indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Jul 3, 2016 20:01:00 GMT -5
First, I haven't had many rocks to show this year because we moved houses and that, as it turns out, is a lot of work! The new view from the back of the back yard!!! (my house isn't quite as nice as this one ) The garden now, my tomatoes are taller than my corn! Anyway, on to rocks... It's hard to believe, but these rocks (I got from Sabre and Drummond) are the result of being left in 36/70 for 2 weeks and then about 2 tablespoons of comet for two weeks. I use it to clean between stages, but I got busy and didn't get to starting the next stage. Comet makes a heck of polish. So, the questions: 1) I am planning on running these through pre-polish next, but they look as good as most of my stuff AFTER pre polish. Do y'all think pre polish is the best next step? 2) A lot of these seem to have voids all the way through, but they're too pretty to cull. Do you all pitch rocks like that, or polish them anyway?
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Jul 3, 2016 20:01:21 GMT -5
I've had this happen a couple of times lately. The lid from a 3lb thumler's barrel. So, thanks to some of the ingenuity of you guys, I'm going the PVC route, at least for rough grinding. This, (by luck mostly) holds exactly 2 thumler's barrels full of water up to the top of the main PVC pipe. I'm running a test batch in them now. I was so proud of myself when I got done, because the joints were so pretty and I didn't get primer and glue all over the place... (ominous background music here) " Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
It leaked. Here it is in action. Not pretty anymore, but not leaking either. Woohoo! Spinning over the mess from the lid failure. I'll link the video I found that shows how I fixed it. It seems to be holding thankfully, that was kind of an expensive mistake.
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Jul 6, 2016 11:32:30 GMT -5
Pretty view from your backyard. Rocks are pretty too....cool to know Ajax did that. As for the voids..... If they are deep and you like the rock go ahead a polish them as is. Just be sure there is no grit in the holes before continuing to the next stage. I try to tumble til perfect but sometimes you lose what you most liked about the rock...so then it might be best to leave it imperfect.
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Jul 6, 2016 20:32:44 GMT -5
Forgot to add I'm living in John Cougar Mellenkamp's home town. There really are little pink houses here. I went out for a ride and found one this evening.
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Jul 6, 2016 21:21:16 GMT -5
That's cool. Looks like a pretty area.
Andrea
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 21:36:25 GMT -5
Regarding vugs:
Fill then with candle wax. Clean surface, tumble away.
When finished put in boiling water let wax float away
Enjoy.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jul 9, 2016 6:15:09 GMT -5
indianaInstead of using a bell reducer, use a coupling and a 6 to 4 bushing. Reason being is the shoulder wears thru at the 4 to 6 inch point on bell reducers. Bushings have much thicker shoulders. It is not a problem since you have plenty of pipe to cut off and glue a 6 inch coupling on to receive a 4 to 6 bushing. I would guess the bell reducer may last 6 to 8 months using 46/70. Couplings about $12 and bushing about $12. And you need about a 5 inch stub of sch 40 pvc pipe to stick in the bushing for the rubber cap to attach. The end cap should last 2 years. I just make the pipe long enough so I can cut of the end cap and glue another on. As both the end cap and the bell wears you can put a bright light against the barrel and see where it is getting thinner. Speed looks like 30 to 35, perfect.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jul 9, 2016 6:22:58 GMT -5
Those time spans are for 100% running 30 grit. 220 and finer has hardly any effect on wear. I also run broken up chunks of Sic grinding wheels which really wears the barrel fast. Rocks too.
Basically anything that wears agates fast is going to wear barrels faster. But over 2 year period you save money using coarse grit and overhauling barrel.
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Jul 9, 2016 7:34:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip James!
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