goodsgems
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 20
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Post by goodsgems on Jan 15, 2024 15:42:03 GMT -5
I've been looking for some local silicon carbide grit I can buy in bulk and pick up to avoid shipping costs. So far most of the sandblasting and abrasive suppliers in my area don't carry silicon carbide. In my search, I found this "new release" deal for grit on Amazon and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the company and quality of the grit?
For 10lbs, it's about the price you'd pay at rockshed, but it ships free. Thank you, team!
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,171
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 15, 2024 15:48:22 GMT -5
If you really want bulk check out Johnson Brothers Lapidary. You can get 44 lbs for $99 with free shipping. JB can be notoriously slow to fill orders, especially during Quartzsite. I've received orders that took so long I literally thought my order had been cancelled. That being said, I think the grit is all pre-packaged in flat rate boxes. I've ordered a couple times and received it extremely quickly. Like once I ordered and got it the next day! YMMV.
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wseaton
starting to shine!
Member since January 2024
Posts: 30
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Post by wseaton on Jan 15, 2024 16:30:32 GMT -5
In my experience SC grit is SC grit. It all comes from the same few mills in China. Order it by the ton from Alibaba if you want it real cheap. 60/90 that comes in a Hannah Montanna brand Rock Tumbler is the same 60/90 that comes from a lapidary shop. That price is good though considering it's straight graded 60 and not 60/90.
It's polish that's a pain to fine spec'd right. Once you get above 1200 nobody wants to grade it correctly and only the better stuff from the Rock Shed or dedicated lapidary shops seems to work. We can't just label it right and know that for example "you need at least 2 micron AO to polish". That would make our lives easy :-)
All things being equal though I prefer to support local companies.
Coarse aluminum oxide gets a bad rap compared to SC, but I've been using #46 AO in my 17 rebel and it works a bit better than #60 SC and breaks down slower. Testing it in my 3lb harbor freight as we speak, and so far its about equal to #60 SC
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Post by velodromed on Jan 15, 2024 22:01:50 GMT -5
I've been looking for some local silicon carbide grit I can buy in bulk and pick up to avoid shipping costs. So far most of the sandblasting and abrasive suppliers in my area don't carry silicon carbide. In my search, I found this "new release" deal for grit on Amazon and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the company and quality of the grit?
For 10lbs, it's about the price you'd pay at rockshed, but it ships free. Thank you, team!
Thanks for posting this, it’s a good deal for 10lbs off Amazon. I’d been paying 23 bucks for 5lbs before I started getting from the rockshed. |
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goodsgems
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 20
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Post by goodsgems on Jan 16, 2024 2:30:35 GMT -5
In my experience SC grit is SC grit. It all comes from the same few mills in China. Order it by the ton from Alibaba if you want it real cheap. 60/90 that comes in a Hannah Montanna brand Rock Tumbler is the same 60/90 that comes from a lapidary shop. That price is good though considering it's straight graded 60 and not 60/90. It's polish that's a pain to fine spec'd right. Once you get above 1200 nobody wants to grade it correctly and only the better stuff from the Rock Shed or dedicated lapidary shops seems to work. We can't just label it right and know that for example "you need at least 2 micron AO to polish". That would make our lives easy :-) All things being equal though I prefer to support local companies. Coarse aluminum oxide gets a bad rap compared to SC, but I've been using #46 AO in my 17 rebel and it works a bit better than #60 SC and breaks down slower. Testing it in my 3lb harbor freight as we speak, and so far its about equal to #60 SC Omg, not a "Hannah Montana brand Rock Tumbler!" Literally lol. Thank you for your response and insight! I'd definitely prefer to go local, and all my polishes come from the good folks at the Rock Shed. I'm curious to know how your 3lb Harbor Freight AO tumble turns out! Might need to do some experimenting myself. |
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wseaton
starting to shine!
Member since January 2024
Posts: 30
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Post by wseaton on Jan 17, 2024 1:00:04 GMT -5
I finished up the test. Used a pair of tigers eye by themselves for 3 days and just filler
The SC 60/90 had a little bit more action on the edges than AU #46. Not dramatically so, but edges were a hair smoother. There was quite a bit of #46 left. Just a trace of 60/90.
This kind of confirms what I found in my 17. In that beast SC 60/90 breaks down in a couple days to just pudding. AO #46 hangs on much longer, so, it technically has more capacity than SC and why it works better in a bigger tumbler.
If you have some laying around don't discard it. It works in a 3lb.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 20, 2024 9:49:56 GMT -5
I've had this on my list for awhile. I get my 60/90 from Kingsley or RS, because I buy 50 Lbs at a time. My finer grits I usually get 5 lbs so this 10lb bucket would work well for me. I have some Amazon credits so I may give the 220 a go.
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goodsgems
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 20
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Post by goodsgems on Apr 5, 2024 18:25:23 GMT -5
Update: I ended up buying some 1200 grit AO polish to add a fifth step for my jasper before final polish and I ended up with some great results. Verdict: this stuff works for a lower price point/free shipping.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,171
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 5, 2024 19:52:16 GMT -5
I've had this on my list for awhile. I get my 60/90 from Kingsley or RS, because I buy 50 Lbs at a time. My finer grits I usually get 5 lbs so this 10lb bucket would work well for me. I have some Amazon credits so I may give the 220 a go. I know this post is a little old but if you haven't looked into it more 45lbs of 60/90 from Kingsley is $158.60 to my shipping address 44lbs for Johnson Bros is $109.00 |
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