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Post by cpdad on Sept 13, 2006 20:28:09 GMT -5
just had a friend leave our shop to go to work with another place that does waterjet cutting...he just lives a couple of doors down from me.
he stopped by this evening..and said he could get me some of the garnet media that they use for that machine. does anyone have any idea if it can be used in tumbling?.
he said it was like sand...but the little research i did on this material said it was between 7.5..and 8.0 MOHS.
any thoughts on this stuff....or how to experiment with it...anyone try it before?
he also took a few slabs to experiment on with that machine...he just wasnt sure he could hold them on his big machine..he is going to try and cut out my kids initials.
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firewalker45
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Post by firewalker45 on Sept 13, 2006 21:22:08 GMT -5
Hi cpdad, Yes you should be able to use it for tumbling but not exclusively. Covington is the only one I know of that sells it. You add it to all grits up to polish. The covington site tells you how much to use. Daniel
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snowdog
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Post by snowdog on Sept 13, 2006 21:27:58 GMT -5
the garnet should be harder than regular grit but the only thing is -- is it graded to size ? or do you know what range it is in ? -- like 46-70 60-80 ,etc. if you knew this then you could use it accordingly -----------
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Post by cpdad on Sept 13, 2006 21:58:17 GMT -5
dont know yet...he just said he could get me a bunch of it...i just didnt know how in the world i would use it?....it being garnet sand sized...would it be good for 60/90...how much to use?...would it break down like 60/90...or not break down....reckon i need to get a bag...and just try huh?...i will actually ask tommorrow snowdog...i shoulda asked that first...hahahahaha
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snowdog
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Post by snowdog on Sept 13, 2006 22:08:07 GMT -5
it won't break down as fast as regular grit because it is harder --- you could buy a set of screens and grade it yourself --- sometimes you find them in the gold panning section of "ebad" -- but they usually don't go finer than 200 grit -------
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rallyrocks
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 14, 2006 2:12:59 GMT -5
I think you may be mistaken Snowdog, garnet group minerals have hardness between 5 and 7.5, but SiC is like 9.25, Corundum (sapphire) is up in the 8-9 range, but most Garnets are not all that hard.
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snowdog
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Post by snowdog on Sept 14, 2006 9:02:00 GMT -5
rally---- it was getting late when I posted that ;D-- I was thinking of the corundum ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) ( used on sanding belts/sand blasting --it usually lasts longer ) ---when cp said he thought it was 7.5-8 I just took for granted he meant corundum because it was red
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Sept 14, 2006 9:08:58 GMT -5
I routinly tumble garnets with my quartz stuff- without any problems- I don't think Garnet grit is gonna do too much for ya- if it is free it is worth a shot- but if your paying for it- well save your money and get Silicon Carbide-
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SirRoxalot
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Post by SirRoxalot on Sept 14, 2006 15:30:22 GMT -5
Useless, too soft to do much. Got a few pounds from a local abrasives factory. No comparison to silicon carbide.
Maybe if you're going to try reeeeeealyy soft stuff, like calcite, fluorite, glass?
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rallyrocks
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 14, 2006 16:01:02 GMT -5
Maybe if you're going to try reeeeeealyy soft stuff, like calcite, fluorite, glass? Even things like obsidian might work out using garnet, essentially anything softer than 6-7 should theoretically eventually succum to garnet abrasives, and if you can get it for free- sure for very soft things I'd say it could be worth using, if only for the sake of saving on the SiC.
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Post by cpdad on Sept 14, 2006 17:18:05 GMT -5
hey folks...thanks for the input...when he told me about this stuff all he knew was that it was river garnet by opti minerals..not quite sure of the grit...he was going to let me know this afternoon about the size. the only reason i said 7.5 to 8.0 MOHS...is because thats what it says on there website' www.optaminerals.com/river_garnet_waterjet_cutting.htmlbut thats why i asked here first ;D..didnt want to go thru a lot trouble if it wasnt going to do much good ;D...may try it on some glass though.
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