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Post by gr on Oct 7, 2010 13:36:48 GMT -5
;D I use sawdust in my tumblers with plastic pellets to help thicken the slurry and cushion the stones in the begining. this works pretty well for me. I was wondering , if others have tried this and maybe glean a few tips from you. I don't use the s dust in the 80 grit stage because the slurry gets really thick and seems to slow down the process. Just a note, ( i haven't tried it sense ), I rolled a load of pet wood in 80 grit for 2 weeks and they were ready for the 220 stage but, I wanted to wash them in the barrel with just water for a couple of hours first. I thought to put in a couple cups of sawdust as a cushion and I thought mabey as a scrubbing agent as well. I got busy and forgot about what I had done. I didn't log it because it was only suppose to be a couple of hours. A week later I opened it up and thought where is the grey color I was use to seeing. Then I remembered! When I washed em up , I couldn't believe it, They were ready for 600 g. so I did- then cerium - then burnished and they came out great... Gary
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Post by rockrookie on Oct 8, 2010 14:59:36 GMT -5
interesting !! --paul
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Post by tanyafrench on Oct 8, 2010 15:10:03 GMT -5
Wow, if you have a ready supply for sawdust that sounds great. I'd love to see the results.
Tanya
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 11:24:35 GMT -5
Tanya, My wood shop is next to the my rock shop so sawdust is plentiful. If you wanted to try this, you could probably get all you need from a local cabinet shop. here are some of the stones (as requested), that came out of that run that the post was about. With flash without flash Need a different camara - one with macro settings. Shine could have been better but I've never had 800 or a1000g to this point. But it's comming! thanks for looking! Gary
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 9, 2010 11:37:10 GMT -5
Not too shabby. I've heard of the saw dust trick before, but have never tried it. I've heard that it should be hardwood dust, as pine and other soft woods contain resins. There's plenty of oak sawdust under my table saw. but a neighborhood raccoon sneaks in and uses it for his litter box.
Don
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Post by rockrookie on Oct 9, 2010 13:07:11 GMT -5
nice shine !! --paul
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 13:24:58 GMT -5
Don, Wonder what the deal is with resins? I haven't had a problem (that I know of), with using it in my tumbling stages. I don't have sticky stones when I clesn between stages. Anybody have any input to using pine sawdust ? This is just a theory -I think the grit imbeds itself in the wood fiber and acts as a carrying agent for the grit increasing the grinding action.
Gary
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 13:28:01 GMT -5
Don..... Mabey its time to shine that racoon!! Just a thought
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 9, 2010 13:43:07 GMT -5
As I said, I've never used sawdust. Just something I heard a long time ago.
I know I'll take heat from Texaswoodie, but I've got a bullet with that raccoons name on it. Just waiting for him to mess up and come walking out of my garage at the right time. lol
Don
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Oct 9, 2010 13:48:33 GMT -5
kasag4, you assumptions are partially correct, the sawdust does act as a carrier for the grid, it also acts as a cushion for the tumbling stones and as it disintegrates it creates a thick slurry.
The resins can stain stones, especially the lighter matrixes.
Dr Joe
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 14:27:14 GMT -5
Thanks, Dr. Joe!! Gary
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Post by tanyafrench on Oct 9, 2010 14:28:51 GMT -5
Those stones are very pretty. Kinda looks like some Flint Ridge Flint. Probably not since you are in Arizona but that is a real nice shine. I don't have any sawdust available or I might be tempted to try it. The only down side would be cleaning the sawdust off at the end of the tumble. When it is freezing here I could not go outside to clean it so I will stick with my grit for the time being. Maybe next summer. You keep up the good work. Tanya
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 14:33:29 GMT -5
Don... Try a little cayenne pepper on your sawdust pile. He'll get a little in that sensitive nose of his, -- he won't be back!
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 14:39:36 GMT -5
Tayna, Just a note - when you open-up tour barrel there won't be any sawdust left as the stones pulverize it into obliven.
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 9, 2010 14:41:08 GMT -5
I chased him out of the garage a while back with a pump up sprayer filled with homemade hot pepper, garlic and onion spray that I use to kill aphids on my flower beds. Fire crackers didn't scare him out, but one shot of that stuff in the face and he was gone. Don't want to use cayenne pepper, because my dog goes in there to catch field mice. Don
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Post by gr on Oct 9, 2010 14:55:10 GMT -5
Don, Sounds like a coonskin hat might be in your future -especially since winter is comming on! Pictures
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Post by jakesrocks on Oct 9, 2010 15:09:10 GMT -5
Nah, my wife collects ceramic raccoons. I'd have to have it stuffed and mounted for her.
Don
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