|
|
Post by MyNewHobby on Nov 15, 2009 18:18:59 GMT -5
Hi all!!
Do lakers need to be cut before tossed into a vibe?
Or .... do they not need to be cut, but have to be in a rotary?
I am trying to get together another vibe batch, but would really like to do my first batch if lakers.
As always
Julie
|
|
|
|
Post by superioragates on Nov 15, 2009 18:45:41 GMT -5
I am not sure about the vibe Julie, but my experience with them is in the rotaries. It is best if you at least grind them down as smooth as you can, or you will be in the tumbling process forever! Some of the recent ones I just pulled out of the rotary were tumbling all summer long, and still aren't where I wanted them to be, but they are close. A couple of them in that batch were in the first ones I did, like 3 or 4 months ago. I just kept putting them back in to tumble some more, recharging the grit all the time. Long story short, unless ya wanna be at it forever and a day, grind out all the bad spots, nicks, crevices, and pits, you will be much happier in the end, all around.
Just my 2 cents worth! LOL
Marie
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Nov 15, 2009 19:46:34 GMT -5
What Marie said. Lakers are so hard that if you're not using a rotary, grinding out the bad spots will shorten processing.
|
|
NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
|
Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Nov 16, 2009 8:23:26 GMT -5
Any clean up you can do before tumbling can be a big help down the road. To me, it seems, the more time I spend up front, the better the batch. Lay a good foundation and the rest is cake. Also, a well placed cut may reveal beauty the exterior doesn't show. I'm not sure what size you have to tumble, but the bigger you have, the more likely they have natural fractures. I'm trying to utilize those fractured rocks by taking them to the tile saw and removing the bad areas, cutting right in the fracture, etc. The tile saw is also great for rounding off edges from cuts and giving you a jump start on the shaping process. Good Luck!  |
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Nov 16, 2009 8:57:47 GMT -5
Steve speaks an important truth here. The saw can help out alot. Just like cutting a preshaped cab, you can cut a preshaped tumble. Julie has some of the small and medium sized ones that you gave me in the first batch Steve. I cut many in half for her already.
|
|
|
|
Post by MyNewHobby on Nov 16, 2009 19:13:51 GMT -5
Hi All!
Great advice on all fronts.
I will try both ... putting some of the smaller ones in the rotary and just letting it go until I get what I want and ....
I will hand pick the bigger ones to cut up and will take it from there.
I think that it sounds like doing it both ways, I will get some really pretty stuff.
As always
Julie
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Nov 16, 2009 21:14:18 GMT -5
Aw man, where was this post two weeks ago? I just went through 4 days in a vibe with a batch of lakers changing the grit each day. I gave up stuck them in a rotary over the weekend for the long haul. Thwy looked pretty good after the vibe but it was obvious they needed a bit more shaping. Great idea using the saw to get them ready.
Steve
|
|
