nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 10, 2013 16:48:09 GMT -5
Frustrated! Have Raytech TV-10 w/seperate Grit & Polish bowls. 120/220 for 2 days, clean our & repeat. 500/600 Grit for 2 days. Cleanout Burnish 2 hrs then polish for 5-6 days. Using Raybrite .5-1 micron polish Been Gritin & polishg for 6 months now and can't seem to get even close to perfect stones! My wife tells me I'm too picky, but I don't think so. I try to keep close to the same hardness stones, but when I'm done, Ive got small pits or creavases. Even tried adding a 1KGrit stage. Nothing seems to be working. Attached some pics of some Tiger Eye & Blue Quartz. Can someone help ?!?! Thanks. Attachments:
|
|
nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 10, 2013 16:53:58 GMT -5
Added some more pics. Is there a better polish that I should be using (that's not overly expensive). Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 10, 2013 17:08:35 GMT -5
The rocks in the second picture don't look too bad. I've never done rocks in just a vibratory tumbler. I have always started them in a rotary for the first stage and then done all the other stages in a vibe. The first stage takes a couple of weeks if I start with beach rounded stones, or several months if I start with jagged, broken stones. The rotary tumbler will round the rocks more than the vibratory tumbler. The vibratory tumbler will keep the rock closer to it's original shape.
I am picky too. I like my rocks as perfect as possible. I keep rocks in the first stage in my rotary as long as it takes to get every little tiny pit out. Then I go to 120/220 or graded 220 in the vibratory, but that stage never takes out any imperfections in the rock. It starts getting them shiny, but won't take out little holes.
I get my polish from The Rock Shed (rockshed.com). I use their aluminum oxide polish. It's cheap and has been working well for my.
Rob
|
|
rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
|
Post by rockingthenorth on Feb 10, 2013 17:26:08 GMT -5
Have you tried AO or CO I am not a pro at this but that would be my sugestion. I have never used Raybrite so not sure
|
|
nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 10, 2013 17:51:54 GMT -5
Thanks Rob & Tammy. I don't know what the problem is? Maybe they need to be damn near perfect before I attempt to polish? But I'm not sure some of the issues are coming up during Polish? Anyway, maybe I should get a Rotary for the Roughing?
I used to use AO Polish, but I heard that was around 2-4 micron? so I switched to this Raybrite, which is supposed to be smaller (.5-1 micron) thinking that it would be finer and do a better job? Trial and error I guess. I also use small & large Ceramic pellets, both to help fill the bowl and thinking that smaller material in there would help get to all parts of the rock. Are you guys able to get "Perfect" rocks out? and if so, what %? I would guess that I'm only getting about 5% "Usable" after polish. The rest go back to Coarse or Med grit.
I doubt this is the answer, but I wonder if Thumblers Vib works better??? Am think about getting a UV-18 for Grit only.
|
|
Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
|
Post by Minnesota Daniel on Feb 10, 2013 19:43:30 GMT -5
I don't think the grit and polish or your tumbler are your problem, it's how you use them. "120/220 for 2 days, clean out & repeat" are the instructions for rock that already has all the cracks and pits smoothed out. You must first shape them in 60/90 grit SiC, so yes, you'll need a rotary tumbler. Once you get the stones shaped to your satisfaction, at least smoothed enough to be able to wash all the grit out of any tight places, then move them to the 120/220 in your vibe.
I would suggest you keep the rocks in the 500 for 3 or 4 days, and for the best shine you often need to leave them in the polish longer than 5 or 6 days. I look at a few rocks every day they are polishing, and sometimes it's ten days before they reach the point where they stop getting shinier. That's ten days in the same polish, don't recharge the polish.
I've tumbled a little bit of blue quartz. It's never going to polish as shiny as quartz crystal or agate. That's just the nature of blue quartz. Use a hand lens to look at it in the rough and you can see why.
|
|
nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 10, 2013 20:07:42 GMT -5
Lot of help there Daniel, Thanks! I think now, I'll get a Rotary for the initial Roughing, then use my Vib for the rest, and maybe finish a litter longer if needed.
One more question: I've tried 1K Grit to try to finish better and get rid of very small pits before polishing, do you think that's a wasted step on the harder stones (6.5+) or still worthwhile?
Really appreciate the help!
|
|
nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 10, 2013 20:11:15 GMT -5
Just one more question: What do you recommend for a decent Rotary (Not overly expensive)? Probably looking for something that can do around 15lbs or so. Thanks!
|
|
Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
|
Post by Minnesota Daniel on Feb 10, 2013 21:01:47 GMT -5
If the pits are larger, leave them in the 120/220 longer, or do a third charge. If you mean a grainy suface, not big pits, then leave them in the 500 longer. It breaks down to a finer grit, probably close to 1,000 if not finer. 1,000 grit is for "special need" softer rock.
There are 2 brands of rotary tumblers usually recommended here on the Forum. There is also a new brand which is getting initial good reviews, but it's doesn't have a history yet. I have a double 3lb and a double 6 lb (or single 12 lb) Lortone tumbler. The other brand often recommended is the Thumlers. The first thing I can say is that the larger diameter barrel, the 6/12 lb, grinds rock a lot faster than the 3 lb. That would apply to any brand. Another brand which gets very mixed reviews here is the Harbor Freight. Lots of bad experiences I guess. Some people swear by it though. I don't think it comes in a larger size though, only the smaller diameter 3lb barrel.
"Not overly expensive" is a relative term. In my opinion, they are all too expensive for what you get. I'd recommend a Lortone or Thumlers with a barrel that is a larger diameter than the 3lb models. You could look for a good used one, but the bidding on eBay in my opinion usually goes too high for used. The exception might be Lortone's 4 1/2 lb model. There seem to always be a few of those that look pretty new, and people don't seem as eager to bid on that in-between size. Otherwise check Craigslist, at least you can go look at it, or see if there is a not too far away rock club. "Club hounders" give each other good deals.
If you can't afford a 6/6, 12 or 15lb tumbler at this time, you might consider the newer brand, Tumble_Bee. They have a 4lb model. It's a smaller diameter barrel like a 3lb, just longer, but the price is considerably better than a Lortone or Thumlers. I'd check that out before springing for a new 3lb model from Lortone, Thumlers or Harbor Freight.
|
|
blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
|
Post by blackout5783 on Feb 11, 2013 1:39:44 GMT -5
I have 3 of the 2 barrel harbor freight rotaries (purchased before I knew the history of the brand LOL). Only one motor crapped out on me at this point (about 18 months so far), but I noticed something interesting. I think the HF rotaries normally do about 55 or 60 rpm. When I replaced the motor that died on me I just used what I had on hand. I didn't quite have the right size pulley so I had those barrels doing 90ish rpm.
Thing are smoothing out a LOT faster in those two! I though 90 rpm might be too much, but maybe its ok with a smaller barrel?
I also seem to have things going a little faster with a different coarse grit. I was using 60/90 from the rock shed, but I was placing an order with kingsley a little while ago and decided to give their 35/100 a shot (slightly cheaper) and it seems to be working.
The other thing I do if things are moving too slowly in the rough stages is hand grind out the bad spots (pits, cracks, etc) with either a dremel or on the grinding wheel. Then I can usually skip the rotaries and move those pieces into the vibe at 120/220.
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Feb 11, 2013 22:32:38 GMT -5
One thing about quartz is the variable hardness of it. Some quartz will undercut the others badly. I do suggest a rotary if you want smooth surfaces on the rocks. And lots of patience too. It may take awhile to get past the initial stage. It really is the most important step. Also make sure your vibe is fully loaded and that you have a good mix of small stuff to large. Raybrite A has worked on everything I have tried it on so I don`t think that`s the problem.
|
|
nontavitch
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 11
|
Post by nontavitch on Feb 15, 2013 0:06:02 GMT -5
The one thing I have found is using a dremmel to take out or reduce bad spots, then put them back in the tumbler. I also have a 4X36 Belt and 6" disc sander which is good for "spotting as well. I do need to find better Belts and pads, though. Thinking of getting Zirconia coated? Any thoughts?
|
|