Screw Up that "Worked"

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susand24224
driving up their electric bill

Member since June 2009
Posts: 2,389

Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 17, 2010 20:39:44 GMT -5

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Post by susand24224 on Jan 17, 2010 20:39:44 GMT -5

Due to more than usual absent-mindedness, I screwed up the last batch of Mohs 7 rocks to go into the tumbler. Without giving the gory details, suffice it to say that I mixed together some that were ready for polish with some that were ready for 120/220.

Surprise! They all polished, except for a few small pieces that *may* have been softer--I'm not sure what they were and they were too small for the scratch test.

I've read that if you leave 60/90 running long enough due to breakdown, you can go straight to polish. I've never quite believed it and never tried it, at least intentionally. However, the 120/220 grit batch would have been in 60/90 no longer a week after new grit was added--I doubt this is long enough for the 60/90 to be the functional equivalent of 500, but who knows?

Even the slabs polished--go figure. I don't plan to do this on a regular basis and consider this success the reverse of Murphy's law. But the next time I run out of 120/200 with easy-polish Mohs 7 stuff I may just plow ahead to 500.

Sorry, no photos unless I find a working 3.5 floppy to fit my aging Sony Mavica. Even Wal-Mart looks at me like I'm a dinasour when I ask about them--

sitnwrap gets rocks for Christmas Member since March 2008 Posts: 5,004	Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 18, 2010 0:07:42 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by sitnwrap on Jan 18, 2010 0:07:42 GMT -5 I don't tumble but you put a have-to-read title on your thread. Glad it came out shiny and most of walmart's employees are dinosaurs themselves; at least the one near me.

parfive no longer being taken for granite Member since August 2005 Posts: 9,615	Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 18, 2010 2:13:23 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by parfive on Jan 18, 2010 2:13:23 GMT -5 Susan – I skip the 120/220 stage every time. Waste of a week in my book. Here’s another screw-up (experiment) that worked. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=29736 Rich
	Consider the Earth’s history as the old measure of the English yard, the distance from the King’s nose to the tip of his outstretched hand. One stroke of a nail file on his middle finger erases human history. John McPhee - Basin and Range

NorthShore-Rocks fully equipped rock polisher Member since December 2008 Posts: 1,004	Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 18, 2010 8:52:45 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jan 18, 2010 8:52:45 GMT -5 Thanks to Rich, I don't use a 120/220 stage either anymore.

susand24224
driving up their electric bill

Member since June 2009
Posts: 2,389

Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 18, 2010 13:18:26 GMT -5

Quote

Post by susand24224 on Jan 18, 2010 13:18:26 GMT -5

Thanks, Rich, for the link to the other thread. After contemplating this a bit, I don't see how 120/220 isn't "back tracking" so to speak. Most, if not all, of my 60/90 is broken down past that point when I take the rocks out of 60/90 so it seems that skipping that step not only works, but should work better.

I haven't quite accepted skipping 500 though. Does anyone know the uniformity of the 60/90 grit breakdown?

Has anyone tried skipping 500 with softer rocks? (I usually do 1000 on "softers" as well.

Sure will be nice to skip at least one step.

frane misunderstood rock expert Member since July 2008 Posts: 11,015	Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 19, 2010 19:23:49 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by frane on Jan 19, 2010 19:23:49 GMT -5 Well good for you! I am glad it worked out well! Fran

MyNewHobby driving up their electric bill Member since January 2009 Posts: 2,282	Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 19, 2010 19:26:26 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by MyNewHobby on Jan 19, 2010 19:26:26 GMT -5 Susan .... cannot wait to see pictures!! Sounds like it worked out well for the most part!!! Nice Job!! Julie
	You can stare at a rock for hours and never see the same thing twice.

snuffy
Cave Dweller

Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319

Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 19, 2010 20:02:06 GMT -5

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Post by snuffy on Jan 19, 2010 20:02:06 GMT -5

Susan, in my Lortone 12 lb'er, I normally run a couple of weeks in coarse,the one I have going now is the third recharge. I let the last recharge run for 3 weeks, and go to polish,which is reused polish,for 2 weeks.This is pet wood and agates.I agree with the others that 120 is a waste of grit. All I buy for the rotaries is coarse grit.

snuffy

susand24224
driving up their electric bill

Member since June 2009
Posts: 2,389

Screw Up that "Worked" Jan 19, 2010 23:32:41 GMT -5

Quote

Post by susand24224 on Jan 19, 2010 23:32:41 GMT -5

Thanks all for your input. I'm still contemplating this--I am quite comfortable with skipping 120/220 on all rocks, but am now wondering whether recharging every seven days is waaaay too long. The rocks I "screwed up" were in the last 60/90 recharge for seven days. Thinking about it, I never really can "feel" grit after seven days unless I am running a load with ceramic shapes and some borax or soap.

Perhaps the answer on the ones that I know will take 3-4 weeks in 60/90 the answer is to recharge every few days, then when they are about ready let them run a few weeks.

I wish I had stepped out of this box sooner--Rich and Snuffy, you are making perfect sense.

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Screw Up that "Worked"

Post by susand24224 on Jan 17, 2010 20:39:44 GMT -5

Post by sitnwrap on Jan 18, 2010 0:07:42 GMT -5

Post by parfive on Jan 18, 2010 2:13:23 GMT -5

Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jan 18, 2010 8:52:45 GMT -5

Post by susand24224 on Jan 18, 2010 13:18:26 GMT -5

Post by frane on Jan 19, 2010 19:23:49 GMT -5

Post by MyNewHobby on Jan 19, 2010 19:26:26 GMT -5

Post by snuffy on Jan 19, 2010 20:02:06 GMT -5

Post by susand24224 on Jan 19, 2010 23:32:41 GMT -5

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