Tumbling Beads

casualguy off to a rocking start Member since December 2007 Posts: 5	Tumbling Beads Nov 28, 2007 22:49:19 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by casualguy on Nov 28, 2007 22:49:19 GMT -5 Where else might I buy ceramic or plastic beads for tumbling other than a lapidary shop?

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Tumbling Beads Nov 28, 2007 22:54:44 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2007 22:54:44 GMT -5

If I remember correctly, some people were using plastic pellets used in..............I cant remember what it was, air guns? So it would be something you could find in the sporting goods section. Im sorry, I cant remember who it was now that was trying them out.

But they dont float like the ones normally purchased for tumbling so they would be a pain to separate from your rock.........thats the disadvantage to ceramic as well.

Shannon

Last Edit: Nov 28, 2007 22:55:28 GMT -5 by Deleted

casualguy off to a rocking start Member since December 2007 Posts: 5	Tumbling Beads Nov 28, 2007 23:19:15 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by casualguy on Nov 28, 2007 23:19:15 GMT -5 Thanks Shannon, I have two boys who use the air-soft guns and those beads are all over the place....though never thought of using them for tumbling. Do the ceramic beads work better, and where might i get those?

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Tumbling Beads Nov 28, 2007 23:33:55 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2007 23:33:55 GMT -5

I have some ceramic pellets and I bought mine from the Rock Shed. Im not sure if you could find those locally.

Honestly, Im not sure if there is a "better". Its more of a preference. I also use pea gravel as filler. I just make sure that I only use the same pea gravel for each grit. As in, if I use pea gravel in the rough grind as filler, I will only use that batch of gravel with rough grit only. I remember reading a post somewhere online a long time ago where someone used cut up old leather belts as filler because they couldnt stand those pesky pellets. Said the leather worked great and only had to be replaced every so often. Basically, you just need to have "something" to cushion the rocks from banging into each other too much so that you can hopefully prevent chips and fractures.

Shannon

johnjsgems
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Tumbling Beads Nov 29, 2007 8:49:18 GMT -5

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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 29, 2007 8:49:18 GMT -5

The biggest advantage of ceramic pellets is they won't imbed with grit so they go in first step and are washed with the rocks each step through polish. After final wash it is pretty easy to pick out the rocks from the ceramic media. Plastic pellets pick up grit so has to be dedicated to each step.

John at JS Gems

www.jsgemslapidary.com

Sparky starting to spend too much on rocks Still diggin'... Member since October 2007 Posts: 147	Tumbling Beads Nov 29, 2007 12:48:10 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sparky on Nov 29, 2007 12:48:10 GMT -5 If you do decide to get/use plastic pellets, I bought some online from: www.mamasminerals.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?><INPUT%20TYPE= Rus

huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher

Member since August 2007
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Tumbling Beads Nov 29, 2007 22:35:21 GMT -5

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Post by huffstuff on Nov 29, 2007 22:35:21 GMT -5

I think there was also a discusion that the plastic pellets are also used to stuff beanie babies - so maybe a large craft store? Or buy a large bean-stuffed animal!

(By the way, these are not the pellets that are in beanbag chairs - those are more like styrofoam. We're talking about hard plastic pellets.)

I forget, has anyone used "pony beads," the plastic beads sold in large quantities for little girls to make thousands of necklaces.... I can't remember if someone said those worked, too.

Amy

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AGATEGRRRL spending too much on rocks AGATEGRRRL Member since October 2007 Posts: 466	Tumbling Beads Nov 30, 2007 11:25:15 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by AGATEGRRRL on Nov 30, 2007 11:25:15 GMT -5 You can buy them sometimes at Wal Mart in the craft/stuffing section & at most craft stores in the section where they have stuffing for dolls & things. I hope this helps! Patti
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LCARS
has started giving rock gifts

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Tumbling Beads Dec 4, 2007 21:33:58 GMT -5

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Post by LCARS on Dec 4, 2007 21:33:58 GMT -5

I wonder if casualguy is still lurking since he got caught in the crossfire of that "blip"..?

Hey, if you're still out there please sign up again.

A mod' accidentally erased you, so you know it wasn't because we didn't like you or something.

This signature uses invisible ink for your security.

Bikerrandy can identify rocks - even green ones Say what?? Member since September 2005 Posts: 15,688	Tumbling Beads Dec 5, 2007 12:14:05 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 5, 2007 12:14:05 GMT -5 I jsut had a thought, I wonder if there were plastic beads on the old bean-bag chairs from the 70's? That would be an endless supply for sure. ;D
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casualguy off to a rocking start Member since December 2007 Posts: 5	Tumbling Beads Dec 7, 2007 22:08:56 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by casualguy on Dec 7, 2007 22:08:56 GMT -5 All righty then......i'm back......thought it might have been something I said. Thanks for welcoming me back though, and thanks for the ideas.