jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Sept 25, 2016 11:21:32 GMT -5
Sawed edges w/divots. Must grind to fit in 4 inch opening. Very hard rock with very few fractures. Love this stuff.
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Post by mohs on Sept 25, 2016 12:00:52 GMT -5
serious rock guys!
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2015
Posts: 411
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Post by Erich on Sept 25, 2016 12:39:32 GMT -5
Almost a shame to tumble it, but they should be awesome.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Sept 25, 2016 13:23:56 GMT -5
This one is going to be impressive for sure. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Sept 25, 2016 16:43:51 GMT -5
Grinding took 20 minutes. Bloodstone about like coral, tough and hard. By wetting the stone cracks can be seen as they stay wet longer. Not any noticeable cracks in this one. Should take a dynamo polish. after, wet after, dry
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Sept 26, 2016 9:12:32 GMT -5
Bloodstone after 14 hours in SiC 30. Dry. High spots beginning to smooth. SiC 30 grit after 14 hours. Fresh SiC 30 sprinkled in center to compare. Looks like it is about SiC 220-300 after 14 hours. Grit breakdown very fast with the big rock rolling. Adding one cup SiC 30 every 12 hours. Grit seperation pan and media Ready to run rhyolite in vibe. Vibe still has some Borax and polish. No need to clean out. One cup sugar and 2 tablespoons AO 80 on right. Rhyolite at center. 1.5 cups water to left.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 5:27:14 GMT -5
If someone were in a hurry to coarse grind their Mohs 7 hardness rocks SiC 30(suggesting 30) grit additions should be made every 8 hours when running single ~1.5 to 2 pound rock. Let 3rd or 4th 30 grit addition run a day to kill all the grit and then do a clean out. So a clean out every two days. May have to thin slurry in that two day period.
Not suggested-running less than Mohs 7 rocks when running a 1.5-2 pounder. Including small rocks and the big rock. To avoid hammer milling stones. Clay based slurry thickener suggested.
No doubt, the big rock increases grind time on the surrounding average size tumbles. I don't think smalls are a good thing with this arrangement. I think it reduces long sliding motion that abrades rocks. And the big rock increases the pressure and length of the rubbing action where ever it goes in the barrel. Never had SiC 30 reduce in size this fast. I don't think it is crushing the grit, I believe it is the increased rubbing action breaking the grit down.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 8:07:45 GMT -5
Amazing progress. After 12 hours After 24 hours and fresh SiC 30. Not a scratch remaining. Black marks are to be re-ground to remove 'facets' and give a more rounded final look. Reminder: Bloodstone about as hard as agate/jasper gets. Just saying...
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 8:08:41 GMT -5
Weight is 1 pound 15.5 ounces.
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Post by captbob on Sept 27, 2016 8:32:01 GMT -5
Interesting. Speedy progress for sure. Gonna cut your electric bill.
How much do you figure that your PVC barrel adds to how quickly the SiC 30 is breaking down? You think the 30 would break down nearly as fast in a lined barrel?
Kinda like mortar and pestle action for that grit being pulverized between the PVC and a large rock.
Gonna be a nice rock! Wanna see the snowflake.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 8:55:15 GMT -5
Interesting. Speedy progress for sure. Gonna cut your electric bill. How much do you figure that your PVC barrel adds to how quickly the SiC 30 is breaking down? You think the 30 would break down nearly as fast in a lined barrel? Kinda like mortar and pestle action for that grit being pulverized between the PVC and a large rock. Gonna be a nice rock! Wanna see the snowflake. PVC ain't got a thing to do with it captbob. Slurry way to thick for the barrel to have any impact whatsoever. It is that big rock grinding the crap out of itself and the rest of the tumbles. Bearing down hard. Unlike 1 inch tumbles can do. I don't hear, and don't want to hear any banging. Just sliding. The muddy slurry sucks those rocks together and increases the grind rate. Convinced of that. Cohesive forces 101. I don't like the snowflake. It polished fair. But it was a crappy rock to begin with due to pits and tons of micro bubbles. Whereas the harder crazy lace took a brilliant polish just like this bloodstone will. Taking bets on that. Stick with Mohs 7. The rhyolite is looking good in the vibe, even it at Mohs 6 may not shine up like the Mohs 7 stuff.
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Post by captbob on Sept 27, 2016 9:24:49 GMT -5
Alrighty then... I gotta try this.
I've got some big honkin' Rio agates from Mel. Some larger/heavier than what you have been using, so should be able to come up with the weight easily. Don't have your grinder, so Rio agate is my most nicely rounded stone.
Got an unopened 50 lb box of 30 grit somewhere in garage.
So, what do I use as smalls? You are using coral I believe. Probably said, I forget, what hardness do I want for the smalls? I have a boat load of small Rio agates and Rio end cuts, they work as smalls?
Big Rio, smalls, 30 grit and water = good to go?
No Viking vibe, so no one week tumble for me. Follow up steps will be in rotary as well.
More than one biggie in the barrel is a no no - right?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Sept 27, 2016 9:32:11 GMT -5
Interesting. Speedy progress for sure. Gonna cut your electric bill. How much do you figure that your PVC barrel adds to how quickly the SiC 30 is breaking down? You think the 30 would break down nearly as fast in a lined barrel? Kinda like mortar and pestle action for that grit being pulverized between the PVC and a large rock. Gonna be a nice rock! Wanna see the snowflake. PVC ain't got a thing to do with it captbob. Slurry way to thick for the barrel to have any impact whatsoever. It is that big rock grinding the crap out of itself and the rest of the tumbles. Bearing down hard. Unlike 1 inch tumbles can do. I don't hear, and don't want to hear any banging. Just sliding. The muddy slurry sucks those rocks together and increases the grind rate. Convinced of that. Cohesive forces 101. I don't like the snowflake. It polished fair. But it was a crappy rock to begin with due to pits and tons of micro bubbles. Whereas the harder crazy lace took a brilliant polish just like this bloodstone will. Taking bets on that. Stick with Mohs 7. The rhyolite is looking good in the vibe, even it at Mohs 6 may not shine up like the Mohs 7 stuff. I think the barrel material has to have some bearing on the grit breakdown. Just like the grit gets caught between rocks to break down, it has to do the same with the barrel, regardless of slurry thickness. If not, then the slurry would be keeping the rocks from grinding the grit between them too. Just my opinion, based on what I see in my rubber barrels. I have some hefty rocks in there, not quite the 2 pound type, but larger than I usually tumble, and the Sic 30 is not breaking down completely after a week.
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Post by Pat on Sept 27, 2016 9:34:14 GMT -5
That is the best bloodstone I have ever seen. What are you going to do with it? Does it have to be ground to fit 4" hole for a smaller tumbler barrel? So I assume it is getting ground in s bigger barrel? Thanks for the progress report!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 9:34:36 GMT -5
"Big Rio, smalls, 30 grit and water = good to go?"
Yep
Do 1.5 to 2 pounder. Use little Rio's 1-2 inches. No smalls. SiC 30.
thick slurry-dried slurry of clay based cat litter or some kind of clay Or you will develop a slurry quickly the first day or two. Just don't do a total clean out. Just thin existing slurry. Keep the slurry....
You may want to grind a window on the big Rio just to watch it's progress at that ground window.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 9:42:11 GMT -5
PVC ain't got a thing to do with it captbob. Slurry way to thick for the barrel to have any impact whatsoever. It is that big rock grinding the crap out of itself and the rest of the tumbles. Bearing down hard. Unlike 1 inch tumbles can do. I don't hear, and don't want to hear any banging. Just sliding. The muddy slurry sucks those rocks together and increases the grind rate. Convinced of that. Cohesive forces 101. I don't like the snowflake. It polished fair. But it was a crappy rock to begin with due to pits and tons of micro bubbles. Whereas the harder crazy lace took a brilliant polish just like this bloodstone will. Taking bets on that. Stick with Mohs 7. The rhyolite is looking good in the vibe, even it at Mohs 6 may not shine up like the Mohs 7 stuff. I think the barrel material has to have some bearing on the grit breakdown. Just like the grit gets caught between rocks to break down, it has to do the same with the barrel, regardless of slurry thickness. If not, then the slurry would be keeping the rocks from grinding the grit between them too. Just my opinion, based on what I see in my rubber barrels. I have some hefty rocks in there, not quite the 2 pound type, but larger than I usually tumble, and the Sic 30 is not breaking down completely after a week. I do run a Lortone 12 pound barrel. Can't tell much difference Randy. Except big rocks make it leak by hitting the lid.
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Post by captbob on Sept 27, 2016 9:42:27 GMT -5
Think I can have more than one biggie in a 15 lb barrel, or just one big 'un?
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Post by captbob on Sept 27, 2016 9:45:09 GMT -5
I do run a Lortone 12 pound barrel. Can't tell much difference Randy. Except big rocks make it leak by hitting the lid. Buy a real tumbler!
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 9:45:27 GMT -5
That is the best bloodstone I have ever seen. What are you going to do with it? Does it have to be ground to fit 4" hole for a smaller tumbler barrel? So I assume it is getting ground in s bigger barrel? Thanks for the progress report! I have to thank Tony for the bloodstone Pat. And yes, that rock had to be ground to fit in the 4 inch opening. I believe the Thumbler barrels have a big wide mouth opening for yet bigger rocks. But I am being conservative holding them at 2-3 pounds.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Sept 27, 2016 9:45:50 GMT -5
Think I can have more than one biggie in a 15 lb barrel, or just one big 'un? NO
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