jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 4, 2013 15:24:47 GMT -5
At the industrial junk yard.I used it for coarse grit starting 3 days ago and it is cutting dang good.It is 120 grit.For agate i wonder how long to run in a rotary.I think it's corners just round off instead of fragmenting like Silicon Carbide.I have heard it is not as efficient at cutting as SiC.Any experience with this one out there?
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 5, 2013 9:23:13 GMT -5
I've heard exactly what you have heard. If it wears down quickly you will need to keep recharging frequently. It may not be a cost saver. Certainly not a time saver. Maybe as a step two after running a coarse SC grit.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2013 8:40:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the answer John.I tumble a lot of coral with play sand just to get the soft covering and nuclear clay off of it.Before mudding up a load with SiC in it... May just use it for the soft rind removal.That was it first test and it removed the that layer quicker than sand for sure.Bet you are right about wearing down fast and not saving money.The grit salesman stops by and has given me 220 400 and 600 AO over the years and it does well for those steps.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 6, 2013 9:16:35 GMT -5
A lot of people use the 600 AO instead of SC.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2013 10:16:00 GMT -5
The 400/600 stage does not seem to even break down SiC.After 5-6 days in the rotary step i hate to dump and throw away.I can rub the slurry between thumb and fore finger and tell it still has good particle size.220 too.I believe big SiC particles break down way faster than small SiC particles.When i used monster 8 grit it was quickly shattered into smaller particles-in hours-and i could easily see it with my eyes.And the Washington Mills Tech rep told me it was this way.Thats why he said 46,54,70 will coarse grind agates longer than fragile 8,16 and 36 grits.He said they break down inefficiently,sheets,plates and other crappy shapes.He said graded SiC is close to round.Round 46,54,70,90 is structurally strong and holds it cutting teeth fo a longer time.He also tumbles so i trade rocks fo grit-how's that set up.He also rates AO higher than rock people.He says it hangs longer than most people think.It seems to last long enough to get 220 step,600 step and obviously polish step done with one charge in my rotaries.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 6, 2013 12:43:02 GMT -5
What is harder or higher on mohs scale.AO or SiC?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2013 16:04:41 GMT -5
SiC but only by a small margin. Methinks AlOx is 9.0 and SiC is 9.4
google it!
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 13, 2013 0:27:48 GMT -5
Thanks Shotgunman.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2013 7:19:10 GMT -5
The AO is a better abrasive than i thought.It has been doing a lot of coarse cutting at 120 grit.TheWashington Mills rep said that they have improved on AO and thinks it may hold it's own w/SiC.Wuold like to try 46/60 size for coarse grind.It sure is clean.After a '46 for 4 weeks coarse grind' i clean up for a week at this 120.I can tell the effect.Was just cleaning,but it grinds too.
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