schnur07
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 12
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Post by schnur07 on Sept 19, 2016 23:33:39 GMT -5
A few months ago I was researching rock tumbling trying to figure out what to purchase to get started. I ran across a thread in this forum somewhere about a two step tumbling process that I think started out with a vibratory machine and then finished with a rotary. For some reason the username James sticks in my mind. I can't even think of what to search for to try to find it. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Thinking of purchasing some equipment for my daughters for Christmas. We head out to the Willamette River in Salem Oregon and have pounds of agates we need to do something with. I thought if there was a shorter two step process that would be a quicker way to get through all our rocks.
thanks!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Sept 20, 2016 0:29:56 GMT -5
This thread is an example of using silicon carbide 30 grit and aluminum oxide 220 schnur07. SiC 30 in the rotary and AO 220 in the vibe. It works well for me. Not conventional. Note: I pre-shaped this big target rock to speed up the SiC 30 shaping process substantially. Whether you use an 2 step or conventional 4 step it still takes a long time in the coarse grit stage to round off average rocks. Long time meaning 6-10 weeks and adding coarse grit at least 6-12 times. Or even longer. There is no escape from this long coarse grit shaping stage unless you pre-shape your rocks on a grinder. Or have rocks that were well prepared by nature in some form or fashion. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/76083/minute-prep-hours-polish-beginning?page=3
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schnur07
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 12
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Post by schnur07 on Sept 20, 2016 8:42:43 GMT -5
Thanks Jamesp. I thought I remembered reading one where it shortened the total time to about a week? Maybe I misread or misunderstood what I was reading.
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schnur07
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 12
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Post by schnur07 on Sept 20, 2016 23:19:11 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Sept 22, 2016 5:19:50 GMT -5
That is deceiving. ALL those were pre-ground schnur. If you do not pre-grind the process takes waaaay longer in the coarse grind stage.
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