mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 18, 2015 11:05:53 GMT -5
In a 40lb tumbler, I do one week each in 60/90, 220, 400, and 600. I use a vibe for polish and prepolish. Do you think I can skip the 220 or 400, maybe try a single step of 320?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 18, 2015 11:22:22 GMT -5
There are no rules to this game. If what you just posted suits your needs and you like the results then that's the best way. My approach is way different but I get the results I am after so my way is right for me. That being said I would not skip 220 in your sequence but I would skip 400. I also do not understand why anyone with a vibe tumbler would do 220, 400 or 600 in the rotary? Huge waste of grit and time IMHO.
Stage one: 46/70 in a rotary with weekly clean outs and inspection of each rock. flawless rocks get set aside for stage 2 and flawed rocks go back to stage 1 again. I never ever place a time period on stage one. Stage one is as long as required on a per rock basis.
Stage two: 120/220 silcone carbide in the loto vibe for 48 hours
Stage three: 500 aluminum oxide in the loto for 48 hours
Stage four (If required): 1000 aluminum oxide in the loto for 48 hours
Stage five: aluminum oxide polish in the loto for 48 hours
Stage Six: Borax burnish in the loto for 2 hours
Ask a dozen people get a dozen answers and none of them are wrong. Correct amount of rock, water, and grit are also key factors to successful tumbling.
Chuck
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 18, 2015 12:12:24 GMT -5
Thanks drummond. I have a lot of stuff to polish, and have several 40lb machines running constantly. You are right-I spend a lot of money on grit (and electricity), and so I am trying to eliminate any unnecessary steps here. My vibe is used for 800 and polish only. Maybe unload a couple of my 40lb and replace with another vibe?
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 19, 2015 12:43:52 GMT -5
Just a thought .... If happy with the shape after a week of 60/90 do the 220 and let it roll for say 3 to 4 weeks. Silicon Carbide grit breaks down into finer grits as it tumbles. Gotta imagine a 40 pounder is pretty aggressive ... So after a week of 220 your rolling with 440, next week 880 and so on. I think a 50% breakdown is a good assumption here. Of course some filler and or adjustment to the slurry thickness could be needed along the way. After that into the vibe ....
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Dec 19, 2015 14:59:10 GMT -5
Gotta go with Chuck here. Vibe is much more efficient with grit and electricity. Run that rough in the rotary for as long as it takes and shift to the vibe.
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