jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 10:27:46 GMT -5
Vibe time indiana. However your tumbles have a high luster from the rotary. Vibe is quick though. Real tumblers can do the wet thing with a rotary.
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peachfront
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Post by peachfront on Mar 17, 2016 11:43:59 GMT -5
I've got a lot of optical quartz from an old estate I haven't tried to cut. Does the final polish need to be in a vibe? Because I don't have a vibe... would hate to get it all the way "almost" there.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 11:57:46 GMT -5
I've got a lot of optical quartz from an old estate I haven't tried to cut. Does the final polish need to be in a vibe? Because I don't have a vibe... would hate to get it all the way "almost" there. Optical quartz can be a terminology for a type of optical glass. Much softer and like tumbling glass, can be a challenge. If it is natural optical quartz it is Mohs 7 and should be able to be tumbled just like any quartz crystal/amethyst/rutillated quartz etc. peachfront. In any case you could throw a piece in with an agate run and let er fly. These 4 were run all the way with hard agate and coral. I did use a lot of small quartz filler in the vibe. And kept the slurry thick in the rotary so as not to bruise this quartz. These are big pebbles and prone to bruising.
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rodeodan
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Post by rodeodan on Mar 17, 2016 13:41:58 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. Thanks James, think that I'll try this with some amethyst that has been giving me headaches.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 14:25:27 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. Thanks James, think that I'll try this with some amethyst that has been giving me headaches. headaches ? frosting ?
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rodeodan
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Post by rodeodan on Mar 17, 2016 15:27:45 GMT -5
yes, just can't seem to get them done properly, even with using a vibe for the last two stages.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 16:06:28 GMT -5
yes, just can't seem to get them done properly, even with using a vibe for the last two stages. What vibe ? I have reduced frosting in my Viking vibe using 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water per 15 pounds of rock. Or even up to 2 cups sugar and 1.5-2 cups water. 2 cups sugar and 1.5 cups water makes a pretty thick syrup.(per 15 pounds rock)
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panamark
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Post by panamark on Mar 17, 2016 18:48:23 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. If you need another challenge James, you should read up sometime on the guys that are making their own lenses ( correction, I mean mirrors) for telescopes. Wow, right up your alley. They have to find the thick glass source material from thrift shops, etc in the form of tables, etc. Then they typically build their own forms and even kilns. Then stack the pieces of glass and fire it carefully. Then grind to proper shape. Then polish to perfection. Then they have it silvered. They make some amazing stuff. Only for people who have too much time on their hands, LOL I REALLY enjoy seeing your mind work and your hands follow thru!!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2016 19:08:13 GMT -5
Maybe I can grind a lens shape next time Pat. Betcha it would magnify just fine. If you need another challenge James, you should read up sometime on the guys that are making their own lenses for telescopes. Wow, right up your alley. They have to find the thick glass source material from thrift shops, etc in the form of tables, etc. Then they typically build their own forms and even kilns. Then stack the pieces of glass and fire it carefully. Then grind to proper shape. Then polish to perfection. Then they have it silvered. They make some amazing stuff. Only for people who have too much time on their hands, LOL I REALLY enjoy seeing your mind work and your hands follow thru!! Seen it done on a quicky video Mark. It is a heck of a process and requires about 8 grit steps since the grit does not break down so much. Heck, just the pitch resin mold is a big deal to make. special motions and cycles of motion required. lots of patience.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 18, 2016 3:45:51 GMT -5
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!!! Patience from growing plants over the years has taught me to leave things alone and let nature take it's time. Same philosophy with tumbling rocks. Sit back and let the tumbler do the work on the abrasives. Got too much to do to fool around tending and cleaning out tumblers if it is not necessary. Always running 3-4 barrels with 15-25 pounds of rock. This 2 step method really made things easier. Trying to figure out if this China made tumbler is for rocks or just silver and gold. They are made like this up to 25 pound capacity. 6 pound, cost $48, shipping $78 25 pound cost about $280, shipping $460
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 18, 2016 8:18:05 GMT -5
Da-----ng, those came out sweet!......Mel
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 18, 2016 8:28:21 GMT -5
Da-----ng, those came out sweet!......Mel Some fine quartz Mel.
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bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Mar 18, 2016 10:36:23 GMT -5
You know its done right when one can read through the quartz. Well done sir!
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peachfront
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Post by peachfront on Mar 18, 2016 12:13:22 GMT -5
If it is natural optical quartz it is Mohs 7 and should be able to be tumbled just like any quartz crystal/amethyst/rutillated quartz etc. peachfront. In any case you could throw a piece in with an agate run and let er fly. These 4 were run all the way with hard agate and coral. I did use a lot of small quartz filler in the vibe. And kept the slurry thick in the rotary so as not to bruise this quartz. These are big pebbles and prone to bruising. Thanks. Yes, it's natural optical quartz.
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39don
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Post by 39don on Mar 18, 2016 15:10:08 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 I remember when I first came aboard on this forum there were many who couldn't believe I used only 90 grit in my old Viking vib. Now, James has out done me taking it down to 30 grit and kicks it with AO500 for only 2 days. James, you are "THE" major player in the tumbling arena. Congratulations!!!!!! 39don
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 19, 2016 6:49:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments. 39don, how about the laziest player in the tumbling arena. Aggressive additions(every 4 days) of 30 grit in the rotary and not cleaning out is a fast grind in the rotary. That way you have 30-~100 grit grinding in the barrel at all times throughout the coarse grind. After 4 days the 30 is about 100-150 grit in size. 100 grit is too fine to shape rocks fast, might as well recharge with fresh 30, keep aggressive size abrasives at work. We are using electricity here, make the best of it. After 12-14 days the 30 grit is broken down well past 220 on the last run. Skip 220 and transfer to 500 in vibe. Those quartz nuggets average 2 ounces. A lot of the other corals and agates in the load were over 2 ounces. Without some kind of filler or thick slurry the quartz would show bruises banging with the agates. I choose thick slurry to protect delicate and larger rocks in the rotary because filler takes up valuable tumbler space. As far as the vibe, filler does best with delicate and large rocks since the vibe does not do well with thick slurries. The vibe is fast, less than a week and they are done; it is the rotary that eats time/wear and electricity.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 19, 2016 7:00:09 GMT -5
If it is natural optical quartz it is Mohs 7 and should be able to be tumbled just like any quartz crystal/amethyst/rutillated quartz etc. peachfront. In any case you could throw a piece in with an agate run and let er fly. These 4 were run all the way with hard agate and coral. I did use a lot of small quartz filler in the vibe. And kept the slurry thick in the rotary so as not to bruise this quartz. These are big pebbles and prone to bruising. Thanks. Yes, it's natural optical quartz. You could roll them in the rotary and at least get them rounded off peachfront. I would rather do a pure load of such quartz than mix them with tougher agates. If you run them in the rotary with say 35-50% quartz pea gravel or any smooth smalls from start to finish you should do fine. Crystalline quartz will sure bruise if you do not protect it with thick slurry or smalls. If your optical quartz is ALL small like less than one inch then frosting is much less a problem. If you have a single 2 ounce piece in the load it may bruise the others. All it takes is one larger 'bully' in the load.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 19, 2016 7:10:22 GMT -5
You know its done right when one can read through the quartz. Well done sir! Not sure where that clear quartz came from Dale. I remember you have a source of transistor quartz near you. These were probably 3-3.5 ounce chunks before they hit the hand grinder. Then the tumbler did a slight weight removal. Could have been removed a week earlier but there was a couple of bad faces that kept them rolling. Yanked them out of the vibe early because of concern of frosting them. Viking vibe notorious for frosting at given (agate)settings.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Mar 20, 2016 22:15:05 GMT -5
Nice work James. Those are really well done, perfect.
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es355lucille
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 21, 2016 0:42:07 GMT -5
I shall try your process Obi-Wan!
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