ratedterror
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 2
|
Post by ratedterror on Nov 16, 2015 0:02:38 GMT -5
After years of thinking how to make my own tumbler, and several attempts using crap motors, adapters, I finally made one super fast using printer motor, with the rods, and a dc adapter. I have 5 rocks and some playground sand. Now question is, do I need to add water?
This is a FREE project so no running off to buy grits
Whats the difference running dry sand, vs wet sand?
|
|
quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
|
Post by quartz on Nov 16, 2015 0:21:24 GMT -5
Unless your rocks are on the soft side, sand is probably no harder than what you are trying to polish, therefore it will take near forever. I doubt printer motors are rated to run continuously, likely won't last near forever. Water is to help carry and distribute grit, making it stick to the rocks and aid the rubbing action.
|
|
ratedterror
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 2
|
Post by ratedterror on Nov 16, 2015 0:25:43 GMT -5
So my polishing compound needs to be harder than the rocks being polished?
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 16, 2015 3:42:22 GMT -5
So my polishing compound needs to be harder than the rocks being polished? Most common is aluminum oxide and silicon carbide, both 9+ on the Mohs scale of hardness. Most tumbled rocks have silica @ Mohs 7. Yes, it takes very hard abrasives to tumble silica/quartz based rocks. If Mohs 10 diamond grit were available cheaply then that would be best. It would still take a long time because there is not much force in a tumbler. The impact action of a vibe has pretty high dynamic forces but not a rubbing type force. If you are tumbling soft marble or sea shells you could get away w/using sand. But they do not polish well in a tumbler. They can be polished using dry methods with corn cob media. But it is slow, especially on hard rocks.
|
|