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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 17, 2005 22:20:03 GMT -5
What do I need to get started tumbling a batch of stones? Grit: what kind / type? All I know is I had coarse, medium & polish in my kit - now that I have to get my own, what do i need to "start anew"? How long approximately in each substance? I've been doing: 2-4 days in the "coarse" 10-14 days in the "medium" 7 days in the polish I have no idea what each type "is" but I do know that the polish made a big fluffy "cream" like shaving cream in my barrel. Thanx everyone in advance for your help
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Jan 17, 2005 23:19:48 GMT -5
I use:
60 or 60/90 grit for coarse. The last batch I bought is the 60 grit. Read somewhere the grit is more consistent. This makes a lot of sense.
For the medium, I use 120/220 grit
For the fine grit, I am using 500 grit
For an extra step, I have been using 1000 grit, but have also bought tripoli on Master Polisher Jame's suggestion.
Polish - Aluminum Oxide, Cerium Oxide and Tin Oxide, I would also like to get some Titanium Oxide/Titanium DIoxide. I have gotten the best results with the Cerium Oxide, but this is a bit pricey. The Titanium Oxide or Titanium DIoxide is priced more reasonably. I just can't figure which one is better. (need to re-read the threads)/
Also, if you are going to buy in quantity, buy more of the coarse grit - 60 or 60/90. I usually keep my rocks in coarse for months at time. Thus, I go through the coarse grit very fast, the other grits and polish can be purchased in more modest quantities.
My two cents. Cal
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 17, 2005 23:24:13 GMT -5
Rocks! 60/90 (coarse) grit 120/220 (medium) grit 500 (fine) grit/prepolish Polish - there are a number of different kinds of polish Extra barrel to be used only for polish A lot of patience Here's a link to the process James uses on his stones. If you haven't yet seen some of his finished stones, you need to check them out. Beautiful! BTW, welcome aboard! llana
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jan 18, 2005 0:05:07 GMT -5
i think you will find that the usual time for each step is at least 1 week each or run the batch in coarse until YOU are satisified with them and then 1 week per step until polish then tumble until done whenever YOU like them. there is no magic but you will acquire patience
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 18, 2005 0:13:35 GMT -5
i use the method cal described. my problem is i pull out the ones ready to move to 120/220 and put them aside waiting on enough stones to fill the barrel. then i put in more rough with the ones that were not ready and keep going at 60/90. and for some reason i just keep repeating that lol. i need to find all my little bowls of those ready for step 2 and move onward!! i think i've been on 60/90 forever!
kim
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 18, 2005 0:33:44 GMT -5
Kim, that's what I do. I clean the rocks and barrels, so thru those that are ready to move on, add new ones to replace the old, then recharge and go. I kept forgetting about the ones I had pulled out to go to 220, so started making myself a note in my tumbling log so I wouldn't forget. I put them in a ziploc labeled "ready for 220 - need washing" or "washed - ready for 220". Since I started putting it in my tumbling log, I haven't forgotten about them! Of course, I just started doing that a few weeks ago after I discovered a gallon ziploc way back on the shelf ready for 220! Have no idea how long it had been there. llana
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 18, 2005 0:59:45 GMT -5
i feel better llana that i'm not the only one . i'm gonna have to make this a priority to gather up the ones ready to move on and MOVE ON. i have 5 barrels all on 60/90 lol. kim
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