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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 15:12:08 GMT -5
The other day, @shotgunner posted a video about making a sink out of a large rock. I had seen that video before, and I've been wanting to make a birdbath the same way with a large boulder. Today I tried a smaller scale version of the same thing. I used a 4 inch (4.5 inch?) angle grinder with a diamond wheel to cut grooves in the rock, hammered out the pieces, and finished it up with a cup grinder. Now I need to find some diamond pads with a finer diamond grit to polish the inside. I'm super happy with how this is turning out so far. When I showed my wife, she said, "what are you going to do with it?" in a tone that clearly meant, "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that in my living room." Now I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but maybe a bowl of polished rocks would look nice in my shop.  |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jun 4, 2016 15:23:23 GMT -5
When I showed my wife, she said, "what are you going to do with it?" in a tone that clearly meant, "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that in my living room." Been there |
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jun 4, 2016 15:27:25 GMT -5
That's looking great...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 15:36:11 GMT -5
If it's a bird bath, leave the bowl rough, better footing for your customers.
Eye candy dish? Polish it!
Nice work amigo. I have my eye on some HUGE jasper boulders and an considering a multimedia sculpture with a stone bowl...
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 15:52:32 GMT -5
I just started looking for polishing pads, but it appears as though they're made for slower grinders. I hadn't planned on buying a new grinder, just some pads. Does anyone have experience with these things? Any recommendations?
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 4, 2016 15:54:47 GMT -5
Nice work! How long did it take. That should have read- "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that THING in my living room." Sorry guys, I'm guilty of saying that a few times, but who wants a Romulan Warbird hanging from the living room ceiling?  OK, DH does..... |
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jun 4, 2016 15:58:33 GMT -5
When I showed my wife, she said, "what are you going to do with it?" in a tone that clearly meant, "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that in my living room." Been there x2 Looks like a fun project though. |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 16:03:43 GMT -5
Nice work! How long did it take. That should have read- "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that THING in my living room." Sorry guys, I'm guilty of saying that a few times, but who wants a Romulan Warbird hanging from the living room ceiling? OK, DH does..... It didn't take long, maybe an hour and a half. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 4, 2016 16:05:08 GMT -5
Nice work! How long did it take. That should have read- "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that THING in my living room." Sorry guys, I'm guilty of saying that a few times, but who wants a Romulan Warbird hanging from the living room ceiling? OK, DH does..... It didn't take long, maybe an hour and a half. I'm surprised. I figured it would take longer. |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2016 16:33:57 GMT -5
What RPM is your grinder? My Barranca Diamond wet grinder is 3200. These are the type of pads it uses. Cheaper on ebay but this link was easier to find. www.barrancadiamond.com/lap/pol_disc_resin.htmlThe grinder is a slick unit with GFI and water right into the spinning pads. I have had it for years but have never used it yet.  Chuck |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2016 16:38:32 GMT -5
jamesp would be the guy to ask about the pads. He uses them on his walmart grinder setups. Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jun 4, 2016 16:42:35 GMT -5
Mexican dish at a restaurant in Bisbee Az was cooked in a huge hunk of hollowed out rock. It was bubbling n blazing hot, they bring the whole rock to the table. It was thick n had shrimp in it. You take taco pieces and dip into it to get a bite. It was great!!! I wanna go back.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 18:35:32 GMT -5
What RPM is your grinder? My Barranca Diamond wet grinder is 3200. These are the type of pads it uses. Cheaper on ebay but this link was easier to find. www.barrancadiamond.com/lap/pol_disc_resin.htmlThe grinder is a slick unit with GFI and water right into the spinning pads. I have had it for years but have never used it yet. Chuck You have all the fun toys, Chuck. I just have a plain old angle grinder that runs at 10,000 rpm. It worked very well for the part I did so far. I didn't know that the polishing pads had to run so much slower.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2016 18:56:50 GMT -5
When I showed my wife, she said, "what are you going to do with it?" in a tone that clearly meant, "I sure hope you don't plan on putting that in my living room." Been there Heard that one too. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2016 19:02:42 GMT -5
What RPM is your grinder? My Barranca Diamond wet grinder is 3200. These are the type of pads it uses. Cheaper on ebay but this link was easier to find. www.barrancadiamond.com/lap/pol_disc_resin.htmlThe grinder is a slick unit with GFI and water right into the spinning pads. I have had it for years but have never used it yet. Chuck You have all the fun toys, Chuck. I just have a plain old angle grinder that runs at 10,000 rpm. It worked very well for the part I did so far. I didn't know that the polishing pads had to run so much slower. 10,000 fine for hard grinding wheels. The 3600 RPM is for the diamond rubber pads, any faster and they melt. So you might as well get a center water feed 3200-3600 RPM grinder. May need to find a place to hide your creations  |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2016 19:03:14 GMT -5
I never knew the RPM was so different between the two either. I wish you lived a bit closer so you could just borrow it. Someone should use it, lol
My grand plan was to face polish a large 16"-18" pudding stone with it but who has time for that.
Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 19:07:24 GMT -5
I never knew the RPM was so different between the two either. I wish you lived a bit closer so you could just borrow it. Someone should use it, lol My grand plan was to face polish a large 16"-18" pudding stone with it but who has time for that. Chuck It fits in a flat rate box, so since I had your address, I sent it to you. Could you just mail it back when it's done please? |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jun 4, 2016 19:13:28 GMT -5
Rob, to get the variable speed like you point out, I got a variable speed sander/polisher at Harbor freight (I think it is intended as a car waxer). Then got the polishing disks off eBay. Rigged up a water shield from a carefully cut up milk jug. Then I rig a hose sprayer off my portable work bench in the yard so it very lightly sprays a small stream onto the rock & pad. I plug into a gfi and use rubber gloves and rubber boots (ha ha). Figure if James can risk it with his multiple grinder set up he showed last year, then I can't be a weannie either. It works amazingly well. Good luck
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Post by Rockoonz on Jun 4, 2016 19:16:21 GMT -5
Ok now I'm ready to bite.
Mama has wanted a bird bath for awhile and I have all those 7 inch blades from the other Lee.
I also have a big old 7 inch grinder, if I can figure a way to keep the water and rock dust out of the motor.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2016 19:23:29 GMT -5
Rob, to get the variable speed like you point out, I got a variable speed sander/polisher at Harbor freight (I think it is intended as a car waxer). Then got the polishing disks off eBay. Rigged up a water shield from a carefully cut up milk jug. Then I rig a hose sprayer off my portable work bench in the yard so it very lightly sprays a small stream onto the rock & pad. I plug into a gfi and use rubber gloves and rubber boots (ha ha). Figure if James can risk it with his multiple grinder set up he showed last year, then I can't be a weannie either. It works amazingly well. Good luck I was thinking of looking at Harbor Freight for something. Unfortunately, the closest one is at least two hours away. I'll check out the online store. |
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OK, DH does.....
