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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 21, 2012 23:22:09 GMT -5
Shame they don't take paypal. I'd order a couple more tonight, just to have them.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Feb 22, 2012 1:15:54 GMT -5
You guys are impressing the h$ll out of me. Man, I'm drooling over that new one, it looks magnificent. Can't wait to see it completed and working. One of these days I'm going to have to make me one....
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 22, 2012 2:05:14 GMT -5
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Feb 22, 2012 2:10:56 GMT -5
www.ebay.com/itm/380411137871They sell the motors on ebay too! I think they cost a little bit more than if you buy directly from their website because of shipping and handling fees but they do take paypal. I just ordered 3 off of ebay for spares. I'm still working on the polishing. The sphere does not want to rotate randomly while polishing so I find I have to apply some pressure to the sphere with my finger. Must be an easier way but haven't figured it out yet.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 22, 2012 9:14:22 GMT -5
Your link is to the Surplus Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Didn't know they were on ebay. Same price as their online catalog too. I'll order a couple spares today.
On my little 2 head machine, there's an attachment with a hard felt tip which puts pressure on the sphere. I've never had to use it.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Feb 27, 2012 1:22:43 GMT -5
I've been working on the polishing for a while now. I'm using the velcro backed polishing pads like shown at the bottom of this web page: www.sphereheaven.com/equipment.htmHere's my version where I "temporarily" put 3 extra layers of velcro on the rubber backing pad to increase the thickness around the edge. You have to click on the picture to start the video.  Seems to work OK although I probably need a more permanent solution because the little velcro bits tend to fall off after a while. Here's the polished mahogonny/midnight lace sphere and jasper sphere (dry).  I used 200, 400, 800, 1500, and 3000 grit diamond pads. The jasper sphere seems to have a few areas which do not want to polish as much. When I look closely at the obsidian sphere, I can see some scratches and what looks like a fine criss-cross pattern of "crazing" which do not want to go away no matter how much polishing I do. Do I need to use finer diamond pads or maybe felt or leather pads with some sort of polishing compound? |
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 27, 2012 9:44:53 GMT -5
By 3000 grit, you shouldn't see any scratches. If they are just very fine scratches, I'd go back to around the 800 grit and run them through again. Be sure you clean everything real good between stages to avoid any cross contamination.
Since I'm going to use bell reducers for grinding cups, I'm going to have a separate set that will be covered with leather for polishing with cerium oxide.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Feb 27, 2012 11:52:56 GMT -5
Especially with obsidian, the rubber in the diamond pads can be too hard and will leave marks on the sphere. Follow up with leather and polish and that faint crazing should go away. Harder rocks, like jasper, don't have this problem and you can do a full polish with diamond pads.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Mar 5, 2012 23:17:27 GMT -5
Here's a picture of the labradorite sphere after the polishing sequence. It actually has a pretty decent polish but the material has a lot of fractures. I just got 6000 and 8000 grit pads so I might give them a try. I also have 3 more preforms ready to go.  |
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sdgoldpanner
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 226
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Post by sdgoldpanner on Mar 6, 2012 12:23:57 GMT -5
By 3000 grit, you shouldn't see any scratches. If they are just very fine scratches, I'd go back to around the 800 grit and run them through again. Be sure you clean everything real good between stages to avoid any cross contamination. Since I'm going to use bell reducers for grinding cups, I'm going to have a separate set that will be covered with leather for polishing with cerium oxide. Don, FYI, I use a PVC Adaptor with a leather belt wound up inside. Works great for polishing. i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h337/sdgoldpanner/01-3.jpg |
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 29, 2012 11:48:14 GMT -5
Just a quick update. With the early spring, my days have been busy with dropping and cutting up dead trees. Haven't had time to finish my wiring yet.
For those who bought motors from the Surplus Center. If you like to tinker with things like I do, I'd suggest getting their hard copy catalog. Lots of neat stuff. Lots of motors that could find lapidary uses.
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getyourbone
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 44
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Post by getyourbone on Apr 18, 2012 21:53:15 GMT -5
Just thought I would pass this along in case it has some relevance or gives other ideas. Ran across it while looking up resurfacing diamond wheels... hsmproducts.com/default.aspxBowling and lapidary...who would have thunk there was a connection? |
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getyourbone
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 44
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Post by getyourbone on Apr 20, 2012 9:38:28 GMT -5
Guess I screwed up copying the link into the last post somhow   hsmproducts.comSorry for the confusion... |
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 11:01:33 GMT -5
That machine might work for the last couple stages of grinding, and polishing. But you would still need a dedicated sphere machine to accomplish the rough grinding. Remember, with this machine you're already starting out with a sphere (bowling ball). When grinding a sphere from stone, you're starting out with a cube with a few extra cuts, and just the sharp edges and points ground off. Still a long way from being a sphere. I seriously doubt if this machine could handle the required rough grinding.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Apr 28, 2012 1:43:33 GMT -5
I haven't played around too much with the sphere machine lately. I managed to polish the jasper sphere with the diamond polishing pads up to 8000grit. I'll try polishing the obsidian sphere to 8000grit. Then maybe diamond paste on leather pads?
Does anybody know where I can get some small pieces of leather (3" diameter) to use for polishing pads?
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Apr 28, 2012 1:44:52 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 28, 2012 7:19:03 GMT -5
Those are probably very thin upholstery type leather. They would work for a while, but I wouldn't expect them to last for more than just a couple of spheres.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Apr 28, 2012 9:25:07 GMT -5
I found a local leather craft store that has a big bin of scrap leather that they sell by the pound; and just down the street is a sheet rubber store and the rubber store also sold plumbing supplies (cutting cups) - one trip shopping.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Apr 28, 2012 19:59:08 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 28, 2012 21:42:48 GMT -5
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... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew