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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 30, 2014 21:00:14 GMT -5
Have any of you used aluminum oxide pellets instead of ceramic in your vibratory tumblers? I exchanged a couple emails with Tom, the manufacturer of the Lot-O tumbler. He recommended aluminum oxide pellets that he sells for tumbling. He said that they are fired aluminum oxide and that they're more durable and have a higher specific gravity. I'd like to know if they perform any different than ceramic pellets. What's the advantage of having a higher specific gravity?
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Post by connrock on Jul 1, 2014 10:14:18 GMT -5
I bought 5 lbs of them from Tom quite a while back and found they work better then the ceramic media,,,in my Lot-O. The media I got was about the size of a big pea and is a lot heavier(in weight) then ceramic media. It's specific gravity is closer to rocks so it rolls around and "mingles" better with other rocks then I find ceramic media does. Being that's it's expensive I've only used it in pre-polish and polish stages so I can't really say how durable it would be in the rougher stages. It also cleans up when rinsed/washed. If I could afford it I would buy more for the other stages. connrock
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 1, 2014 10:33:10 GMT -5
I've never found ceramic media to have a problem mixing with rocks. It seems to mix up pretty well.
You said that if you could afford it, you'd buy more for other stages. You also said that it washes well. Are you saying that you can move the media from stage to stage like ceramic, or do you have to keep it separated by stage like plastic pellets?
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Post by connrock on Jul 2, 2014 7:56:19 GMT -5
I found this media to work well when doing small slabs and even finishing cabs.It mixes in between the flat surfaces better for me then ceramic media. Al I can say about how it cleans is with my experience with pre-polish and polish stages and it cleans up very easy for me. connrock
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 2, 2014 8:15:23 GMT -5
Ok, I don't polish too many slabs or cabs, just ocasional ones mixed with regular rocks. That explains what you meant about them mixing in better. I think I might give them a try she my current ceramic wears out. Thanks for more great advice!
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Post by connrock on Jul 3, 2014 8:47:14 GMT -5
I don't know how "great" this advise was but at least it's something I could comment on!!LOL
Although we do get some VERY good help here I think the only real way to find out if something works is to try it ourselves.It all goes back to,,,,what works for one doesn't always work for all. One of the hardest things for me to do is to recommend a product of any kind. I recently offered to help one of our members to get into doing metal work,,,copper,silver,etc.Although I'm not a silversmith or a coppersmith I do know that basics so I can help someone who has never done anything like this. My biggest problem was suggesting which torch to buy,,,again,,,what works for me may not work for this individual and buying a complete torch set-up with gas and oxygen is a very expensive thing to do.It took me several weeks to finally say "buy this torch" and it took everything I had in me to say that! LOL
Media for tumbling isn't nearly as expensive as a torch but I WELL know how hard it is to earn a buck and try to have some left to buy things for a hobby. connrock
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 3, 2014 11:42:23 GMT -5
I promise I won't hold you responsible if I don't like it. I'm not going to run right out and buy some, but when I need more, I'm going to consider it. It's just nice to hear from someone who has use it before. It sounds like you're the only one here who has used it. Maybe it will even help me tumble Kona dolomite, but I doubt it.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 3, 2014 15:50:51 GMT -5
I've never heard of aluminum oxide pellets but if they are hard enough to not embed with grit you could move them from step to step like ceramic. My ceramic supplier sold me some "porcelain polish pins" for metal work (instead of stainless steel shot), According to him it would work well for tumbling stone and was harder than ceramic and would not wear out. It is also more expensive (like $9 per lb.). I asked him why would I want to sell something that would not wear out? I have not tried it though in the tumbler.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 3, 2014 16:38:23 GMT -5
Thanks John. I've never heard of porcelain polish pins either. Now I have three options!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,802
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 3, 2014 17:43:37 GMT -5
I asked him why would I want to sell something that would not wear out? LOL!! Sounds to me like "flamed aluminum oxide" would likely be synthetic corundum. Both synthetic sapphire and ruby are made from AlOx by the flame-fusion method. That would also account for the greater S.G. If I'm right the material is likely much harder than silicon carbide so grit wouldn't embed in it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 18:57:45 GMT -5
I use aquarium gravel.and always get killer results.but I usually only put hard stones in the lotto.with the gravel. Dave
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