bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 14, 2016 16:27:51 GMT -5
Not any more. I took James advise and got rid of my ceramic media. Had some clear Montana's laying around taking up space. I cut about 4 lbs up. Cut slices into them. Cubed them up. Ceramic and my cubes. There in the tumbler and will post them in a few days after the polish stage. I cleaned the tumbler last night and I noticed a big change in the amount of plastic floaters from bowl wear.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 15, 2016 16:26:46 GMT -5
Two predictions come to mind.
1) The Montana chips will wear out much faster than the ceramics which last for years, and years, and years. 2) The Montana chips will prematurely wear through your vibe bowl. Even the ceramics (with no sharp edges) generate an considerable amount of plastic dust.
Hope I'm wrong on both. Let us know how things go as we all need to learn.
Darryl.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 15, 2016 19:13:50 GMT -5
I hope it reduces your bowl wear Dale. Hope you round off the edges in the rotary. I do like rounded pea sized agate and quartz media for finishing steps in my vibe. It does a good job on the target rocks. Those are going to be some beautiful Montana medias.
If you have any ceramic media that has black specs in it beware. Some ceramic media has SiC particles impregnated in it. It is very aggressive when impregnated like that. It will eat away about anything it comes into contact with. And not good to finish rocks with.
My Viking may have to be adjusted gentler to run ceramic media. It was not one of the medias mentioned to use in the Viking instructions. I think the Lot-O is designed for ceramic media.
You may consider going into the Montana agate earring business when those little jewels get the shape.
I guess I am weird, I get a handful of mixed agate media and look at it for too long admiring it. When they get thin you can see the inclusions and particles in it well.
There is an arrowhead knapping group that meet monthly close by my home. They have dumped piles of knapping chips of every king of agate imaginable behind their shed. Must be waist high. Been negotiating with them.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 15, 2016 19:34:38 GMT -5
Should work for quit awhile..............I use small gravel for my fill,works great too.............
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Post by Starguy on Feb 15, 2016 20:58:13 GMT -5
Nice looking batch Billy. I can't wait to see the final product. I've been using a glass cutter to score and break some slabs prior to tumbling. It seems to work good and is super fast. It doesn't work well on fibrous or heavily pitted slabs but on nice solid agate it's the fastest method I've found.
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bushmanbilly
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Member since October 2008
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 20, 2016 17:19:00 GMT -5
Two predictions come to mind. 1) The Montana chips will wear out much faster than the ceramics which last for years, and years, and years. 2) The Montana chips will prematurely wear through your vibe bowl. Even the ceramics (with no sharp edges) generate an considerable amount of plastic dust. Hope I'm wrong on both. Let us know how things go as we all need to learn. Darryl. These should last me a few years. I only will be using them in the pre and polish stages. I noticed a big drop in the amount of plastic floaters in their first run through. I would say 80% less than before with ceramics. I use almost 100% ceramic in my course stages. Large and small some with grit and some pure. The results of the first go around. They should look a lot better after a few more runs.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 20, 2016 19:15:52 GMT -5
Looks like you found a solution Dale. Will those be used with your picks ?
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 20, 2016 20:28:08 GMT -5
Dang...you got filler/smalls that'd I'd be proud to have for primary rocks!!!!! Nice-looking batch of "media"!!!
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bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 20, 2016 22:53:34 GMT -5
Looks like you found a solution Dale. Will those be used with your picks ? Yes, First batch with all agate/jasper media just started pre-polish tonight.
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bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 20, 2016 22:55:27 GMT -5
Dang...you got filler/smalls that'd I'd be proud to have for primary rocks!!!!! Nice-looking batch of "media"!!! Thanks
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 21, 2016 2:59:57 GMT -5
Looks like you found a solution Dale. Will those be used with your picks ? Yes, First batch with all agate/jasper media just started pre-polish tonight. Curious if it changes time of polish run. Isn't this is a repeat tumble that you have done many times ?
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bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 21, 2016 9:49:15 GMT -5
Yes but this is the first time will out any ceramic's.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 21, 2016 12:57:57 GMT -5
Yes but this is the first time will out any ceramic's. I felt like using all glass media was slower at getting a polish in the vibe. Switched to Mohs 7 media and seemed to have been about 20% faster. Not sure but it seemed that way. small beans.
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