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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 11, 2016 13:44:04 GMT -5
I have just put together a long video about the process that I use to make spheres. Welcome to my over-crowded basement workshop!
I have found the video is a bit slow to load. Let me know if you have the same problem.
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Post by cobbledstones on Jan 11, 2016 13:53:35 GMT -5
loads fast here. Can't set aside 30 minutes now, but look forward to watching the whole thing tonight
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 11, 2016 14:53:53 GMT -5
Awesome. Thanks.
Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 11, 2016 16:23:23 GMT -5
I just watched the whole video. Excellent information and editing. I think I've been to the Central Mine, but I can't remember exactly which one that is. Is it the one that has paid tours? I picked up a bunch of rock at various mines, but I've only cut one. It was pretty crumbly. What has your experience been with the mine tailings? Your sphere sure polished up well.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 11, 2016 18:32:35 GMT -5
I just watched the whole video. Excellent information and editing. I think I've been to the Central Mine, but I can't remember exactly which one that is. Is it the one that has paid tours? I picked up a bunch of rock at various mines, but I've only cut one. It was pretty crumbly. What has your experience been with the mine tailings? Your sphere sure polished up well. There is the Central Mine and also the Central Exploration Mine. I have cut a few pieces with lots of copper in it but I don't have my gravity feed saw ready to go yet. With dense copper there is a good chance of locking up the blade in a gear driven saw. So your best bet is gravity feed. The few pieces that I have cut are a mix. Some is solid while a few were a bit crumbly. I have only picked there during "Keweena Mineral Days" You do pay a fee for each of the mine dumps you collect at. From $25 to $50 per mine. Depends on the deal they get with dozer or backhoe operators to come in and clear out the top layer of already searched material. Sadly, a few of the old waste piles are being crushed to make road gravel out of right now. There will be some beautiful datolite pieces on the roadbeds near there. |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 11, 2016 18:47:29 GMT -5
We ignored the signs that said not to go to one of the piles where the road commission was working (on some advice I got). I guess they don't bother you as long as the trucks aren't working. We found more copper chunks at that mine than any of the others. I spent two days looking for datolite but never found any,
I know what you mean about the copper not sawing well. I was trying to cut a small piece of almost pure copper with my trim saw. I never got through it. The blade just sort of smears the copper.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 11, 2016 19:20:48 GMT -5
Whoa awesome! I have a sphere machine I have never been able to use, when I get time I can't wait to watch, thank you!
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 11, 2016 21:27:44 GMT -5
Great video, I am getting antsy to start up the Baranca Fireball...but as you know..water doesn't flow well at 25 below.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 21, 2016 9:56:49 GMT -5
Awesome video! I don't think it leaves any questions unanswered.
I think my next major build will be a sphere machine!
Thanks for posting.
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Post by broseph82 on Jan 21, 2016 11:12:50 GMT -5
IN for watching later!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,722 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 21, 2016 17:33:57 GMT -5
Great video!
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Post by mohs on Jan 21, 2016 21:53:33 GMT -5
That
Rocked & Rolled
Dude !
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2016 22:42:54 GMT -5
What a machine, lots going on there. Narration and video too.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Jan 25, 2016 10:16:15 GMT -5
DirtCleaner. Have a question(s) please. Brazing diamonds to steel. Is that a tricky operation ? Fluxed rods ? I can watch youtube but like to hear your perspective. Would like to coat a 15 inch circular area on a stable piece of mild steel( inside of a tank end). A bowl rotating about 50 RPM at a say 30 degree angle with ~10 pounds of tumble size rocks and slurry. A roughing machine. Thanks
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818
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Post by Mark K on Jan 25, 2016 13:22:34 GMT -5
So instead of counting the links all of the time, why not paint 5 and 10 one color and 3 and 8 another? Easy peasy japaneesy.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 25, 2016 23:04:35 GMT -5
DirtCleaner . Have a question(s) please. Brazing diamonds to steel. Is that a tricky operation ? Fluxed rods ? I can watch youtube but like to hear your perspective. Would like to coat a 15 inch circular area on a stable piece of mild steel( inside of a tank end). A bowl rotating about 50 RPM at a say 30 degree angle with ~10 pounds of tumble size rocks and slurry. A roughing machine. Thanks It was easy for me, I called on my cousin to do it. He and his son are life-long auto body guys. Maybe somebody can chime in with a qualified answer. |
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 25, 2016 23:05:26 GMT -5
So instead of counting the links all of the time, why not paint 5 and 10 one color and 3 and 8 another? Easy peasy japaneesy. Every time I am in the shop and do that I think of that but every time I walk away I promptly forget and then don't have any paint nearby. But it will be done. |
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Jan 26, 2016 18:11:28 GMT -5
Love the insight into your sphere grinding operation, thanks!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,602
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Post by jamesp on Jan 30, 2016 8:01:49 GMT -5
DirtCleaner . Have a question(s) please. Brazing diamonds to steel. Is that a tricky operation ? Fluxed rods ? I can watch youtube but like to hear your perspective. Would like to coat a 15 inch circular area on a stable piece of mild steel( inside of a tank end). A bowl rotating about 50 RPM at a say 30 degree angle with ~10 pounds of tumble size rocks and slurry. A roughing machine. Thanks It was easy for me, I called on my cousin to do it. He and his son are life-long auto body guys. Maybe somebody can chime in with a qualified answer. Ha, best way having family service to the rescue. Looks like a lot of fun. Like the repurpose of the plumbing fittings. What size diamonds did you buy for the coarse grind ? I have some 25-30 grit diamonds. They are crystals, yellow/green in color. 200 carats. The diamonds must be resilient to handle brazing temps. |
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 31, 2016 20:51:43 GMT -5
They are reported as being 50-60 grit. Looks like they should last a while.
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