quickquestion
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 5
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Post by quickquestion on Mar 24, 2008 17:41:28 GMT -5
Hey ya'll, I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum but it seemed the most appropriate as I'm wanting to create a cab, just don't know how.
So a couple of days ago I was out walking and found a nice rock. It's nothing special but I got the idea to cut off the outsides and cube it, then shine it up with a tumbler.
Couple of problems arise from that:
1) How would I cut the rock? I'm not sure where it rates on Mohr's Scale but would I just have to get a band saw and start cutting through it? Would that work? I can scratch it with stainless steel but something still screams "good way to ruin a blade!" at me.
2) What kind of tumbler? I'm assuming a round tumbler would round off the edges of the theoretical cube I would make with the saw but would a vibratory tumbler preserve the shape? And if not, how much mass would I lose if any?
3) Would it be possible to make a vibratory tumbler for cheaper than buying one? They're very expensive ($100+) and, as a college student, I don't have that kind of money to throw away but I could salvage some parts off various odds and ends and I'm thinking I could make one, though I'm not an electrical engineer (or an engineer at all lol) or anything like that.
Thanks for ya'lls help.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 24, 2008 18:08:51 GMT -5
A band saw won't cut it, but you can cut it with a Workforce tile saw (wetsaw) from Home Depot, they run less than $100. In a vibe, it will still come out looking like a cube, with the edges smoothed out a little. Are you doing this just to polish the one rock or do you plan on getting in to this? By the time you get the saw, grit, and tumbler, you'll already have over $300 invested, and the rock in question might not be tumble-grade material. Not all rocks will shine (as I found out for myself).
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quickquestion
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 5
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Post by quickquestion on Mar 24, 2008 20:36:50 GMT -5
I don't think I'd get too heavily into it. I really don't know, never done it before. I love the way tumbled rocks look but I really have no practical reason or requirement for it other than just something I wanted to do for fun/see how it turns out.
Oh and by the by, nice bike. One of my other hobbies.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 24, 2008 20:51:17 GMT -5
Thanks! ..... 95% of us here do the rock thing purely for fun. This guy has some great tumblers.... www.therockshed.com |
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quickquestion
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 5
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Post by quickquestion on Mar 24, 2008 21:13:56 GMT -5
Are there other sites like that one? I'm thinking I should probably just buy what I want instead of making it due to the large initial costs. The one you listed had pretty reasonable prices (where as the ones I'm coming up with on Google are...not so reasonable) unfortunately they didn't have what I want.
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Post by stoner on Mar 24, 2008 21:18:53 GMT -5
If you're just looking for a cab, I have plenty to choose from!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 24, 2008 21:21:26 GMT -5
The vibratory tumbler that I use I got from him, it's the Thumlers UV-10. I've been using it steadily for going on three years with no problems. It's the best on the market!! Kingsley north sells them too, but I don't think that they will have any better deals. I do not recommend the Raytech!! (problems) .... kingsleynorth.com/lapidary.html |
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Mar 24, 2008 21:46:13 GMT -5
I am not sure if you are talking about a cube or a square cab. If you want a cube and you are not sure if you want to get into rocks per say maybe you could rent a tile saw(you can here at al the local tool rental places) cut it and then buy different grits of wet/dry sand paper. 80 grit 150, 800, 1200, 4000. and do it by hand. A couple of sheets of each should do it as it sounds like it's on the soft side. This would keep the edges and not cost a lot. Of course it will take a while. You would be trading money for time.
Just a thought.
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quickquestion
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 5
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Post by quickquestion on Mar 24, 2008 22:54:39 GMT -5
I'm wanting a cube that's polished up like a cab. Actually, I'm wanting a few cubes to stack up.
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Post by Tony W on Mar 24, 2008 23:45:03 GMT -5
Well, a way that would work with a little elbow grease is to get some grit, put it on a pane of glass and polish in a figure 8 motion... and for a change of pace go in circles  Get a grit kit from Rock Shed (buy from them... may as well start out with the best) and go to town while you are watching tv. Get the Home Depot tile saw for 88 or so and a grit kit... your in for a bit over a c note. Cut your cube and polish it on glass by hand. T |
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quickquestion
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 5
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Post by quickquestion on Mar 25, 2008 0:00:44 GMT -5
Not sure I follow what you mean. Take a shard of glass, sprinkle the dust on it, then use that like sand paper?
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Post by Tony W on Mar 25, 2008 0:53:34 GMT -5
Yeah, like a window pane. Tape the edges so you don't run the risk of cutting yourself. Then put some 80 or 120 grit down with a drop of water and a drop of dishwashing detergent to bind it together then grind your flat sides (which you have from careful cutting with the tile saw) until they are nice and even, then go to 500 grit to grind out the scratches, the on to pre polish, and then polish, or what ever sequence your grit kit has. Get four panes of glass so you can keep using the grits until they are all broken down. Be careful not to cross contaminate. Wash your stone between grits. You can probably get some foot square glass panes for a few bucks each.
I'm teaching my self rock collage (intarsia) and I've been grinding the sides, that get glued together, like this, and it works pretty quick. I haven't used polish on glass, but I don't know why you couldn't. I know the rough grind works from experience though. Tony
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Post by Woodyrock on Mar 25, 2008 1:55:24 GMT -5
The least expensive way to make your cube would, be to join a local club. A lot of clubs have work shops with equipment, and instructors. Even if your local club does not have a shop, there would most likely be some one to take you under their wing and teach you the whole process. This way, you are not expending money heedlessly. The school you are attending may well have a lapidary club, and that would be a very good avenue to take. Just be aware that this is an addictive hobby. Like many things in life being shown how to do something can be a whole lot easier than trying to learn on ones own.
Woodyrock
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Post by akansan on Mar 25, 2008 16:00:55 GMT -5
If you're just wanting to test the waters, you might also see about renting a wet tile saw. Just be sure the saw has a diamond blade. The blade is one of the reasons why we recommend the WorkForce tile saw so highly - a good starter blade that lasts quite a few hours. But if you can scratch it with steel, then it's probably too soft to easily get a high polish on in a tumbler anyway. Softer stones generally require more of a hand polish, so the pane of glass might be your best option anyway.
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Get a grit kit from Rock Shed (buy from them... may as well start out with the best) and go to town while you are watching tv. Get the Home Depot tile saw for 88 or so and a grit kit... your in for a bit over a c note. Cut your cube and polish it on glass by hand. T
