jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 16, 2016 18:08:09 GMT -5
These were easy. Pre-ground. 1rst week- SiC 30. 2nd week-added SiC 30, no clean out. 3rd week-added SiC 30 and let run for 12 days to break grit down, then cleaned out. Then 2 days in vibe with AO 500(pulled early): Presto, 30 day tumble. Before tumbling, after pre-grind, 4 white stones a bit to upper left from center: After
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 16, 2016 20:29:29 GMT -5
awesome tumble polish! wowser!
KD
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 16, 2016 20:44:50 GMT -5
The tumbler man!!!!!!! Looking great James...........
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Post by orrum on Mar 16, 2016 21:12:34 GMT -5
Impressed I am !!!
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Mar 16, 2016 22:26:43 GMT -5
That stuff reads thru pretty good, nice job.
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Post by Pat on Mar 16, 2016 23:43:52 GMT -5
You could use the clear quartz as a magnifying glass! Wow!
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 17, 2016 7:07:41 GMT -5
Nice looking tumbles, James! Where's the quartz from? And hows the fingers doing?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 8:29:10 GMT -5
Nice looking tumbles, James! Where's the quartz from? And hows the fingers doing? The quartz came from quartz LOL. That would be our dear friend Larry ( quartz). I think he got it from an estate sale that he managed for his friend. An old rockhound's estate that had some real jewels in it. Like baseball sized snakeskin agate.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 17, 2016 8:43:51 GMT -5
Cool.
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 213
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Post by rodeodan on Mar 17, 2016 9:02:04 GMT -5
How did the other pieces turn out; does this process also work for regular agates etc? Why did you use 500 AO as opposed to polish? Thanks for this thread, I am going to try it out.
Dan
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Mar 17, 2016 9:48:06 GMT -5
Beautiful quartz. You guys are going to cause me to buy a vibe.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:17:39 GMT -5
How did the other pieces turn out; does this process also work for regular agates etc? Why did you use 500 AO as opposed to polish? Thanks for this thread, I am going to try it out. Dan I did this test carefully to prove a point Dan. I am repeatedly SiC 30 and skipping 80-120-220 and going straight to AO 500 in the vibe from the rotary. Clear quartz is an extreme test, going from SiC 30 to AO 500. The trick is to leave the slurry thick(within reason) and not do clean outs, just weekly grit additions, and let the last coarse grit addition run 12-14 days. The SiC 30 gives a quicker grind, and breaks way down after 12-14 days to a very fine grit with the milk shake slurry. As far as using polish after the AO 500 is your choice and rather moot since it is a 1-2 day process and often gives a higher luster. Most tumbling time is spent on the roughing process. 30 grit speeds things up and skipping clean outs and 120-220 step saves energy.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:19:58 GMT -5
That stuff reads thru pretty good, nice job. Thanks for the stock Larry. Still got 6 chunks of the stuff. Fine quartz, thumbs up.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:21:19 GMT -5
You could use the clear quartz as a magnifying glass! Wow! Maybe I can grind a lens shape next time Pat. Betcha it would magnify just fine.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:22:13 GMT -5
awesome tumble polish! wowser! KD Thanks krazy, all it takes is good stock
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 17, 2016 10:22:29 GMT -5
Beautiful quartz. You guys are going to cause me to buy a vibe. Ha ha, you won't be the first that has been seduced by the dark side! A lot of pushers and enablers on here...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 10:22:42 GMT -5
How did the other pieces turn out; does this process also work for regular agates etc? Why did you use 500 AO as opposed to polish? Thanks for this thread, I am going to try it out. Dan I did this test carefully to prove a point Dan. I am repeatedly SiC 30 and skipping 80-120-220 and going straight to AO 500 in the vibe from the rotary. Clear quartz is an extreme test, going from SiC 30 to AO 500. The trick is to leave the slurry thick(within reason) and not do clean outs, just weekly grit additions, and let the last coarse grit addition run 12-14 days. The SiC 30 gives a quicker grind, and breaks way down after 12-14 days to a very fine grit with the milk shake slurry. As far as using polish after the AO 500 is your choice and rather moot since it is a 1-2 day process and often gives a higher luster. Most tumbling time is spent on the roughing process. 30 grit speeds things up and skipping clean outs and 120-220 step saves energy. Found it! So, in the vibe, the 500 AO is reduced to polish?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:24:25 GMT -5
How did the other pieces turn out; does this process also work for regular agates etc? Why did you use 500 AO as opposed to polish? Thanks for this thread, I am going to try it out. Dan Letting the others run out a day or two longer, then do a polish to compare to the quartz. And will throw a couple of those quartz in with them to see if there is a difference.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:26:10 GMT -5
I did this test carefully to prove a point Dan. I am repeatedly SiC 30 and skipping 80-120-220 and going straight to AO 500 in the vibe from the rotary. Clear quartz is an extreme test, going from SiC 30 to AO 500. The trick is to leave the slurry thick(within reason) and not do clean outs, just weekly grit additions, and let the last coarse grit addition run 12-14 days. The SiC 30 gives a quicker grind, and breaks way down after 12-14 days to a very fine grit with the milk shake slurry. As far as using polish after the AO 500 is your choice and rather moot since it is a 1-2 day process and often gives a higher luster. Most tumbling time is spent on the roughing process. 30 grit speeds things up and skipping clean outs and 120-220 step saves energy. Found it! So, in the vibe, the 500 AO is reduced to polish? Rock Shed's AO500 sure does reduce. Some others do not do as well. They have the best AO 500, I have 4 different brands.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 17, 2016 10:26:26 GMT -5
awesome tumble polish! wowser! KD Thanks krazy, all it takes is good stock Don't downplay your skilz, James. It is all stuff you have learned by deduction, educated guesses and trial and error. You rock, James!!!
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