jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2013 10:46:53 GMT -5
First day in tumbler w/no grit. Glass, jasper, rhyolite, devil's toenails, coral. Who cares. Concrete is carefully mixed. Best to start w/pure white Portland(92 pound bags ouch). Best to have aggregate crushed in equal proportions of 1/16 1/8 3/16 1/4 5/16 3/8 inch by volume. Then it is strong enough to cab if mix is done proper. Must cure for a month or pref two. More www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157634798014973/
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 26, 2013 10:55:32 GMT -5
James, those are so cool! That matrix must be a little soft, guess that's why you tumble without grit? It almost looks like something I've seen poured around swimming pools. I'll bet it looks just fantastic in the sun, the colored glass glinting in the sunlight.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2013 11:07:29 GMT -5
I tumble at start without grit to get fragile ones to go ahead and break. Will even throw a few bigger chunks in there for the first 24 hours to create a society of the fittest. Ones we have established a batch of tough ones and the crusty stuff has been cleaned I add grit. This stuff tumbles real fast if you saw. You could also pour them in seedling trays if you want little thimble shapes that hold together real good. The saw cuts faces on each aggregate though.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2013 11:47:32 GMT -5
genius!!
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 26, 2013 12:26:22 GMT -5
That looks like man-made puddingstone! Or nice counter tops. Great!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2013 13:39:22 GMT -5
Countertop guys are upbeat using lots of lapidary grade agate and stuff. Their remnants make great tumbling material after breaking it smaller.
Most of them pour the face chips down and then pour the counter upside down so there is just a thin layer of chips at the surface-cheapy way. Got a countertop mix out of Florida that can be poured 1 inch thick 5 feet x 5 feet w/no reinforcement. It is strong as 1 inch granite!
Colors for concrete are expensive-azurite, malachite, iron oxides, and many natural ores. I tumble mostly w/AO to avoid stain. Start with AO 46 grit and it will round fast.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2013 13:45:28 GMT -5
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