rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Mar 25, 2024 14:20:02 GMT -5
Let's talk vibratory laps - Or a machine that can help me face polish. I have SO many thundereggs now that I've cut I would like to face polish them. I know the cabber will do small (1"ish) stones, but a lot of mine are 2" and bigger - the biggest being about 5" diameter - is the vibrating flat lap my only option here? I have the slant cabber, but it's the 6" and might be ok for smaller, but not anything bigger. I have priced them new and likely won't be anything I buy anytime soon, but wanted to explore other options, if there were any. (I will look at FB marketplaces too). THANKS!
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 25, 2024 18:37:14 GMT -5
Vibe laps are slow and tedious. I have a small one I've ran a few times but haven't since I moved to MN. They do nice work polishing flats.
Another thought if you're polishing t-egg halves, is to do a low dome on them like a cab with the cabbing machine.
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 25, 2024 19:16:20 GMT -5
I am interested in what people have to say about this. I have been looking for something to face polish rocks. Seems like there are different opinions on what works and how well.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 25, 2024 22:46:34 GMT -5
I have had two vib laps, one a 16" and one a 27". They are slow and require more weight added to small pieces {about under a couple pounds}, but don't have to be babysat 100% of the time. I built a 20" rotary lap, it does have to be hand managed all the time, but does a better job in way less time. I made several discs and run different SiC grits on each disc. It runs at 120 RPM which is as fast as I can run it without slinging the grit-water off.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 25, 2024 23:56:35 GMT -5
Vibe laps are slow and tedious. I have a small one I've ran a few times but haven't since I moved to MN. They do nice work polishing flats. Another thought if you're polishing t-egg halves, is to do a low dome on them like a cab with the cabbing machine. Peta, I've done what Nate suggests here. I have the KN6, so I do have some spacing between my wheels. I've face polished some decent sized pieces...they do get a "slight" dome on them. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Mar 26, 2024 7:59:09 GMT -5
Vibe laps are slow and tedious. I have a small one I've ran a few times but haven't since I moved to MN. They do nice work polishing flats. Another thought if you're polishing t-egg halves, is to do a low dome on them like a cab with the cabbing machine. Oh - that's good to know! I've never ran one, but have seen them in action. I just watched HPL cut/chat where he domed a half - never really considered that before seeing it. Thanks! I will give that a go!! I am interested in what people have to say about this. I have been looking for something to face polish rocks. Seems like there are different opinions on what works and how well. I have so many now lol - I love the surprise of cutting open the eggs and seeing what you get. I need to do something with them  I have had two vib laps, one a 16" and one a 27". They are slow and require more weight added to small pieces {about under a couple pounds}, but don't have to be babysat 100% of the time. I built a 20" rotary lap, it does have to me hand managed all the trime, but does a better job in way less time. I made several discs and run different SiC grits on each disc. It runs at 120 RPM which is as fast as I can run it without slinging the grit-water off. Good to know! Thank you for the input - they aren't cheap, so I'm glad to be reading the downsides now. Vibe laps are slow and tedious. I have a small one I've ran a few times but haven't since I moved to MN. They do nice work polishing flats. Another thought if you're polishing t-egg halves, is to do a low dome on them like a cab with the cabbing machine. Peta, I've done what Nate suggests here. I have the KN6, so I do have some spacing between my wheels. I've face polished some decent sized pieces...they do get a "slight" dome on them. Thanks!! I have a couple that would work well on the wheels I think, even if they do slightly dome. I'll give it a go and see what happens . Thanks! |
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Post by liveoak on Mar 26, 2024 8:13:32 GMT -5
Don't you also have the slant lap ?
That would keep them flat.
Patty
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Mar 26, 2024 9:10:31 GMT -5
Don't you also have the slant lap ? That would keep them flat. Patty I do and it might work for the smaller pieces, but not the bigger. I was thinking about setting it up outside by my saws and giving it a go. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,201
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Post by rockbrain on Mar 26, 2024 9:14:48 GMT -5
I've been looking at the Richardson's Ranch dry sander. It only takes a few minutes to do an egg. The disc are $1 each and the unit itself is $595. There's a few videos on Youtube.
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Post by 1dave on Mar 26, 2024 11:50:14 GMT -5
I have had two vib laps, one a 16" and one a 27". They are slow and require more weight added to small pieces {about under a couple pounds}, but don't have to be babysat 100% of the time. I built a 20" rotary lap, it does have to me hand managed all the trime, but does a better job in way less time. I made several discs and run different SiC grits on each disc. It runs at 120 RPM which is as fast as I can run it without slinging the grit-water off.  Photos please! |
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Post by 1dave on Mar 26, 2024 11:53:25 GMT -5
I've been looking at the Richardson's Ranch dry sander. It only takes a few minutes to do an egg. The disc are $1 each and the unit itself is $595. There's a few videos on Youtube. That is what the Geokid used. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 26, 2024 12:05:41 GMT -5
quartz have you ever been to Joe Cota's Rock Castle rock shop near Holly? He has 48" rotary lap machines with top mounted frames to hold his pieces that rotate in the opposite direction with the center offset a few inches. It's set and forget with grit and water droppers. I think they were built by the same place that made some of the saws Bruce had at J2B2. I also strongly dislike flat vibe units, so no good input there. Richardsons HS sander is effective for sure. It also creates a pretty extreme dust hazard that requires extra effort to deal with, and when spinning the edge of the sanding disc can have the effect of a table saw blade on human skin. The club in Portland used them for a long time till a member built some dandy rotary laps that use magnetic laps, think they are 12". Unfortunately cancer took him out of the hobby. Another possibility is a wet angle grinder with the discs for doing countertops, best for large stuff but if you devised something to keep smaller stuff from moving it is capable of handling anything. A guy who does a lot of the area shows makes nice medium to large display pieces with one, I would like to get him to do a class but that hasn't worked out so far. I recall a thread with a stationary multi head outdoor vertical unit with the counter pads that jamesp (?) had, have considered something like that at times to go with a stationary burr carving unit.
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 26, 2024 13:11:34 GMT -5
I have been using a 20" Vibe Lap to face polish all of my Geodes and Petrified Wood pieces. Over the last few years I have developed a decent work process that usually gives me very good results. Two big issues with the Vibe Lap. The first is not enough rock weight such as a slab or poor weight distribution with the specimen. This can be resolved by adding weights. I use caulk to secure the weights. With caulk it's important not to create any voids between the rock and the weight where grit can hide and come out in a later stage. I tend to have two or 3 batches, one on the Lap, one with the weights attached waiting for the caulk to cure, and one waiting to be caulked. Note, I am a non-believer when it comes to grit contamination in the tumbling process. A few grains of 80 grit into the 220 stage is not a big deal in my book when tumbling. For Vibe lapping, I am back on the grit contamination wagon. A couple pieces of 80 grit into the 220 stage is not good and those marks are noticeable. Good cleaning of the rocks and the pans is a must. The other problem with Vibe Lapping is Pan wear which is not even and pans will become dished with the center being to low point. This is ok for pieces 3 to 4 inches or smaller. For the large pieces 5 inches and larger a dished pan does not allow for a flat surface on the rock and it shows up at the polish stage with un-polished areas. Haven't solved the dished pan issue yet. The "Skunk-Works Team" has been working on that problem and has some promising ideas but so far no solution. My imperfect solution is to reserve any flat pans for the larger rocks. Any smaller rocks go one of the dished pans. Fortunately for me, one of our Forum members, snuffy who is a good neighbor which in Texas means less than a two hour drive!, had an old 20 inch Vibe lap with 2 pans that he was willing to part with. The polish pan he had was naturally still flat as it's surface never gets any wear so it became my large rock processing pan. I did spray paint all of the pans I have with identifying colors so as not to mess up. Henry |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,201
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Post by rockbrain on Mar 26, 2024 15:28:04 GMT -5
It's getting warm enough that I plan on setting up to use my wet angle grinder for t eggs. I plan on taking a piece of wood and cutting different sizes of circles with hole saws. Clamp the wood to a work table (Workmate) Set the egg in the appropriate size hole and go. I visualize being able to do several at the same time with each grit.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 26, 2024 18:53:01 GMT -5
1dave asked for pics. of my homemade rotary lap:   The base is a 20" truck wheel with a piece of 4" channel welded to it. Attached to the channel is the motor mount and a plate to hold a comercially available trailer hub. I turned a spindle for the hub that runs in the Timken bearings, a pulley at the bottom, retaining nut for the bearings, a sheetmetal slinger disc,then the 20" grinding or polishing disc {or table} at the top. The catch pan under the table is an inverted metal garbage can lid that is attached to the spindle hub, with a drain tube from it. The table turns counter clockwise so the nut on top stays tight. Under the table is a 1/6 HP motor and a double reduction via a jackshaft to get the desired 120 RPM rotating speed. The motor toggle switch has a rod on it that brings control out to the front. I have 80, 220, and 600 discs and a polishing disc with a thin gray felt-like material glued to it. I can get a very good polish with it. I use cerium oxide for polishing, lucky to have found some cheap. This works well for me, I don't do enough with it to justify higher end table material. The rope wrapped around the channel is attached to an eye bolt and allows me to tie the machine to my hand truck to move outside when the weather is good. Rockoonz, I know Joe but have never been to Rock Castle, did see roy's machine once, nice lap.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 26, 2024 19:33:09 GMT -5
quartz Larry, that there is a thing of beauty for sure. Your show and tells are always elegant and functional. Are the grits individual plates or toppers?
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 26, 2024 19:39:43 GMT -5
1dave asked for pics. of my homemade rotary lap: The base is a 20" truck wheel with a piece of 4" channel welded to it. Attached to the channel is the motor mount and a plate to hold a comercially available trailer hub. I turned a spindle for the hub that runs in the Timken bearings, a pulley at the bottom, retaining nut for the bearings, a sheetmetal slinger disc,then the 20" grinding or polishing disc {or table} at the top. The catch pan under the table is an inverted metal garbage can lid that is attached to the spindle hub, with a drain tube from it. The table turns counter clockwise so the nut on top stays tight. Under the table is a 1/6 HP motor and a double reduction via a jackshaft to get the desired 120 RPM rotating speed. The motor toggle switch has a rod on it that brings control out to the front. I have 80, 220, and 600 discs and a polishing disc with a thin gray felt-like material glued to it. I can get a very good polish with it. I use cerium oxide for polishing, lucky to have found some cheap. This works well for me, I don't do enough with it to justify higher end table material. The rope wrapped around the channel is attached to an eye bolt and allows me to tie the machine to my hand truck to move outside when the weather is good. Rockoonz , I know Joe but have never been to Rock Castle, did see roy 's machine once, nice lap. That is amazing! I wish I had the knowledge and patience to tinker with stuff like this. I could probably get my neighbor to do it. |
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Post by 1dave on Mar 26, 2024 20:38:54 GMT -5
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 26, 2024 21:36:38 GMT -5
Rockoonz, thanks for the compliment. The grits are run on individual plates, real easy to change. 1dave, ya near blinded me with your thanks, Thank you for the appreciation.
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Post by roy on Mar 27, 2024 10:37:31 GMT -5
cool build
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Photos please!
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew