sunfighter
starting to shine!
Member since January 2009
Posts: 47
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Post by sunfighter on Jan 8, 2009 17:00:09 GMT -5
Hummm....the subject of plastic media.pellets...decisions decisions decision...which one to choice!?!!! I am thumbing through the Rio Grand tools & equipment catalog and looking at the selections for plastic media and just not sure what to buy. I just initiated my first tumble( 3lb rotary) with rock, coarse grit, water and no other media. I am wanting to buy a plastic media for the eventual next stages but what exactly to buy. Any suggestions? I am tumbling small slabs around 3/8 inch width. Thanks everyone.
Cid
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 8, 2009 17:02:04 GMT -5
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Post by akansan on Jan 8, 2009 17:30:22 GMT -5
What ^^ he said.
But I've also purchased the pellets used for stuffing toys as well.
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 8, 2009 18:05:26 GMT -5
I also use the plastic pellets from TheRockShed: www.therockshed.com/grit.html (go to the very bottom) Remember that you can reuse plastic pellets, especially if you wash them after each stage (with the rocks) and save them to be used again in that stage. I've got jars labelled "Used pellets for pre-polish" and "Used pellets for polish". So they can last a long time. No need to sweat this decision - I'm sure whatever you choose will work fine! Go for it. |
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1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
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Post by 1rockhound on Jan 8, 2009 18:20:38 GMT -5
Make sure that you purchase pellets that float or you will not have a fun time picking them out.
Jason
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sunfighter
starting to shine!
Member since January 2009
Posts: 47
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Post by sunfighter on Jan 8, 2009 18:57:59 GMT -5
thanks everyone!
Cid
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sunfighter
starting to shine!
Member since January 2009
Posts: 47
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Post by sunfighter on Jan 8, 2009 19:14:19 GMT -5
Ok Jim where the hell are you? I'm in Eugene, OR.
Cid
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Jan 9, 2009 6:12:14 GMT -5
For sure get pellets that float - like Rock Shed. I use a gold pan to float them off and it works great.
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 9, 2009 8:03:22 GMT -5
fanatic: would you describe your method for separating out the pellets after a tumble/rinse? I have a hard time with that.
Here is the best technique I've developed: I put a stopper in the kitchen sink and get about 4" of water in there. I dump out my barrel into a round strainer (purchased from TheRockShed, the kind that fits onto the rim of a 5 gallon bucket) and rinse them very well outside under a fast-running faucet. I then submerge the pellet/rock mix in the sink. The pellets float. I use a tea strainer (a small hand strainer) to skim off the pellets and put them in a jar. I get most of the pellets that way. Then I take out the rocks and inspect them and move them on. At the end, I use the strainer to grab any remaining pellets.
But I'm sure there are better methods. Any help?
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on Jan 9, 2009 9:44:36 GMT -5
I usually buy mine from local fabric stores (such as JoAnn's Fabrics). They are sold for bean bags or stuffed animals. They are slightly cheaper mainly because one does not have to pay shipping and sometimes they go on sale. Polypropylene/polyethylene are the ones that float. I use a method like EJS's to separate them.
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Jan 9, 2009 12:27:26 GMT -5
grrrrr....let me try this again. my login timed out before I hit the button.
I use a gravy strainer, 5 gallon buckets of water, and a gold pan or two. Dump the full barrel into the strainer - while its over a bucket of course. Sink the strainer into the water, but not so deep it goes under or your pellets will float off. Agitate by shaking or with your fingers to clean. use your barrel to dump water from the bucket back through the strainer. repeat until they are clean. This method also gives you a jump on getting the barrel cleaned. When I'm satisfied I move to a bucket with cleaner water and repeat until I'm more satisfied. Dump it all into a gold pan, add water, and agitate. The pellets float up to the top and I sluff (technical term hehehe) them off into the strainer. Add water and repeat until all the pellets are in the strainer and the rocks appear to be clean. I use separate buckets for SiC, Al2O3, and burnish, no good reason why as I NEVER reuse grit, but I don't mess with separating the SiC grit sizes.
I'm always comfortable with a gold pan in my hand. Having your rocks covered with water in a gold pan also makes them easy to inspect. Any possible SiC you have missed usually falls to the bottom of the pan.
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randy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by randy on Jan 10, 2009 13:44:33 GMT -5
Hmm...I use the ceramic media from The Rock Shed as I am lazy and I don't have to keep the filler seperate and it is really easy to pick out of the batch when the time comes. One guys thoughts.
Randy
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 10, 2009 16:32:59 GMT -5
Randy: I use ceramic media as filler and to increase the grinding action on the rough and medium stages. I use the plastic pellets in the pre-polish and polish to help cushion the load and prevent breaking/chipping (and improve polishing action). So I see the cermic and the plastic as serving different purposes: ceramic helps to grind, while plastic helps to cushion. But that's just me!
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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 11, 2009 16:36:33 GMT -5
Well, I'm a weird bird and use plastic tile spacers. Much less expensive than the pellets and much easier to retrieve after a tumble.
And they last a lot longer than the pellets.
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