mtj58
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 20
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Post by mtj58 on Apr 8, 2013 18:25:53 GMT -5
James, I have a sort of back up plan, I think the next batch of carnelian I do is going to be pre ground a little bit. I think I'll get some nice ones out of this batch, but by the time I'm done I also think I'll lose 50% or more to the grinding process....just nothing soft about that carnelian! I hope what youre trying works for you though, you sure keep alot of stone going!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 9, 2013 22:52:59 GMT -5
Be careful Mark.You may catch the addiction if you have'nt already.I hope we can improve the process so those hard agates will round out quicker.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2013 13:16:47 GMT -5
Jim did your segments arrive yet?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 11, 2013 18:15:15 GMT -5
No,they sent me a note that i did not specify size.So they will be late.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 3, 2013 13:12:35 GMT -5
This experiment Failed.I was not happy with the cutting rate.Maybe more segments and 16 grit instead of 40 grit would grind the rocks.The failure was the effect of the metal.High in copper and iron content it created a sour slurry that was obnoxious and stained the rocks(my stuff anyway).I rotary tumble metals and get the same noxious slurry and it does not matter w/metals. Back to SiC,unless i run across a 5 gallon drum of 60 grit diamonds at the salvage place!:>
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on May 4, 2013 16:35:02 GMT -5
This is a great thread, thanks for following back up James.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 4, 2013 16:59:37 GMT -5
I was hoping to save money.Back to the SiC John Herchenx
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on May 4, 2013 17:33:26 GMT -5
I hear you. Geoff found some SiC hardware a while a back, big chunks for some industrial application that they threw out after use. I don't know of a source of "scrap" SiC, but it stands to reason that it must exist, I just don't have knowledge of those applications.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 4, 2013 18:00:28 GMT -5
The local industrial salvage place has a large inventory of AO grinding wheels.I get 75 pounds(5 gallon bucket full) for $20.I gotta go sort thru them and see if the got SiC ones(and diamond!).Remember those snails that Mel tumbled?My coral has a thick limestone skin similar to those snails except real thick.I use 1-2 inch chunks of grinding wheels mixed with 2-5 inch corals to get all that skin off of them.That way i can wash the mud out and keep most of the grit.More importantly, it way keeps those big chunks from banging and frosting when tumbling large stones.I saw those SiC seals Geoff was getting-lucky dude. The thing about big tumblers is they have heavy loads=hard grinding pressure=fast grit breakdown=and fast rock shaping.My 35 pounder turns fast and eats 46 to muck in 48 hours on moh 7.If you feed it lots of coarse grit it will round rocks as quick as anything.Totally different than small tumbler.How much grit do you have???Or how much $$$ do you have??
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on May 4, 2013 18:33:19 GMT -5
I have grit, but it is 60/90, not the real coarse stuff this could benefit from. Interesting discussion nonetheless, I can order some, was just trying to shop local to help save on shipping.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 4, 2013 18:48:32 GMT -5
John-the Washington Mills grit salesman swaps me 5 pound 'samples' for my rocks for his mother in law and son to tumble.He has seen a lot of tumbling action and says that 46-60 is the most efficient.8,16 and 24 breaks down inefficiently in sheets and flats that do not have as strong structural integrity and cutting edges.He said 46-60 is broken in controlled conditions and screened to nice round shaped strong particles that offer the most cutting edges for the longest time for our hard materials. I helped him run tests!On 8 16 24 36 46 60 90-imagine that!He is looking at a 100 pound cap vibratory w/3 phase.One of his clients sidelined it.He has gotta put a single phase on it.Wish he would buy it so i can swap much more rock for grit
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on May 4, 2013 19:03:07 GMT -5
Great info! I will see, I think I may have some similar coarseness now that you say that. I'm out on a date with my son now, I'll check in later. Thanks for all you add to this forum James.
Sent from my phone.
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on May 4, 2013 19:04:09 GMT -5
Dang, 100# vibe, that would be awesome.
Sent from my phone.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by rollingstone on May 7, 2013 15:29:25 GMT -5
I just came across this thread today and read it from start to finish. Very cool idea and fascinating to follow it through. Shame it didn't work in the end, but high-fives and thumbs up for the effort and follow-through!
-Don
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 7, 2013 17:53:59 GMT -5
Thanks Don.Maybe little BB sized diamond balls would work.Oh well,worth the try-thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2013 12:53:36 GMT -5
Jim, Elin can make you little cubes. 6mm x 3
Add baking soda to the slurry to keep them from rusting.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 8, 2013 19:00:26 GMT -5
Little would be better.How did you find those?Wow.That's a great find.It may be the copper making the nasty slurry.Staining is a concern.And i was a bit concerned about the diamonds staying in the matrix.I need to run them longer to see if the diamonds are staying in place.After 24 hours i thought maybe some were missing but am totally not qualified to say that.You would think that life in a quarry blade would be as bad as it gets. I will have to think about another gamble:>
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2013 20:40:46 GMT -5
I didn't find that size. But in my flirting with her she told me she can make any size shape I want.
Imagine a kilogram of 4mm cubes! They'll be 4mm spheres and eggs soon enough!
I can visualize stains from iron but copper is pretty stable in water. It's used for pipes for this very reason. My guess is a week in bicarb water and the segments wont corrode or contribute to the water at all.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 8, 2013 21:04:13 GMT -5
Elin is my squeeze,back out of that in a hurry.The stain was heavy and that surprised me.Could the segments rubbing against each other.Copper particles in water is nasty,you can imagine.I wish they had off the shelf small stuff.In flirting w/her grrrr did you get a price on little pieces?You have a good point that time may cure the stain..
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quartz
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Post by quartz on May 14, 2013 23:03:22 GMT -5
Sorry to here the experiment didn't work out as hoped, but thanks for trying and posting. Larry
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