zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Jan 30, 2024 10:41:53 GMT -5
I've completed a few tumbles since my restart and now things are starting to get serious. (not CabKing serious) But upon inspecting my candidates after stage one I'm seeing a fair amount of imperfections. There are some rocks where I can overlook those imperfections but others just gnaw at me. It would be easy to throw some of them in with the next stage 1 batch and hope to grind out a few of the problems but I'm trying to shine them up, not make them into pea gravel right?
My point in all this? I'm thinking about purchasing some grinding stones/wheels/accessories to use my Dremel to soften up the angles and allow the next stages to do their thing. I could really use some advice here to find the basics and get one small step closer to satisfaction. What should I look for? Brands, sizes, tips etc. would be helpful. I'm totally oblivious to what's available to accomplish this.
Gnawing on the rocks is terrible for your teeth.....
Mark
PS: I guess we all have our imperfections.
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 30, 2024 11:59:19 GMT -5
It will help if you post some pictures so that we understand what kind of imperfections bothered you. I got an old cabber to grind off the problematic areas. I also got a saw to help preform some stones before polishing. Before I had these, I used this Glass Tile Nippers Set (RTH Amazon affiliated link) to trim some of the thin rocks to the desired shapes before tumbling. |
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Looking forward to my Friday Night Barrel Clean out!
Member since August 2022
Posts: 493
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Post by hplcman on Jan 30, 2024 12:06:41 GMT -5
Look up 'Dremel diamond grinding bits for stone' on Amazon or Google. The sets are generally inexpensive, and provide you with plenty of sizes and shapes to use to grind out imperfections prior to tumbling. Like with all tools, I would recommend initially buying the cheap set. That will give you the idea of what you need and, when these break or wear out, you will know what you need and can spend more money on a higher quality set.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Jan 30, 2024 13:48:18 GMT -5
Pebblesky this is an example of some mookaite that I'd love to work on. That pitting could use some work and maybe knock off the ledge at the bottom right.  |
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 30, 2024 23:52:21 GMT -5
Either the dremel and the 120 wheel of the cabber should do a fine job to remove the pitting area. For the ledges, the most efficient way might be to use a wet saw to cut the ledge off. That said one day you might feel, well, if I am going to spend that amount of time on each rock, maybe I should consider cabbing on some high-grade slabs instead...
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Jan 31, 2024 8:50:07 GMT -5
Either the dremel and the 120 wheel of the cabber should do a fine job to remove the pitting area. For the ledges, the most efficient way might be to use a wet saw to cut the ledge off. That said one day you might feel, well, if I am going to spend that amount of time on each rock, maybe I should consider cabbing on some high-grade slabs instead... Thanks Pebblesky. So far I don't have many (or any) high-grade rocks or slabs. Right now this is just a make-rocks-shiny and give-them-away-to-my-friends'-kids operation. Admittedly I have squirreled away a few lookers for possible future projects but I have little interest in doing that right now. It's the little pits and crevices that I'd like to adjust occasionally. I've got a hammer, chisel and 2x6" that have 'modified' a few bigger rocks. We'll see what comes of this hobby as I'm getting very close to retiring. I'm already concerned about finding enough to keep myself occupied. Ugh.. Appreciate your thoughts and advice. Mark |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 31, 2024 10:10:10 GMT -5
zebra61 - I've used a "Rotary Tool Diamond Grinding Wheel" with my Dremel to take the spots off certain rocks...and shape them when I was making cabs with my Dremel. I got a set like this from Menards: 
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Jan 31, 2024 11:08:39 GMT -5
zebra61 - I've used a "Rotary Tool Diamond Grinding Wheel" with my Dremel to take the spots off certain rocks...and shape them when I was making cabs with my Dremel. I got a set like this from Menards: That's an interesting variety of wheels. My local Menards is 60 miles away (I live up in the puckerbrush of Minnesota) but I occasionally swing in for building materials and licorice. I used to think that ordering items from Amazon kept me on-track avoiding buying a whole bunch of stuff I didn't really need, but that's not working out so well these days. Do you think I should buy more than one set? Do you use water in the process? Mark |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 31, 2024 11:19:31 GMT -5
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Jan 31, 2024 12:37:49 GMT -5
Harbor freight carries a set of electroplated diamond bits...https://www.harborfreight.com/diamond-rotary-point-set-50-piece-69665.html
If you want something that last longer, buy some sintered diamond burrs. You can get this set through E-bay, but they ship from China and will take @ 3weeks to get them...https://www.ebay.com/itm/186056445477?hash=item2b51d40e25:g:tKcAAOSwEg1k7vHr&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8JJsQn5rVMGJt4j7VdDlIrnPQJwkrJrC2hc%2BO9G6aICDCHMsCfT%2BNDQQ3MkZsEvr7V2ibfck02iR9aaKGfeIFl7iUQMlqdkgOnJiQnTKfxUhd0Xkqj2kMoM%2B75BKwTOotgHEnX%2FLYNB19cH70J1CpB2gnaOMZ5jYC8eCb5nNiKvHcGgiXdfw4bMaZ6eEVRKtuJKQqhtA54KGRiHt0dnZdqv7VQYohydzc9%2BxMdujQ6sKbUJppKDqZgf80sXhBgeD%2FcnUL84bojhskhzWW5SkEqXlgxnGYOTHul6i1jbEp2QV391iAoGhueWJn2u9bhC%2FvA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7jBwomsYw
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 31, 2024 12:58:55 GMT -5
From what I know, It's smart to do what you are thinking. I would suggest getting a Cabbing machine (If you can), and using Silicon Carbide grinding wheels or belts. Diamonds tend to make really deep scratches, so I would use SC. An RPM of about 400 - 1000 seems good I think. Use something with a grit of 100 or 200.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 31, 2024 13:01:13 GMT -5
Remember, some rocks are harder to tumble than others.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Feb 1, 2024 8:32:28 GMT -5
From what I know, It's smart to do what you are thinking. I would suggest getting a Cabbing machine (If you can), and using Silicon Carbide grinding wheels or belts. Diamonds tend to make really deep scratches, so I would use SC. An RPM of about 400 - 1000 seems good I think. Use something with a grit of 100 or 200. rydersrocks thanks! You make a good point about the difference in diamond vs SC so that's something to consider as well. Although I'm looking to grind out/off some imperfections in the initial stages of tumbling (stage 1 mostly). I've been inspecting every 7-10 days to check on progress and looking to see if there are any candidates for advancement to stage 2. When I spot areas that aren't getting any smoothing I'm thinking a little effort would be worthwhile. Not really a forming effort as much as working out the rough edges. A Cabbing Machine might be a possibility in the future, I just have to see how far I want to take it. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 1, 2024 8:44:44 GMT -5
From what I know, It's smart to do what you are thinking. I would suggest getting a Cabbing machine (If you can), and using Silicon Carbide grinding wheels or belts. Diamonds tend to make really deep scratches, so I would use SC. An RPM of about 400 - 1000 seems good I think. Use something with a grit of 100 or 200. rydersrocks thanks! You make a good point about the difference in diamond vs SC so that's something to consider as well. Although I'm looking to grind out/off some imperfections in the initial stages of tumbling (stage 1 mostly). I've been inspecting every 7-10 days to check on progress and looking to see if there are any candidates for advancement to stage 2. When I spot areas that aren't getting any smoothing I'm thinking a little effort would be worthwhile. Not really a forming effort as much as working out the rough edges. A Cabbing Machine might be a possibility in the future, I just have to see how far I want to take it.  |
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 1, 2024 9:01:20 GMT -5
I do a bit of carving, and almost all of it with plated diamond ball ent burrs in 3 sizes and with SiC cut off wheels stacked 2-3 on a mandrel. I dip them in a double dog dish with water to keep them wet, though I recently found a clear plastic carving station at a estate sale that I may start using. Of course, a good respirator mask.
zhouhanlin1983 on ebay is where I get the diamond burs, in pretty large lots in my case. For the cutoff wheels I get the 3/4 inch diameter ones without the fabric reinforcement. The cutoff wheels are great for smoothing, or for lines in carvings.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 161
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Post by zebra61 on Feb 1, 2024 9:20:26 GMT -5
I dropped both of those in my shopping cart for further consideration. We have a nearby (10 miles from work) Home Depot so next time I get over there I'll check their offerings as well. I can see myself standing outside my garage door with a dish of water and my electric Dremel grinding away on rocks but not in February!  The licorice is far from amazing but being a diabetic with a 12lb sweet tooth makes that stuff pretty attractive while you're waiting in line to checkout. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Feb 1, 2024 13:06:47 GMT -5
Yea I forgot to also say use some water! Very important the Rock does not get to hot. Or else it will develop heat fractures.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Feb 1, 2024 21:35:10 GMT -5
From what I know, It's smart to do what you are thinking. I would suggest getting a Cabbing machine (If you can), and using Silicon Carbide grinding wheels or belts. Diamonds tend to make really deep scratches, so I would use SC. An RPM of about 400 - 1000 seems good I think. Use something with a grit of 100 or 200. Why would a 1000 grit diamond cut any deeper than a 1000 grit SiC? |
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wseaton
starting to shine!
Member since January 2024
Posts: 30
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Post by wseaton on Feb 2, 2024 13:35:08 GMT -5
I'm in the same boat as the OP. I like to do really large rocks in my 17, but the larger imperfections literally take pounds of rough grit to remove, and it's just inefficient.
Looking for ways to remove the larger imperfections directly and get the rock 60/90 ready. From there it's easy.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Feb 3, 2024 20:58:55 GMT -5
From what I know, It's smart to do what you are thinking. I would suggest getting a Cabbing machine (If you can), and using Silicon Carbide grinding wheels or belts. Diamonds tend to make really deep scratches, so I would use SC. An RPM of about 400 - 1000 seems good I think. Use something with a grit of 100 or 200. Why would a 1000 grit diamond cut any deeper than a 1000 grit SiC? That I'm not sure. That is a good point. I was told that by a professional Thunder egg polisher. He only uses diamond to cut the eggs. He uses Silicon carbide then a low cost polish. I believe him since he has put the best shine I have ever seen on a thunderegg. I will ask him why Silicon carbide leaves a less deep scratch compared to diamond. |
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