James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 9, 2005 23:27:41 GMT -5
Here are some "tried and true" recipes for various grit combinations. I also have a pic for each recipe to give an example. Some of these recipes will save you money and even yeild better results than conventional recipes! Even the amount of time spent is about the same as comventional recipes. 1. Coarse grit: 1 month 2. 1000 grit AO: 1 week 3. Polish: 1 week (these went for 2 weeks in tin oxide because they are obsidian.) Note: Agates, jasper and most other harder stones only need 5-7 days in polish! ![]() photos.imageevent.com/mrjamesw/obsidianii/large/obsidian_03.jpg[/img] 1. Coarse grit: 1 week (Recharge every week until you're happy with the shapes.) 2. 120/220: 2 weeks 3. 1000 grit AO: 1 week 4. Polish: 1 week (I let these go for 2 weeks but 1 week would have been sufficient.)  1. Coarse grit: 1 week (Recharge every week until you're happy with the shapes.) 2. 120/220: 1 month 3. Polish: 1 week  I will continue to post new recipes as I try them out. From the examples above, you should pretty much get the point on how grit breaks down. |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Apr 9, 2005 23:49:46 GMT -5
Hey, thats cool James!
I am really impressed with the caliber of shine you consistantly produce.
I'm trying one myself.
1 month 60/90
2 weeks 400
1 week 1000
5 days polish
Do see anything I should be on the look out for?
I am in the second week of 400 right now.
I think the principle is about the same, but I haven't gotten any results yet, but no harm done in trying.
Thanks James!!
-Banjo
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 10, 2005 11:23:01 GMT -5
Hey Banjo,
That looks like a good one. You might be able to skip 400 if you went 1 month in 60/90. Or, since you're going 2 weeks in 400, you could probably skip 1000. I don't know? I'm going to experiment some more and post my results as I go.
Let us know how it works. I look forward to it!
Thanks,
James
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Apr 21, 2005 10:23:02 GMT -5
James,
Those really shine! when you say course for one month. You mean charge once, correct?
csroc
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Apr 21, 2005 11:10:14 GMT -5
Thanks James. Those are fantastic shines.
Any fellow brits know where I can buy AO? I've never seen it.
Also what are the stones in the last pic James, they are gorgeous
Rose
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on May 2, 2005 19:51:14 GMT -5
Hi, When I do my coarse grind, I always clean and recharge the grit every 7 days. I get my 1000 AO at therockshed.com The price is far less than 1000 SC (silicon carbide). The stone in the last pic is imperial jasper fron Jalico Mexico. Thanks for the questions!  |
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on May 9, 2005 21:34:39 GMT -5
Hi James, Are you saying that each week your stones are in coarse that you clean them and put it new grit and fresh water? I was under the impression that you run them for a month and then recharge every 7 days...confused.  |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 11, 2005 16:08:58 GMT -5
Hi James, & Rose.
That real profesional results,
I would also like to know what the pink banded stones are in the last Pic, Fab Pic's.
ROSE,
A O Grit's --- Try Mac Ants nr Sheffield for all grits (they manufacture for Rolls Royce)
If you want Phone no or address send me a Email
john@matco.me.uk
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on May 12, 2005 3:04:08 GMT -5
Hi,
Yes you are correct Deb. I clean and recharge once a week.
Jack,
The stone in the last pic is imperial jasper fron Jalico Mexico.
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on May 16, 2005 17:47:18 GMT -5
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Post by Alice on May 23, 2005 15:56:06 GMT -5
James, did you add filler to any of these stages?
Did you recharge the 120/220, or did you just let it roll for a month, letting the grit break down?
You probably burnished before polish, but did you bother with burnishing between the grit stages?
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on May 27, 2005 15:24:37 GMT -5
Hi Banjo, I'd say that they were a success. In fact, I don't think you can get much better than that. Those came out great! I especially liked the red petrified wood.  Hi Alice, I just let the 120/220 break down over a 1 month period. I use plastic pellets for all stages except for coarse grind, except for extreme circumstances. I never burnish after coarse grit but I do after all other grit stages. |
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on May 27, 2005 15:33:26 GMT -5
James, You are truely an inspiration for the rest of us. Someday I hope to get my rocks to look as good.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 28, 2005 16:12:21 GMT -5
Hi James
I tried a bit of your system and got some good results, look great but I could not get the shine on the photo I was in full sunlight outside yet they still look average to poorI tried on a white background & a black background just the same.
How do you get such a good photo of the polish ?
Any advice warmly welcomed
Yours
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Post by Alice on Jul 9, 2005 12:15:58 GMT -5
Jack, try moving your camera around the batch until you see some shine in your view finder. Also try moving your batch from direct sunlight to some shade... you'll get different results.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jul 17, 2005 1:46:56 GMT -5
Hi Alice 2072,
I finaly found the answer ,
Many thanks for the help
I let the sun go behind a cloud!! I think I must have got a strong back reflection that cut the camera down ,I was outside under a tree I would post a picture but cant find the way to do it. I even got my image on the rock!!
Yours
Jack,
Yorkshire UK
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Aug 25, 2005 14:41:53 GMT -5
I'm sorry that I didn't reply sooner Jack. I missed your post. Yeah, you've pretty much got the right idea. The best time to take pics is on an overcast day. Shaded areas with a bright reflection aimed at them work just as well.
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smadelinker
starting to shine!
Member since October 2005
Posts: 47
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Post by smadelinker on Oct 2, 2005 12:08:23 GMT -5
James, I'm guessing you are "James" of "the James shine" and "you James'd it, man!" I just started this hobby to reproduce lost pieces my grandfather made for me as a child... His few remaining pieces of jewelry (agate mostly) look like your stones, kinda depressing to think how far I have to go! Thanks for the pictures, it helps alot as do the instructions...
Smadelinker
California
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 21, 2005 20:07:42 GMT -5
Yup, I'm James. I'll tell you what though, all you need to do is follow my recipe's and you'll rocks will come out exactly like mine. That's why I posted them. I like to help out the best I can. Even if you don't use the recipe's I've given, you can still get an good idea for your own. There is no "right way." There are many ways to get good results; Just as so many others here have done. Good luck. If you need any help, just let me know.
-James
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carolelgin
starting to spend too much on rocks
BlueBelle
Member since October 2005
Posts: 161
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Post by carolelgin on Oct 25, 2005 21:05:34 GMT -5
Awesome and inspirational thread!
Maybe I should post this question elsewhere but it seems to fit in here pretty well.
What are the expectations for the different stages? I keep reading step 1 is until one likes the shape. What is the goal of step 2, 3? Polish is pretty self explanatory.
Here I thought it would be as easy as the directions on the box. Bah. You guys make such beautiful stones. Tonight was recharge night and I carefully evaluated 9 pounds of rocks. I am just not sure how to judge when they are ready to move to the next step.
Carol
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