, 2022 19:35:01 GMT -5
It's always good to do your own experimentation. But there's some threads you can search for on the forum talking about the coarser grits for stage 1. The conseces was that it didn't make a lot of difference in smaller barrels (3lb) But when you stepped up to the larger barrels it speeds things up. The theory is that the stones just don't have enough action and they don't fall far enough in the smaller barrels. Well Mine is a smallish barrel, its a 4lb barrel. So might not even be worth it for me to buy corser grit.
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