cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
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Post by cardiobill on May 29, 2012 21:09:53 GMT -5
Just thought I'd post a few pics of some work in progress. Everything done in a rotary. Stones are jasper/ agate mix from rock shed. They were in 220 grit when I cut some hearts about 2-3 weeks ago. I threw the hearts in this mix at the 220 stage. Spun for about 10 days in 220 and then I put them all in 400 grit. Pulled them out today to look. To my suprise everything is looking pretty good. The hearts did not break into a bunch of pieces or get deformed which I figured was pretty likely. Ha. The hearts have a much softer shape and feel. I'm going to put all of them in 600 for a week and then polish. Lots of plastic pellets involved. Everthing photographed wet. thanks for looking Bill
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Post by NatureNut on May 29, 2012 21:17:10 GMT -5
Lookin' real good Bill! Jo
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on May 29, 2012 21:20:19 GMT -5
they are looking great
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Post by gr on May 29, 2012 21:37:18 GMT -5
Hey Bill, All are nice and I really like that blk/ yellow stone. I don't know if you know this but, flats, (like your hearts), are hard to polish. The edges will come out nice and the flat parts will have scratches. Your at the #600 stage and will see what I'm saying when you open it up this next time. There is a way around it though to get that shine on the flat part.
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
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Post by cardiobill on May 29, 2012 21:58:58 GMT -5
Gary, I did not know that. Don't leave me hanging... How do you do it? -How do you get the shine on the flat part? Does it involve a vibe tumbler? Ha!
I have so many plastic pellets in this batch I can't believe anything is happening but it seems to be. I have to see this to the end - good , bad or a total disaster. Again, what's the worst that can happen. They are just rocks. No one will die. I know that may be a warped perspective but I always think that way. I think my job makes me think that way:)
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 29, 2012 22:19:43 GMT -5
Looking good, waiting to hear the trick for getting a good shine on the flats in a rotary too.
Chuck
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Post by NatureNut on May 29, 2012 22:34:46 GMT -5
Uhhh, I'll take a guess... little stuff? Pea sized stones? Different sizes?
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 30, 2012 0:12:41 GMT -5
Those are looking great I think!
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Post by gr on May 30, 2012 0:55:45 GMT -5
Bill, Jo has got the picture! Little stuff to keep the flats apart. I tried using small pebbles and everything in between and was still coming out with dull centers. I used to be big time into aquariums and had lots of aquarium gravel around so I tried it and by golly it did the trick for me. Tricky part is cleaning the gravel between grit stages. I'll leave you to your own devices on that one. Builds character LoL. Take the same gravel right on thru and stop it at the burnish stage. I'll post some pics tomorrow to this thread of the slabs that were done this way if I have any left. I know I have a few around here.
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Post by Toad on May 30, 2012 4:00:54 GMT -5
Love that heart on the top left
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Post by NatureNut on May 30, 2012 7:26:59 GMT -5
But doesn't the cushion (plastic pellets and ceramics) act as the small stuff? Yes but to a lesser extent? Jo
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Post by gr on May 30, 2012 12:54:33 GMT -5
Jo, yes they do. I have not used ceramics as of yet so I'm not familiar with the action of the ceramics. I think the plastics are good cushioning but, just that, cushioning. I think they are to light weight in between the slabs and just push out of the way without really asserting much grinding action whereas, the gravel is more rock on rock like the ceramics action
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Post by gr on May 30, 2012 15:41:52 GMT -5
shine shots are hard to capture. natural light from the back door to show the shine consistancy - kind of a poor shot the green in this shot, is from the leaves of the tree outside but, shows the shine pretty well. the surface is not complrtly flat as there was some undercutting in the stone all done in a 12# rotory. it does work this way
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
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Post by cardiobill on May 30, 2012 18:33:51 GMT -5
Very cool Gary. Thanks for sharing. Yours certainly look nice and shiny!
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