jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 10:40:07 GMT -5
This is heat treated rhyolite running mostly in crushed SiC 60 grit grinding wheels. In the rotary. It was pre-shaped on a 30 grit grinder. Was astonished how fast it grinds, 16 hours, dry:   wet, in sunlight:  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 10:43:14 GMT -5
Oh yea, this is the 16 pounds before chipping, sawing, grinding and heating  |
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 7, 2014 10:53:12 GMT -5
Those are going to be some beauties when finished. Got three or four pieces of rhyolite in my last mixed bag from the rock shed. It does seem to shape quickly. All finished roughing to my satisfaction in 2 and 3 weeks.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 11:03:01 GMT -5
Those are going to be some beauties when finished. Got three or four pieces of rhyolite in my last mixed bag from the rock shed. It does seem to shape quickly. All finished roughing to my satisfaction in 2 and 3 weeks. Ha, went back and checked the water level after 2 hours yesterday and it was already rhyolite colored. Figured it was going to be a fast roughing run. Had to add 3 more pounds of rhyolite to the load this morning to get back to 2/3 barrel. Thought it had just settled till I looked at how rounded the samples were. Getting paranoid about polish on such a soft rock, LOL. |
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Post by orrum on Dec 7, 2014 11:06:43 GMT -5
James I am concerned that the really coarse grits you are using is reducing too fast and you are wasting rovk. Also the really deep scratches left by a coarse grit means that much more rock has to be removed to get rid of the scratches. I know it works faster but perhaps on soft rocks it might be better to ease them along? Just a rambling thought pardner.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 7, 2014 11:18:39 GMT -5
Those are going to be some beauties when finished. Got three or four pieces of rhyolite in my last mixed bag from the rock shed. It does seem to shape quickly. All finished roughing to my satisfaction in 2 and 3 weeks. Ha, went back and checked the water level after 2 hours yesterday and it was already rhyolite colored. Figured it was going to be a fast roughing run. Had to add 3 more pounds of rhyolite to the load this morning to get back to 2/3 barrel. Thought it had just settled till I looked at how rounded the samples were. Getting paranoid about polish on such a soft rock, LOL. Orrum may be on to something. I have been running some Labradorite and other mohs 6 and less. The Rhyolite got added as filler somewhere along the way. I have been using 240 sic for my rough grind. It is all going relatively fast and the surface is nice and smooth. Once I have enough to fill my UV18 I'm going to use the 240 again as the first vibe step. Might seem redundant but I think that the breakdown of grit in the vibe will benefit the final product. 600 sic to AO1000 to polish after that. Edit to add: I also plan to treat it like obsidian. I.E. about 50% ceramic and borax to thicken the slurry. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 11:33:27 GMT -5
James I am concerned that the really coarse grits you are using is reducing too fast and you are wasting rovk. Also the really deep scratches left by a coarse grit means that much more rock has to be removed to get rid of the scratches. I know it works faster but perhaps on soft rocks it might be better to ease them along? Just a rambling thought pardner. Slowly starting to feel this way. So used to agate. This Mohs 5-6 is a new road. The obsidian really has me frustrated. Jean and Ken have said similar. Chuck seems to agree. That's enough to open my ears. I could have a lava flow of rhyolite and obsidian particles on my farm and no polished rocks. Fast not necessarily better. Thanks for the heads up. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 11:42:48 GMT -5
Ha, went back and checked the water level after 2 hours yesterday and it was already rhyolite colored. Figured it was going to be a fast roughing run. Had to add 3 more pounds of rhyolite to the load this morning to get back to 2/3 barrel. Thought it had just settled till I looked at how rounded the samples were. Getting paranoid about polish on such a soft rock, LOL. Orrum may be on to something. I have been running some Labradorite and other mohs 6 and less. The Rhyolite got added as filler somewhere along the way. I have been using 240 sic for my rough grind. It is all going relatively fast and the surface is nice and smooth. Once I have enough to fill my UV18 I'm going to use the 240 again as the first vibe step. Might seem redundant but I think that the breakdown of grit in the vibe will benefit the final product. 600 sic to AO1000 to polish after that. Edit to add: I also plan to treat it like obsidian. I.E. about 50% ceramic and borax to thicken the slurry. Yep. Gotcha Ken. A bit irreversible since the rhyolite is already in the coarse SiC. I will try smoothing it w/the AO 220 at slow rotation in the rotary. Will probably add glass filler with the AO 220 at the slow 12 RPM. It is a pure load of rhyolite, so no foreign material. Will report back if the AO 220 repairs the damage, which may not rear it's ugly head till polish. And thanks for the heads up. |
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 7, 2014 14:10:57 GMT -5
Your welcome.
Rocks are weird critters. I've done obsidian and unakite in 80 grit and they did just fine. I once did a mix of microcline, sodalite, moonstone and some Lab in 80 grit. They all had these grooves worn into them. Switched them over to the 240 and they all smoothed out well. Still don't understand that as they are all close to the same for hardness. Must fall into the toughness and brittle categories.
Nice thing about rocks is you can't ruin them per se. Just make 'em smaller and take longer.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 14:59:19 GMT -5
Your welcome. Rocks are weird critters. I've done obsidian and unakite in 80 grit and they did just fine. I once did a mix of microcline, sodalite, moonstone and some Lab in 80 grit. They all had these grooves worn into them. Switched them over to the 240 and they all smoothed out well. Still don't understand that as they are all close to the same for hardness. Must fall into the toughness and brittle categories. Nice thing about rocks is you can't ruin them per se. Just make 'em smaller and take longer. I believe what you say. No doubt they have different properties. The thing that gets up my crawl is why 220 does not wipe out all damage from 30 or 46 grit. Or does not seem to. That's not fair. Time cures, eventually they will probably get done. Albeit ever shrinking. |
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Post by broseph82 on Dec 7, 2014 18:21:26 GMT -5
This is heat treated rhyolite running mostly in crushed SiC 60 grit grinding wheels. In the rotary. It was pre-shaped on a 30 grit grinder. Was astonished how fast it grinds, 16 hours, dry: wet, in sunlight: Wow just wow! |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Dec 7, 2014 18:47:52 GMT -5
Thanks Jimi. I don't think we have rhyolite in our area, a shame.
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Post by orrum on Dec 7, 2014 21:36:19 GMT -5
Ultimately James trial and error for us all. Those that don't make mistakes are hiding in the restroom afraid to make a decision and implement action!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2014 22:01:31 GMT -5
That's like natures fordite
Dave
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 8, 2014 0:41:04 GMT -5
James I am concerned that the really coarse grits you are using is reducing too fast and you are wasting rovk. Also the really deep scratches left by a coarse grit means that much more rock has to be removed to get rid of the scratches. I know it works faster but perhaps on soft rocks it might be better to ease them along? Just a rambling thought pardner. Slowly starting to feel this way. So used to agate. This Mohs 5-6 is a new road. The obsidian really has me frustrated. Jean and Ken have said similar. Chuck seems to agree. That's enough to open my ears. I could have a lava flow of rhyolite and obsidian particles on my farm and no polished rocks. Fast not necessarily better. Thanks for the heads up. James, starting obsidian at 220 is just what someone told me works for them. I have no first-hand knowledge of this, I haven't tumbled obsidian in over 40 years, lol. But when you start thinking about it, it kinda makes sense. Can understand how the rough start might mar it. In all fairness, the obsidian he had wasn't particularly well-rounded, as far as I'm concerned, still had some pits, too. But it wasn't bruised and still had decent size to it. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2014 6:45:18 GMT -5
Ultimately James trial and error for us all. Those that don't make mistakes are hiding in the restroom afraid to make a decision and implement action! I am frustrated. But no loss. Experimenting a pleasure to me. As long as there are a couple of other tumbling barrels making pretty rocks LOL. Was looking for some softer rocks to reduce tumbling time. Obsidian was not the best choice. But have a spare barrel spot, the war w/obsidian not finished. Hoping I could find an easy way, but not so easy. Have mastered a good life, but not good enough to rock hunt across the country for 6 month stints like some folks I know  |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2014 7:00:13 GMT -5
Slowly starting to feel this way. So used to agate. This Mohs 5-6 is a new road. The obsidian really has me frustrated. Jean and Ken have said similar. Chuck seems to agree. That's enough to open my ears. I could have a lava flow of rhyolite and obsidian particles on my farm and no polished rocks. Fast not necessarily better. Thanks for the heads up. James, starting obsidian at 220 is just what someone told me works for them. I have no first-hand knowledge of this, I haven't tumbled obsidian in over 40 years, lol. But when you start thinking about it, it kinda makes sense. Can understand how the rough start might mar it. In all fairness, the obsidian he had wasn't particularly well-rounded, as far as I'm concerned, still had some pits, too. But it wasn't bruised and still had decent size to it. Well Jean, starting w/220 buffalos me a bit. If you can start with a naturally rough rock and shape it with 220; then why can't you start with an unnaturally shaped rock shaped with 46 grit and use 220 on it. The better tumblers on this board are producing fine obsidian, I am not. So what I think is pretty much nada.LOL Got a spare barrel to tinker with the obsidian. Will continue. If a nice recipe comes along, so be it. This fellow said the same thing the others are saying. Glad you inquired w/him and let me know. |
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Post by orrum on Dec 8, 2014 9:30:05 GMT -5
I start my obsidian with 60/90 and half ceramics. Keep adding grit till its rounded very well and no pits. Then on to the Loto and 220 grit. I love your experimenting James! You report in a very understandible way and use pics! You say you have a empty barrel so send me your address and I will send you some banded Plomosa Road Ryolite to play with. There is a entire mountain made of the stuff here!!! Right on the road too, get out the truck and pick it up! It polishes to make a cab but I think a Vibe would make it water wet shine! Let's try some James and see?
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2014 10:05:26 GMT -5
I start my obsidian with 60/90 and half ceramics. Keep adding grit till its rounded very well and no pits. Then on to the Loto and 220 grit. I love your experimenting James! You report in a very understandible way and use pics! You say you have a empty barrel so send me your address and I will send you some banded Plomosa Road Ryolite to play with. There is a entire mountain made of the stuff here!!! Right on the road too, get out the truck and pick it up! It polishes to make a cab but I think a Vibe would make it water wet shine! Let's try some James and see? Only if I can send you something in return orrum. Maybe some polished Banded Plomosa Road Rhyloite, man that is a mouthful. ell yea I would like to try it !! Thanks for the compliment by the way. Sounds like you get to get out and get a piece of fresh desert air and beautiful scenery. I got to get over this jealousy ha. Will PM. Be glad to paypal or whatever you some $$$. |
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Post by orrum on Dec 8, 2014 14:29:39 GMT -5
Always could use a little coral James! I saw your Pm so watch the mail. It will be a few days before I can get to the post office. Keep on learnin us new tumbling ways pardner!
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