10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Jun 18, 2009 15:52:57 GMT -5
My current set of lapidary equipment is as follows:
3 Rotary tumblers (3A, 33B, QT6) 1 – Workforce 7” tile saw 1 – Rock Rascal 6” trim saw 1 – Diamond Pacific GP-6 (20+ years old) Expando (2x320 SiC, 2x400 SiC, 2x600 Sic) 100 SiC wheel (fading fast after hours of use) 200 SiC wheel (like new) Polishing head with old foam pad and a leather disk
I'm torn as to what I should be saving up for next. I can produce decent results with what I have but it takes quite a while and the quality is limited by my 600grit max. Do I improve the tools or do I just buy more material that I can't bring to its ultimate shine? I'm honestly leaning toward material because it's still fun even if the results aren't outstanding.
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Jun 18, 2009 17:32:05 GMT -5
I voted for you to get the 80 grit diamond hard wheel, but I'd be following up with diamond belts - probably beyond what you have in SiC (like 1200, 3000, maybe 8000- good pre-polish prep stuff) too.
Soon enough the 200 SiC wheel will wear out...
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Jun 18, 2009 19:38:43 GMT -5
I would love a vibe tumbler.
|
|
|
Post by sitnwrap on Jun 18, 2009 20:17:20 GMT -5
I clicked on the 80 grit and feel the same as rallyrocks about the belts. If you are having this much fun now, think of how much fun you will have when you can bring them to that ultra shine.
I just bought an 80 grit brazed diamond wheel and she grinds like a dream. Working my way to the belts but while waiting it is a lot of fun grinding on a wheel that does a perfect job.
|
|
|
Post by akansan on Jun 18, 2009 21:44:32 GMT -5
I vote 80 grit diamond. There are plenty of decent diamond wheels out there that don't cost a fortune that would easily run on your current cabbing machine. Go with one of those and then use the rest on rough. The diamond belts would be nice, but the real time-killer with SiC is the first (and second) stage. Cut those down and SiC belts should work a lot better!
|
|
|
Post by catmandewe on Jun 18, 2009 22:16:52 GMT -5
Go with the 80 grit diamond wheel. Next should be the expando drum set or a vibe, depending on how you want to finish your cabs. I sent you a pm.
Tony
|
|
pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
|
Post by pebblepup on Jun 19, 2009 0:16:12 GMT -5
I bought a 80 grit diamond wheel from jadecarver.com a while back. It has been one of the best tools I ever purchased; it really speed up the rough shaping of cabs.
|
|
highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
|
Post by highplainsdrifter on Jun 19, 2009 9:05:36 GMT -5
I voted for diamond pre-polishing belts. I would however recommend a 1200 grit Nova wheel and maybe a 3000 grit. You can get a pretty good polish after the 1200.
After all the work of slabbing, pre-forming, doming, sanding and fine-sanding It's a shame to not be able to finish up with a good pre-polish and polish.
I think you'll get much more enjoyment once you're pulling awesomely polished stones off the wheels.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Jun 19, 2009 15:21:02 GMT -5
I voted for diamond pre-polishing belts. I would however recommend a 1200 grit Nova wheel and maybe a 3000 grit. You can get a pretty good polish after the 1200. I've see the pictures of the work that you post HPD so I hold your opinion in high regard. I only have room for two wheels on the GP6 currently. I could possibly squeeze one more wheel in and still have room to mount the polishing head on the end of the arbor but it would be really tight. I'd have to add a splitter to one of the water lines though. Maybe I could swap out the expando occasionally? You're really tantalizing me toward joining a rock club and using their genies! Then I could spend my money on material...
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Jun 19, 2009 16:38:11 GMT -5
Sometime back Stoner gave me some good advice about getting damond wheels. I bought an 80 and 220 from Jadecarver. Knowing the man and knowing his cabs, I would have been a fool not to have taken his advice. Not only are they good for shaping the cabs, but also for pre-shaping rocks for tumbling. Good for the diamond wheels.
Condor
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Jun 22, 2009 13:55:10 GMT -5
The verdict is in. I denied all conventional wisdom and purchased material. I purchased my first slabs ever from Tony/ Catmandewe/ www.idahorockshop.com and MaryAnn & Ralph /StonesthatRock / www.stonesthatrock.net last Thursday. I have vowed not to remove any stone from the dop until I've maximized the polish though. So I'll be picking up another 10 feet of dowel rods from the hardware store and cutting them into 4" sections so lack of dop sticks doesn't curtail productivity in the mean time.
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Jun 23, 2009 19:08:23 GMT -5
eventually you will come around to following the advice we've offered, in the mean time at least you won't run out of stuff to work on.
But the fact is, especially on any harder material- you simply will never "maximize the polish" until you start using diamond belts at 1200, 3000, and 8000 before going either to an oxide polish, or on to 14,000 and 50,000 diamond- going from even a well worn 600 SiC to Polish is going to be leaving scratches...
|
|