Post by Shelbeeray on Jul 25, 2006 0:06:23 GMT -5
I wanted to start a thread that people who are just starting out can find info on equipment & polishes for tumbling... Add & change at will. I was thinking that I could turn it into an .rtf file or a pdf file when the ONE WHO KNOW ALL (the gods & goddesses of rockdom) have added their info.... Kind of like a rocktumbling hobby book!
Here's my contribution to get us started:
GRIT
-Usually Silicon Carbide
1. 46/70 Grit
2. 60-90 Grit.
-1st stage in rotary tumblers (don’t use in vibes)
-Used for shaping
3. 120/220 Grit.
-2nd stage in rotary tumbler
-1st stage in
4. 500 Grit
-3rd stage (pre-polish)
5. Graded Grits
-For uniform grinds.
-May be more expensive
-Usually used for spheres & with flat laps
PRE-POLISH
1. 1000 Grit Aluminum Oxide
-4th stage (rotary & vibe)
-For soft stones (apache tears, jade, glass)
2. Tripoli
POLISHES
1. Aluminum Oxide Polish
-Quartz, Agate, jasper, agate petrified wood (7 MOH and up)
-Usually the least expensive
2. Tin Oxide Polish.
-Wide variety of stones
Agate and even the harder stones like corundum (rubies and sapphires)
-Softer stone like glass and obsidian.
3. Titanium Dioxide
-Inexpensive general polish
4. Cerium Oxide Polish.
-quartz, glass, obsidian, apache tears and agate.
-medium grade polish that works well on all types of agate, quartz crystals, petrified wood, jasper, feldspar, and obsidian.
5. Linde A ( or "B" or "C") Polish.
-Facet grade polish and even though it works on agates.
-Really expensive
FILLERS
-Carry Grit and polish
-Cushion softer stones
-Re-usable as long as you use them in the same stage. Never mix – just one piece of grit in the polish stage may wreck the whole batch.
1. Plastic beads
-Inexpensive
-Can be purchased in craft & sewing supply stores
2. Ceramic Media.
MACHINES
1. Rotary Tumbler
2. Vibratory Tumbler
3. Flat Lap
4. Grinder
5. Dremel or rotary tool
FOR METAL JEWELRY
-Steel shot
-Corn cob
-Walnut shell fragments
-Burnishing compound
-Red rouge
Here's my contribution to get us started:
GRIT
-Usually Silicon Carbide
1. 46/70 Grit
2. 60-90 Grit.
-1st stage in rotary tumblers (don’t use in vibes)
-Used for shaping
3. 120/220 Grit.
-2nd stage in rotary tumbler
-1st stage in
4. 500 Grit
-3rd stage (pre-polish)
5. Graded Grits
-For uniform grinds.
-May be more expensive
-Usually used for spheres & with flat laps
PRE-POLISH
1. 1000 Grit Aluminum Oxide
-4th stage (rotary & vibe)
-For soft stones (apache tears, jade, glass)
2. Tripoli
POLISHES
1. Aluminum Oxide Polish
-Quartz, Agate, jasper, agate petrified wood (7 MOH and up)
-Usually the least expensive
2. Tin Oxide Polish.
-Wide variety of stones
Agate and even the harder stones like corundum (rubies and sapphires)
-Softer stone like glass and obsidian.
3. Titanium Dioxide
-Inexpensive general polish
4. Cerium Oxide Polish.
-quartz, glass, obsidian, apache tears and agate.
-medium grade polish that works well on all types of agate, quartz crystals, petrified wood, jasper, feldspar, and obsidian.
5. Linde A ( or "B" or "C") Polish.
-Facet grade polish and even though it works on agates.
-Really expensive
FILLERS
-Carry Grit and polish
-Cushion softer stones
-Re-usable as long as you use them in the same stage. Never mix – just one piece of grit in the polish stage may wreck the whole batch.
1. Plastic beads
-Inexpensive
-Can be purchased in craft & sewing supply stores
2. Ceramic Media.
MACHINES
1. Rotary Tumbler
2. Vibratory Tumbler
3. Flat Lap
4. Grinder
5. Dremel or rotary tool
FOR METAL JEWELRY
-Steel shot
-Corn cob
-Walnut shell fragments
-Burnishing compound
-Red rouge
