mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 29, 2012 9:52:37 GMT -5
I have a 20" lap I use for polishing, and thought I'd pass on a couple of tips I have learned using it. I have made a series of dividers to separate the rocks. I used 3/4" wood, about 1" tall. I have dividers with 3,4,and 9 compartments. No more wrapping hose around the rocks, etc. True, you could pack more rocks in if they were individually wrapped, but nobody using a vibrating lap can be in a hurry.
Attaching weights to the rocks has always been a hassle. I have tried duct tape, dop wax, etc. The best method by far I have found is to place a drop of Gorilla Glue (about the size of a pea) on the back of the slab. I use both lead and steel discs. After polishing, pop the weights off with a chisel. Use a sharp chisel to remove the glue from the slab. This is fast and clean with no mess. No solvent known to man can remove this glue, so it isn't a good idea to try this on slabs without smooth backs.
|
|
|
Post by gr on Dec 29, 2012 10:07:29 GMT -5
Mike, how do you address a round or domed type like a geode half. I have struggled with this and have tried alot of different things but always end up having to stay close to reposition the weights as they keep slipping off
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 11:38:36 GMT -5
Hey Mike, is that the lap that you were building? Would love to see photos of how the wood thingy works. Have you broken any slabs getting the weight off of the slab and how big are your weights? Jim
|
|
mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 29, 2012 12:04:05 GMT -5
I certainly don't have it down pat yet, but it seems hemispherical pieces like geode halves seem to polish out ok under their own weight. Same with most end cuts. I usually don't weight pieces any thicker than one and one-half inches or so in thickness.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 12:07:56 GMT -5
Are you ignoring me for some reason? Jim
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Dec 30, 2012 1:41:08 GMT -5
Yeah, show us pics
|
|
cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
|
Post by cabjunky on Dec 30, 2012 9:15:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips, would like to see a picture of the wood spacers your utilizing Robert
|
|
mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 30, 2012 16:22:14 GMT -5
Jim, sorry I have been busy. No, that isn't the rotating lap, which I am making progress on, by the way. Today I just picked up the 30" diameter plate with the bolt holes drilled in it. I am headed to Quartzsite 12/31. Have you decided to drive down? How is your jewelry-making coming? And how is your back?
Robert, I will attach a picture when I can figure out how to do it. The weights I use are some 1/2" x 3" diameter steel discs, and some lead weights about one pound each. I have tried everything to keep the rocks separated in the lap-I have wrapped the rocks in Romex, rope, tubing- nothing seems to stay in place.
|
|
mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 30, 2012 16:24:45 GMT -5
Jim, I haven't broken any slabs yet, and I have used the Gorilla glue on slabs down to 1/8" thickness. The trick of course is to use very little-like I said, about a pea-sized drop or less.
|
|
|
Post by phil on Dec 31, 2012 17:19:12 GMT -5
I have tried everything to keep the rocks separated in the lap-I have wrapped the rocks in Romex, rope, tubing- nothing seems to stay in place. have you tried isolating them? Cut some large diameter PVC rings and place each inside one. They'll rattle off the walls of the PVC but won't bump into (and ruin) other pieces. You can usually get more PVC rings in there than you might imagine.... Just a thought. Phil
|
|
mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 2, 2013 23:20:38 GMT -5
Phil, I have tried that method, cutting 2" tall pieces of 3,4 and 6" pvc. It works pretty well. What I discovered was that if the rock tapers to a sharp edge it works its way under the ring. So then I cut a round piece of cardboard and laid it on top of all the rings and put a slight weight on it to hold all the rings down. The problem for me was most of my pieces and not round, and don't fit into a 6" ring- that's why I build the wood dividers.
|
|