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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 13, 2008 7:43:33 GMT -5
::)Hi i am new to the site and this is my first posting.
I am new to vibro tumbling and i would like to vibro tumble small flat preforms of labradorite .Has anyone got any tips or recipes for me.
madagascan mark
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Post by Noosh9057 on Jun 13, 2008 8:45:56 GMT -5
Hi
Welcome to the site. Sorry I have never used a vibro tumbler.
Roger
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 13, 2008 9:00:31 GMT -5
I would go just a short while (maybe 12 hours) in 120, then move through 2 higher grits (e.g., 220F, 600), prepolish, and polish. I did some pieces of granite with flashes of labrodite in it. The did not needs special treatment. Possibly more massive labrodite could be a little more brittle. Like feldspar, it will tend to fracture at right angles.
Be sure to use lots of ceramic pellets. With flat preforms even more than usual are needed.
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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 13, 2008 9:27:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the info will plastic pellets be as good as ceramic and what do you recommend for prepolish and polish
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 13, 2008 10:12:45 GMT -5
No, plastic pellets are either useless or a hinderance in a vibe. They have no mass for the vibe to shake. Plastic is primarily to cushion and fill space in rotaries.
Ceramic allows you to fill the barrel and have it weigh what the counterweight and springs were designed for. THis means optimal vibe energy.
I use the 5/8 x 3/8 angle cut cylinders.
I only use AO polish from the rock shed. For pre-polish, I have use a 1000g AO, Tripoly, or 1200g SC for pre-polish. I think I like the 1200g best because it only takes a little bit and you can see it easily.
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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 13, 2008 10:20:53 GMT -5
Ok Thanks for that and my next question is does anyone know where i can buy the ceramic pellets from in the united kingdom.
thanks deb
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 13, 2008 18:00:48 GMT -5
One of the overseas guys will need to answer. But, pet shops have small ceramic hollow cylenders for use in fish filters, and you can always break up some unglazed ceramic tile and pre-tumble their rough edges off.
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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 14, 2008 13:20:59 GMT -5
Thanks i will wait and see if anyone comes up with anything
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 15, 2008 2:09:19 GMT -5
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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 15, 2008 2:45:22 GMT -5
Thanks jack
I find the cheapest place to buy plastic pellets are manchester minerals they are half the price of most in the uk I would be very interested in your vibe recipe i will send you an e mail.
Thanks for your help jack and do you have any experience of polishing labradorite in a vibro.
I polish quite a bit on my titan but i want to start vibing it and get similar results.
I will send you an e mail jack and thanks for your help.
madagascan mark
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Post by Noosh9057 on Jun 15, 2008 9:07:56 GMT -5
One of the overseas guys will need to answer. But, pet shops have small ceramic hollow cylenders for use in fish filters, and you can always break up some unglazed ceramic tile and pre-tumble their rough edges off. I think these would be very expensive to use. Roger |
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 15, 2008 11:20:31 GMT -5
Well as soon as cost got to be more than shipping a 20lbs flate-rate from the rockshed, then the answer would be obvious. Until then , failing to find a local seller of ceramic media, they would be the cheapest identified solution. But the source Jack gave does appear to sell ceramic media ( www.stonepolishing.co.uk/product-ceramic%20shapes-24.htm) - just make sure to get the non-abrasive ones. |
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Post by madagascanmark on Jun 15, 2008 12:19:01 GMT -5
Thanks guys for all the input and i will try the ceramic media
madagascan mark
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