junglejim
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
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Post by junglejim on Sept 16, 2014 11:40:43 GMT -5
Following this Obsidian closely, very interested in how it turns out. Would like to know where to get some of the 50,000 polish as well.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2014 11:54:07 GMT -5
Following this Obsidian closely, very interested in how it turns out. Would like to know where to get some of the 50,000 polish as well. Maybe the 1 micron will do the trick Jim. The 50,000 comes w/the Lot-o machine. So I will hunt a source,
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2014 12:14:30 GMT -5
Making some filler out of soft tempered 1/2" table glass. It seems to be softer than obsidian, which is desirable to me anyway. This is the size the tempered plate after breaking it(disregard the fact it is coarse tumbled): Those pieces to big for filler so in order to break them down safely I boiled them and chunked them into cold water 3-4 times to get this: Then I put the whole 15 pounds of them in a pillow case and beat the stu out of them w/hammer. They broke easily. Then tumbled them in cheap AO 46 sand blast grit for 3 days to get this: These are smooth enough for filler, about 12 pounds to serve for many loads of obsidian. They are some what sacrificial, as they will grind to nothing, but that is good.
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Post by orrum on Sept 16, 2014 14:49:01 GMT -5
I think you are nailin it James!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2014 16:19:19 GMT -5
I think you are nailin it James! Thanks orrum. It seems to be behaving.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2014 17:28:04 GMT -5
Stopped by the glass recycler. The place is a trip. Management changed so I have to deal with a new guy.(I used to trade rocks w/the last guy). This pile sold. Urban obsidian. Closer upper The place is huge, this is tip of ice berg. Strategic Materials, they have many locations across the US.
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Post by orrum on Sept 16, 2014 18:28:22 GMT -5
James do they have the busted up glass you can use for gravel in your driveway?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2014 19:25:26 GMT -5
James do they have the busted up glass you can use for gravel in your driveway? The other manager would sell it for $70/ton about 5 years ago. You can sure call them. Strategic Materials in Atlanta or College Park. www.strategicmaterials.com
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Post by orrum on Sept 16, 2014 19:37:21 GMT -5
Thanks James!
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Post by connrock on Sept 17, 2014 9:25:33 GMT -5
James sometimes the obsidian rough has very tiny "holes" in it throughout the entire piece and it's impossible to get rid of them no matter how long you try to polish them. I think you saw my photos of the bad Tears rough I did but in case you didn't here are a couple of photos that may help you,,,, This one is after my first run in 1000 grit and you can see all those tiny holes in the surface,,,,, This one is after my 2nd run in 1000 grit and you can still see all the holes in the surface,,,, This one is after final polish and the holes are still there,,,, They don't look bad from far away but suck up close,,,, I hate to say it but I think you have the same problem with your rough? connrock
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 10:00:16 GMT -5
I am pretty certain that the pits in this photo are from skipping the 1000 grit Tom. Different light, after AO 400, pits close together: Reflected light after 1 micron polish, skipping 1000 grit(4 micron polish). Same magnification. The pits still close together, I think they are scars from the 400 grit left over from skipping the 1000 polish. Not the pro here, but that is my opinion. The small gas bubbles seem to be more spread apart. Please, your opinion. Time will tell Tom. When the shipment of AO 1000 arrives I will rerun them in that, and then rerun the 1 micron polish.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 10:35:18 GMT -5
Here is another photo after 36 hours in 1 micron polish. Little improvement from 18 hour photo. Looks like pits from skipping 1000 grit. I see what I think is gas bubbles too, but random and spaced out. Tom ? Opinion please. Maybe easier to see in this blow up: Surface at 18 hours, looks same as 36 hours above. Verifying that after 18 hours the grit has done it's task. Using the 400 pits as a reference in this case. Ran low on filler so barrel not so full, and did not add enough sugar to thicken. 36 hours and I frosted a bit. Would probably have to go back to AO 220 to remove damage because of this mistake. Damage minor, extra sugar added, will not repair. White spots are fresh impact pits. It does not take long. Must keep barrel 3/4-7/8 full. Have tumbled extra filler for use when AO 1000 arrives. This barrel turning very slow during whole finish process at only 12 RPM, and obsidian will still get impact pits, wow. Sensitive stuff. Impact pits #1 enemy.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 10:49:53 GMT -5
Slow speed, sugar thickener, 7/8 full barrel, 35% filler and each finish grit level still seems finished by 18 hours. In my opinion, skipping the AO 1000 and going to 1 micron shows the folly of skipping a grit. Again, even with a super slow barrel overly full w/lots of filler and sugar the grit seems finished quickly at 18 hours. Obsidian very soft and can be finished very quickly in my opinion. By the same token, it can be ruined quickly by impact pitting.
Sugar keeps rocks sucked together, grinding action more like lapping or rubbing. Dumping barrel on flat surface like dumping thin honey, it is a pile more than a puddle.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 11:30:36 GMT -5
About 1/3 of the obsidians have a defect like this. I trying to get a finish, and not concerned about a few fractures. They could have been ground off after a few days in coarse grind way back when. Will grind them off and retumble start to finish next obsidian load.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 12:35:51 GMT -5
Master Blaster did you buy some glass from the urban obsidian guy to use as filler? I agree with your observation that skipping the stepwas folly. But, still a nice idea to try. I like how hast the steps are working for you. Getting my tumble back in action soon.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 14:19:05 GMT -5
Master Blaster did you buy some glass from the urban obsidian guy to use as filler? I agree with your observation that skipping the stepwas folly. But, still a nice idea to try. I like how hast the steps are working for you. Getting my tumble back in action soon. I have been hyperlinked as Master Blaster. I will put 30 grit in the salt shakers to prepare for Mel at the T-Dome. And barbecue the little man on my shoulders for added nutrients. I did not get glass. Was on the scooter. It had been so long since I had been there. Looks like new mgt. But he was gonna help me. They only had clear chunk glass. Apparently someone has contracted all the green chunk glass. It comes from Owens Corning fiberglass insulation plant close by my house. it is a 2 foot deep tank the size of an olympic swimming pool that is under the glass process. Over time it fills up with molten glass. Once it is 18 inches deep they jack hammer it out. I may have a contact for barrelite. I made that up. A friend owns a huge 55 gal drum recycling plant. He has to repaint them after baking the old paint off. He has to remove the paint of the walls and spraying equipment weekly. Like chunks. He said he paints all different colors of epoxy paint....His epoxy coating is respected in the industry. He heats the heaters w/the paint that he bakes off the drums. Has a like 5 story tall catalytic converter made of SS to reburn pollutants. Wicked operation. 55 gal. drum fordite=barellite=drumite. Other industries paint, not just Ford. Get the chisels and let's go over there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 16:43:51 GMT -5
I have to take master blaster back. You are not him. My mistake, and apologies offered. What is the name of the little guy on his back? That guy was the smart one!
Need to see pics! Epoxy polishes up real good. Ebay the cr@p out of that stuff!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 16:46:42 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 17:59:16 GMT -5
LMAO Wife gets tired of looking at it. We got to get Pat to see it. I sensed an aversion.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 17, 2014 18:21:31 GMT -5
Started the AO 1000 at 6 PM. Predicting the these AO 400 pits are gone by lunch tomorrow, but shine between them reduced:
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