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Post by akansan on May 12, 2007 17:30:19 GMT -5
Or maybe limping. Here's the first four off the first two wheels. My watering solution doesn't hit the 6" wheels as well as it does the 8" wheels. So until I irrigate the other wheels, and get my expandable drum attached, this is all I have to play with. BUT! It's great! The first two are ones I have sitting in a drawer of preforms. The second two are re-worked tumbles. I need to edit the Graveyard Plume a little. I'm not quite happy with it. Unknown  Hickoryite - I think  Graveyard Plume - I think  Unknown  Now for questions - I spent most of the time on the 220 wheel. My first wheel is a 50 grit - jadecarver was out of 80s at the time. I'm roughing it out on the 50 grit, basic shape only. Then I'm using the 220 for all additional shaping so far, including underside angle. Any hints? Do I need to pick up a 120 as an in between stage or should I just expect my 220 to wear out more quickly? |
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Post by freeform on May 12, 2007 20:14:19 GMT -5
Very cool there akansan, i really like that frist one. Reminds me of Tehoma jasper from Washington. Neat cloud patterns. I would concer on the second and third ID. That last one may be some type of Flame agate. All are very nice for you just getting started.
AS to your question, yes. 50 to 220 jump can be big mainly becsue of the size of the sratch that is made. But you can do that. I would expect the 220 not to last as long as it normally would. But that also depends on how abusive you can be in general, or the materials you are cutting.
I would recemend a 100 or 120 stage, will speed up your over all process and wont strain your 220 wheel. The change out could take time away when cabbing, but i dont think that is a concern. I shape on a 80 and refine on a 100 metal diamond. Then i sand using Silicon carbide belts from a worn 100 to a 1200.
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Post by joe on May 13, 2007 7:09:26 GMT -5
Those are nice! I really like the Hickoryite, it looks like candy.
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Post by mailman on May 13, 2007 7:40:10 GMT -5
Hi Ronda!! I like the graveyard. Glad to see you moving into the cabbing zone.
Don
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on May 13, 2007 11:42:25 GMT -5
The hyckoryte and the unknown are my favorites - great shapes and patterns!
Adrian
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Post by stoner on May 13, 2007 13:35:40 GMT -5
Very nice Ronda. It would be better to have a wheel in between the 50 and the 220, otherwise you'd be working too hard to get rid of the scratches from the 50. But you should do 95% of your shaping and doming on the 50g wheel, then use the 80 or 100 for the remaining 5%. Then the refining of the shape and dome can easily be done on the 220. Glad to see you finally got that grinder going.
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Post by krazydiamond on May 13, 2007 13:42:31 GMT -5
way to go, Arkansan! glad you are finally up and running. i would agree with freeform, get a 100/120 intermediate between the 50 and the 220, makes life easier on all the wheels.
KD
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jjckitti
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 775
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Post by jjckitti on May 13, 2007 17:37:49 GMT -5
I love that first unknown. great job.
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free4rms
freely admits to licking rocks
My little pet walrus
Member since January 2007
Posts: 839
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Post by free4rms on May 13, 2007 19:50:02 GMT -5
I agree with freeform, kd and stoner...an intermediate wheel would work well and save a lot of wear and tear on the 220. I am using an intermediate wheel that I have not heard mentioned on the forum before, and that is a Nova 140 grit. I have no idea where or when I bought it, but I came across it in my supply of old wheels and started using it again. Most people, myself included, usually go from a coarse 50 or 80 wheel for the grinding stage to a 220 for the first shaping wheel, but since I "re-discovered" my 140 Nova, I am now grinding and shaping on a 40 grit Turbine wheel from Crystalite, and then going directly to the Nova 140. This wheel is surprisingly aggressive and will grind quite well for a Nova. The added advantage is that since a Nova "gives" as you press on it, it will grind *and* shape at the same time. While effectively acting as a grinding wheel, it shapes well enough that it saves some time on the 220.
As most of us know by now, there is more than one way to skin an agate, and not everyone uses the same sequence of wheels. So, I just wanted to throw in a vote for the oddball 140 Nova, if anyone wants to give one a try some time.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on May 16, 2007 9:14:56 GMT -5
Another solution is to use a 80 or 100 grit belt on the expandable drum- the course SiC belts are pretty cheap and would cut very nicly after a 50g diamond! just food for thought-
Nice cabs BTW
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on May 16, 2007 21:10:19 GMT -5
Good job Ronda, I have but one question, Where are the rest??
Thought I had replied before this but guess I got distracted and clicked away.
Spike
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Post by beefjello on May 17, 2007 22:31:00 GMT -5
Nice job!
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