duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by duke on Jun 26, 2008 8:20:31 GMT -5
Hi...does anyone have any experience with using the ceramic media? If so, what size do you use? I see there are about 3 diff sizes of media. Is the larger media for larger rocks? I have a 12 lb and 2-6 lb rotary tumblers and usually try and polish the larger (2") size rocks, with a few smaller sizes mixed in.
Also, is the ceramic media more for the vibrator tumblers or rotary? And do you use it in ALL stages of polishing?
Thanks for any help you may give.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 26, 2008 9:35:55 GMT -5
I use the 5/32" x 5/16" non-abrasive ceramic cylinders. In rotary tumblers you can fill the drum 2/3 full of rock and add ceramics to 3/4 full. In vibes you can use anywhere from that amount to 1/2 ceramics depending on what you are doing. I also use them to fill small loads. You can use them in all steps and wash out with the rocks as they don't embed with grit.
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Jun 26, 2008 14:10:41 GMT -5
I use them frequently in my vibes .They are very good especially for cabs and slabs since they keep them separated;otherwise the flat sides stick together and do not get worked properly.I like the smaller angled cylinders best,but a mix may be the way to go.Mike.
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Post by Toad on Jun 28, 2008 10:06:02 GMT -5
Like John, I like the angle cut cylinders (Kingsley North has two sizes). I use some of each in the rotary for the initial 60/90 grind. Then I switch to ceramic beads in the vibe.
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 29, 2008 19:41:36 GMT -5
I use the angle cut 3/8 x 5/8 - they are easier to pick out, and eventually some of them get smaller. I HATE the little balls.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Jul 1, 2008 16:30:36 GMT -5
I use a combination of two differrent shapes of ceramic media, broken tempered glass shards, marbles, and polished stones too small to do anything with. I call it my secret formula tumbling media. The ceramic media is the 3/8 x 5/8 cylinders with angled ends and some odd triangle shapes I picked up at harbor frieght. The marbles are what was left over from my kids and garage sales. Marbles only last about 4-6 months. The tempered glass is from scratched panels from my glass cube display for shows. I'm thinking of calling auto glass replacement companies and ask if I can dump out their shop vacs the use to vacuum out broken car windows. I wonder how many times I'll get hung up on...
I use this mix in my vibe tumblers but I don't see why it wouldn't work for the rotaries. When a batch comes out of the polish vibe I dump the media into an ice cream bucket. That way when I'm starting a new batch in the grit vibe tumbler I have good polished media to start with. I only add new stuff to the grit vibe tumbler. Except for marbles. Marbles aren't going to affect the polish.
Rick
Rick
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 2, 2008 8:57:12 GMT -5
I saw Rick's polish results last weekend. I finally go rid of the white/red cane as the blinding was only temporary.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Jul 2, 2008 10:51:08 GMT -5
Thanks John. But a lot of the credit goes to you after you patiently straightened me out on vibe tumbling. It was good seeing you and your wife again!
Rick
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