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Post by MyNewHobby on Jul 31, 2009 12:07:07 GMT -5
Good Morning!
So far I have been using plastic pellets for cushioning and fill.
Is there a real and significant difference between plastic versus ceramic and is this difference something to think about when it comes to rotaries versus vibes?
Thanks Bunches!
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 31, 2009 12:40:49 GMT -5
Hi Julie - I've read on here that the plastics don't do well in a vibe, because they float. I've used both, and I like the ceramics better - they act just like the rocks, but they don't hurt the rocks, and they do spread the grit around better. I like them better in the rotators also.
Just MHO.
Tom
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Jul 31, 2009 14:20:15 GMT -5
Is there a real and significant difference between plastic versus ceramic and is this difference something to think about when it comes to rotaries versus vibes? Ceramics are good for topping off your load and increasing your surface contact, especially if you're tumbling material with flat planes like preforms or cabs. It's not for cushioning though. It's too hard. I'm not sure where it sits on the Mohs scale but I believe its at least a 5 or 6. Ceramics beat the heck out of one of my obsidian tumbles so I imagine they could rough up chyscolla or any other soft stones. I've read on here that the plastics don't do well in a vibe, because they float. I would think that if your plastics are floating it would be a clear indication that you have too much water in your vib. I have used them in the vib with obsidian and they worked fine. |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 31, 2009 14:33:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm with 10thumbs. The ceramic pellets are pretty hard but are a good filler in the vibe or rotary and really help with cushioning the load and increasing the surface contact. They seem to carry grit well too as they're a tiny bit rough surfaced. Plastic pellets floating are no good either and won't be effective cushions unless the slurry is thick enough to help them stick to the stones. Less water would be indicated if they are floating....Mel
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Jul 31, 2009 14:43:35 GMT -5
This just made my day! One of the ultimate lapidary kung-fu masters agreed with me. So I can talk the talk, now if only I could walk the walk.  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2009 15:19:56 GMT -5
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Post by MyNewHobby on Jul 31, 2009 16:35:35 GMT -5
Thanks all!!
I had not heard of the floating issue before. Makes perfect sense. The bulk of my pellets so seem to love to climb up the side of the bowl .... and pretty much stay there. So in essence they are useless.
Well .... ceramic versus plastic it is!!
Thanks Again
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 31, 2009 17:55:07 GMT -5
"I would think that if your plastics are floating it would be a clear indication that you have too much water in your vib."
In the vibe, my experience has been that often the plastic pellets will tend to climb the walls of the bowl and stay there, rather than staying down and tumbling with the rest of the batch. Not "float" per se. Of course, in a rotator, I have no opportunity to see what they're doing, as there's no window ;D but I do use them in the rotator, along with ceramics. Only problem I've had with that is that it kinda complicates the process of cleaning and separating after the run.
Tom
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Aug 4, 2009 11:15:00 GMT -5
In the vibe, my experience has been that often the plastic pellets will tend to climb the walls of the bowl and stay there, rather than staying down and tumbling with the rest of the batch. I have a bunch of chryscolla in 500 grit now in the vib. A few off plastic pellets climb the side but most are working. In my limited personal experience they only really cling or coat the sides when the batch starts to get too dry. |
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Post by frane on Aug 4, 2009 12:12:26 GMT -5
Hi Julie,
I have to add a little something different here. In the vibe, as well as the tumblers, I have started using a combination of plastic pellets and tile spacers that you get from the local home improvement store. They are in several different sizes and I mix them up and add them to the pellets. Seems to improve my surface contact and adds cushioning when needed. The plastic pellets will walk up the vibe bowl but it does it less with the added tile spacers. In the TV-5 that I have it does not seem to matter on water content, still walks up the sides.
Fran
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 4, 2009 15:43:17 GMT -5
Fran, are the tile spacers you are using made of rubber, plastic, or something else? The only thing my Home Depot has are rubber spacers, and I just figured out they are doing more harm than good. I would like to find a source for plastic, bakelite, or even ceramic tile spacers.
Tom
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