growingtedium
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2011
Posts: 4
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Post by growingtedium on Dec 5, 2011 16:05:45 GMT -5
I've got a few pounds of crushed calcite that is the size of coarse sand and I'd like to knock off the sharp edges. I don't need it to be polished, just more or less round.
I'm thinking I can do this with a fine grit and a rotary tumbler, but there are a lot of unknowns for me. Is this too much surface area to grind, or will the sand just stick to the sides without larger rocks to knock it around?
Not sure what the time scale is either - I figure grit wears down in a few weeks, and calcite is much softer, so it may only be 5-9 days?
I'm looking for suggestions or warnings before I go out an buy a tumbler to do this (probably a 6lb Covington).
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 12, 2011 10:22:57 GMT -5
Calcite is VERY soft and grit would eat it up in no time. I think I would start by running it by itself with water. Probably a couple days in a rotary would do the trick. The only obstical I see is that calcite tends to cleave easily and may just keep breaking apart into smaller sharpedged pieces.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Dec 12, 2011 14:30:22 GMT -5
With your crushed calcite is the size of ourse sand,I don't see how you would wash out any grit. I agree that you should try runnning the calcite byitself - check on it everyday.
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