geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
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Post by geoff59 on Feb 4, 2023 8:02:01 GMT -5
Apologies if this has been covered here already, I’ve tried searching for this info here, multiple times, using the forum search options, but I literally can’t find a single post, which is surprising. Maybe I am just not wording things right.
Not long ago, I became aware that #500 grit is available in AO (the Rock Shed.) I have always used SiC #500, and so I tend to think “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, while at the same time I understand the differences between how AO breaks down versus how SiC breaks down. The way the particles break. And the resulting differences in how they each effect the surface of a rock that is being tumbled.
Most of the time, I am a tumbler that uses a 2 step pre-polish, #500 and then #1000, before the rocks go in to polish. That’s how I learned to tumble. So, I am looking at trying some of this #500 AO out. In the meantime, I would love to hear from any of you who have: how do you like it? Is the end result better, do you think? Worth it? Any input at all is appreciated. Thanks much.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 4, 2023 15:25:43 GMT -5
You did not mention if your 500 and 1000 stages were rotary or vibe. Either way if you always do both of those then you really won't see a difference either way between A/O and S/C. In a vibe tumbler a lot of people have found that 500 A/O breaks down efficiently enough to run the 500 A/O longer and double the normal amount of time and then skip the 1000.
Chuck
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2023 15:55:41 GMT -5
I have always used 500F SiC from the Rock Shed. I just got a pound of the 500 AO with one of my tumblers. I too run the 500 stage then a prepolish (Tripoli which comes in at 1200 to 1400 i believe) I'm just starting to learn how to run my vibe (MT-4) and have been using the 500F SiC, then the pre-polish and then polish. I'm probably going to try the 500 AO in the vibe next time I do a full run (right now I'm just trying to get caught up from not running polish all summer) Interest what others think/ experience.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 467
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Post by hypodactylus on Feb 4, 2023 16:10:55 GMT -5
I switched from #500 grit silicon carbide(SiC) to #500 grit aluminum oxide(AO) since it made sense to me logically after learning about how they break down. For those not aware, apparently SiC breaks down into sharp particles and AO 'breaks down' in more rounded, gentle particles. Since #500 grit is pretty small, using a more polish friendly substance made sense.
That said, I can't say I've noticed any difference. Theoretically, I could probably run the #500 for 4 to 6 weeks (without opening) and achieve a polish on harder rocks. I doubt you could do that as well with SiC grit. However, I have not tried (yet, at least).
I only use rotary tumblers; no vibe. For harder rocks I typically do 60/90 (or 35/70) SiC, 120/220 SiC, 500 AO, 6000 (or so) AO polish. For softer rocks I typically do 60/90 (or 35/70) SiC, 120/220 SiC, 500 AO, 1000 (or 1200) AO, 6000 (or so) AO polish. I will probably start skipping the 1000/1200 step once I run out since I can just run the 500 AO longer and likely achieve the same result.
I have seen results from someone who only does a two or three 'step' tumble with great results. This makes sense since grit breaks down and makes gradually smaller scratches. I think I will have to do some more experimenting to find out. Perhaps I could start skipping the 120/220 or 500 grit (or polish) stages and run longer steps to fill the gaps....
Although, I experiment so much that my perfectionist self has such low tumbling output already...
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
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Post by geoff59 on Feb 5, 2023 5:49:10 GMT -5
You did not mention if your 500 and 1000 stages were rotary or vibe. Either way if you always do both of those then you really won't see a difference either way between A/O and S/C. In a vibe tumbler a lot of people have found that 500 A/O breaks down efficiently enough to run the 500 A/O longer and double the normal amount of time and then skip the 1000. Chuck For me, it’s rotary only. I have not-yet taken the vibe-jump. Thinking about it a lot though!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 5, 2023 17:09:04 GMT -5
You did not mention if your 500 and 1000 stages were rotary or vibe. Either way if you always do both of those then you really won't see a difference either way between A/O and S/C. In a vibe tumbler a lot of people have found that 500 A/O breaks down efficiently enough to run the 500 A/O longer and double the normal amount of time and then skip the 1000. Chuck For me, it’s rotary only. I have not-yet taken the vibe-jump. Thinking about it a lot though! To better understand how A/O and S/C break down this video Rob made might help. He ran two barrels of the same type of rocks both for one year in a rotary. One with A/O and one with S/C. Watch the video for the results and explanation. Chuck
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Post by aDave on Feb 5, 2023 17:42:56 GMT -5
Most of the time, I am a tumbler that uses a 2 step pre-polish, #500 and then #1000, before the rocks go in to polish. That’s how I learned to tumble. So, I am looking at trying some of this #500 AO out. In the meantime, I would love to hear from any of you who have: how do you like it? Is the end result better, do you think? Worth it? Any input at all is appreciated. Thanks much. When I was doing all rotary steps, I switched from 500 SiC to 500 AO, simply because it made more sense (to me) that I wanted something at that stage to smooth more than cut. Did it make a difference? I can't really say as I never looked at finished product under a loupe to compare, but I was never wanting for "better" results. I ended up with a recipe where I ran the 500 stage for two weeks with no clean out, hoping to take advantage of grit break down and thus eliminating a 1000 pre-polish stage. This preceded a three week polish stage, again with no clean outs. I was never disappointed with my results, and I was more than happy not having have an extra stage. Here's an example:
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Feb 8, 2023 23:38:13 GMT -5
Before leaving for work, I emptied my lot o tumbler of a batch of various jaspers, quartz, quartzite with about 25% mixed sized ceramic media in 500 AO that ran from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon. I used 1 Tbsp borax, 1 t of 500 AO and 1 squirt of cheap liquid hand soap.
I was amazed at the shine at that stage. When I get home they are going into AO polish from the Rock Shed but I really don't know how they can get much shinier.
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