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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 8:42:16 GMT -5
I made a trade with Keith (Kap). I'm not sure where he got it, since he lives in Georgia. It may be rough, but there are some cool rocks in there. I have two six pound barrels of it that I tumbled for bout two months this summer, but I had to take them out to do another project. I hope to get them back rolling again soon, they take forever to round out, but I think they'll be worth the wait, it will be interesting to see how the rotary tumbled rocks compare to these,
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 17:05:48 GMT -5
Hello Jugglerguy, I'm kind of relieved you gave up. I tried using my Lot-O-Tumbler on raw rough, and found the only time I liked it was on petrified wood when I wanted to retain as much of the appearance of real wood as possible. I've recently done a lot of obsidian in my Lot-O-Tumbler use the trash heaps from flint-knappers and have really loved the results, but I'm having a hard time getting a photo to post. Hope this comes through. I really like the Lot-O-Tumbler for this because it is so gentle when I need it to be. I usually only do two grits stages - 25 Silicone Carbide in rotary for shaping, and 500 Aluminum Oxide in Lot-O, which takes it all the way to polished. If the photo of the obsidian doesn't come through, can someone help me learn how to do it? Thanks! www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205030946548901&set=a.1574246871642.2081311.1099661315&type=1&theater |
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Post by MrP on Feb 14, 2015 17:27:35 GMT -5
Hello Jugglerguy, I'm kind of relieved you gave up. I tried using my Lot-O-Tumbler on raw rough, and found the only time I liked it was on petrified wood when I wanted to retain as much of the appearance of real wood as possible. I've recently done a lot of obsidian in my Lot-O-Tumbler use the trash heaps from flint-knappers and have really loved the results, but I'm having a hard time getting a photo to post. Hope this comes through. I really like the Lot-O-Tumbler for this because it is so gentle when I need it to be. I usually only do two grits stages - 25 Silicone Carbide in rotary for shaping, and 500 Aluminum Oxide in Lot-O, which takes it all the way to polished. If the photo of the obsidian doesn't come through, can someone help me learn how to do it? Thanks! www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205030946548901&set=a.1574246871642.2081311.1099661315&type=1&theaterYou are the master. All the trouble I have with obsidian and you go from 500 to polish!
Welcome to the board. We usually we say there is a lot for you to learn from this board but I am thinking many of us will be learning from you!........................................MrP
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 17:41:40 GMT -5
Wow, that's some shiny obsidian! I've never heard of anyone using grit as course as 25 SiC. That's a big jump to 500 AO. For obsidian, I usually do 80 grit in the rotary, then 220 SiC in the Lot-O followed by 500 AO and then polish.  To post your picture, I went to your Facebook page, right clicked on the picture and chose "Copy image address" from the pop up menu. I'm using a Mac, so the wording might be different on Windows. Then make sure you're on the regular "Reply" page, not "Quick Reply" and click on the photograph icon. Paste the address there. Welcome to the board, I think you're going to like it here. |
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 18:13:43 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the help and advice with photos! And thank you for the kind words. I definitely do not follow the instructions that came with the Lot-O-Tumbler, but after a lot of experimenting, I arrived as something that works for me. Anything with a Mohs around 7 takes about 24 hrs. The obsidian goes for closer to 48. I never recharge the Lot-O, just let the 500 AO break down over time. It does the job of a pre-polish, then becomes my polish. The other thing I do, especially for obsidian is use small, round polished quartz and agates as media. I buy big bags of the large-gauge rounded aquarium gravel to get these. Without them, the obsidian never gets that liquid glow.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 14, 2015 18:20:03 GMT -5
Wow, that's some shiny obsidian! I've never heard of anyone using grit as course as 25 Si C. That's a big jump to 500 AO. For obsidian, I usually do 80 grIt in the rotary, then 220 SiC in the Lot-O followed by 500 AO and then polish. Wow, awesome shine! Some folks I know totally skip the rough stage (and I'm talking like 80 grit, not ULTRA rough 25 grit!) on obsidian. But the proof is in the pudding, it appears to work for you. Welcome aboard! |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 18:34:28 GMT -5
Ingawh, have you tried ceramic media? I always use it in my Lot-O and get great shine on most everything I try.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 19:07:26 GMT -5
I'm going to try again to attach a photo. I took this batch out since posting earlier today - fresh out of the Lot-O-Tumbler. I photographed them with the agates/quartz to show how much media I use for cushioning and polishing. I'm getting of topic of this thread - is that a no-no?  |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 19:08:38 GMT -5
It's my thread and I don't mind a bit. Your picture didn't post though.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 19:15:49 GMT -5
Yes, I've got a bunch of ceramic media, but I haven't used it for ages. Much prefer my little agates.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 19:18:34 GMT -5
I use Flickr. It has almost unlimited storage for free. After you've uploaded your photo, click on it in Flickr. There is a little share arrow in the bottom right corner. Click it and choose "BB Code". Then choose a size. I use "Medium 800x600". Then copy the code and paste it here.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 19:31:44 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Feb 14, 2015 19:33:40 GMT -5
I'm reading that ingawh puts stones in the Lot-O with 500 and that's it. The 500 breaks down IN TO polish. Is that right? And uses much harder filler (agate)? Please clear that up for us ma'am and WELCOME to the forum.
jamesp is gonna be pulling his hair out if I'm reading this right |
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 19:40:54 GMT -5
Hi CaptBob. That is correct. Just 1/4 tsp of 500 Aluminum Oxide and a whole bunch of little polished agates in the with obsidian. The agates help break down the AO into a polish, and within 48 hours, you see the shine I get. (24 hours for harder rocks.) The balance of my slurry is a tiny bit of water, 5-6 pumps of liquid hand soap and a 1/4 tsp of Metamucil as a thickener. Totally serious.
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Post by captbob on Feb 14, 2015 19:42:08 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Feb 14, 2015 19:42:55 GMT -5
Hi CaptBob. That is correct. Just 1/4 tsp of 500 Aluminum Oxide and a whole bunch of little polished agates in the with obsidian. The agates help break down the AO into a polish, and within 48 hours, you see the shine I get. (24 hours for harder rocks.) The balance of my slurry is a tiny bit of water, 5-6 pumps of liquid hand soap and a 1/4 of Metamucil. Totally serious. this is gonna get fun! |
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Post by MrP on Feb 14, 2015 19:52:29 GMT -5
Ingawh, have you tried ceramic media? I always use it in my Lot-O and get great shine on most everything I try. I think her media is way cheaper and look at that shine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MrP |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 14, 2015 19:55:30 GMT -5
We might need to know the brand of gravel you use. You are going to be very popular here. That obsidian rocks.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
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Post by tkvancil on Feb 14, 2015 19:58:20 GMT -5
Jugglerguy considering what the vibe is and does I think you had a successful experiment. Thanks for the food for thought Rob. ingawh .... Gee Mo Nee Christmas that's some shiny obsidian !!!! Do you know if the Metamucil works in the rough tumble?
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Feb 14, 2015 20:05:38 GMT -5
I've never been able to get a shine on obsidian with the ceramic media. The highly polished little round agates are doing a lot of the polishing, I expect. I get it at Petco. There's some jasper and other stuff in it. I weed out the tiny stuff and bits of junk, but there are also pieces of chert and jasper that work well as media on harder stones. I throw it all in at the course grind, then sort out the best stuff for use with obsidian, and use the rest with harder rock. It's more work and sorting than the ceramic stuff, but it's pretty in its own right, lasts longer than the ceramic stuff, is cheaper, and besides, I love to sort rocks!
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