jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2017 10:05:55 GMT -5
"I have heard that the ceramic material has a small percentage of abrasive Aluminum Carbide in it's makeup. I now make sure the ceramics I use have had a few runs in 80 grit to get a bit rounded before using them in a vibe. Someone ( jamesp ?) made a statement that small ceramics interrupts the vibe motion... but I have not found that post in my searches to verify it (was it for Vibrasonics or for UV-10/18 vibes???)" amygdule said that ceramic media slows or stops the rolling action in the Mini-Sonic if I am not mistaken. amygdule ? I don't think I ever said that. I have never even used ceramics. Sorry about that amygdule. I had you and the Mini Sonic on my mind. I do think someone mentioned that though. It surprised me.
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,773
|
Post by gemfeller on Nov 22, 2017 12:39:06 GMT -5
Thanks for that clarification jamesp. AlOx has always meant "corundum" to me because that's what rubies and sapphires are made of. In fact they used to call a type of AlOx polish "Ruby Powder." I've never heard it called a ceramic but "ceramic" is a broad term referring mainly to a process, not a material. So I suspect the material I referred to earlier is the same type I've used. I think I got mine from Rio Grande long ago.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2017 14:11:03 GMT -5
Thanks for that clarification jamesp. AlOx has always meant "corundum" to me because that's what rubies and sapphires are made of. In fact they used to call a type of AlOx polish "Ruby Powder." I've never heard it called a ceramic but "ceramic" is a broad term referring mainly to a process, not a material. So I suspect the material I referred to earlier is the same type I've used. I think I got mine from Rio Grande long ago. Too many Al2O3's out there. Types of garnets too. Compounds that rise above basic minds. Clays high in aluminum oxide common here in Georgia. The engineers make all kinds of ceramics out of it. Georgia is the leader in high tech ceramics. There was oil, railroads and the lessor known clay. All three made people very rich. Dad called ruby abrasive corundum. I think garnet variations are the most complicated of all.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2017 14:19:24 GMT -5
The hopper on the MT-4 appears indestructible, but I assure you it is not. Repeated use of 60/90 WILL thin your hopper bottom over time. Best to do the course grind in a rotary. I think the manufacturer's recipe is a bit heavy, I started w/ 1 tbsp of 220 for 3 days, followed by 1 tbsp. 600 for 2 days, then 2 tsp. AO prepolish, and then 1 tsp. AO polish. Finish w/ a borax burnish, 1 tbsp. for 4 hours. I used this for agates primarily, but it also worked well on lavic jasper. Be careful of adding too much water as this will slow everything. Good Luck! So is it the bottom of a vibe hopper that wears out first unclesoska when using coarser abrasives ? Makes sense since there is more pressure at the bottom of the batch of rocks. I guess a conclusion could be drawn that the weight of the rocks increases grind pressure as you go deeper into the vibe. And that higher density media would increase grind pressure due to added mass.
|
|
unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Nov 22, 2017 22:55:34 GMT -5
The hopper on the MT-4 appears indestructible, but I assure you it is not. Repeated use of 60/90 WILL thin your hopper bottom over time. Best to do the course grind in a rotary. I think the manufacturer's recipe is a bit heavy, I started w/ 1 tbsp of 220 for 3 days, followed by 1 tbsp. 600 for 2 days, then 2 tsp. AO prepolish, and then 1 tsp. AO polish. Finish w/ a borax burnish, 1 tbsp. for 4 hours. I used this for agates primarily, but it also worked well on lavic jasper. Be careful of adding too much water as this will slow everything. Good Luck! So is it the bottom of a vibe hopper that wears out first unclesoska when using coarser abrasives ? Makes sense since there is more pressure at the bottom of the batch of rocks. I guess a conclusion could be drawn that the weight of the rocks increases grind pressure as you go deeper into the vibe. And that higher density media would increase grind pressure due to added mass. Yup the bottom got progressively thinner. I ended up using that hopper for polish only. It took many 80 grit runs before I noticed it.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Nov 23, 2017 8:01:50 GMT -5
So is it the bottom of a vibe hopper that wears out first unclesoska when using coarser abrasives ? Makes sense since there is more pressure at the bottom of the batch of rocks. I guess a conclusion could be drawn that the weight of the rocks increases grind pressure as you go deeper into the vibe. And that higher density media would increase grind pressure due to added mass. Yup the bottom got progressively thinner. I ended up using that hopper for polish only. It took many 80 grit runs before I noticed it. Incredible chunks of plastic those hoppers. Talk about well made. I just bought a few of those barrels and the seller said it is made of Plastisol. Apparently PVC based. www.chemionics.com/Plastisol.htmlLooks like some fine tumbler barrel repair material.
|
|
ts
starting to shine!
Member since March 2023
Posts: 36
|
Post by ts on May 30, 2023 21:49:38 GMT -5
Tried using 2mm round ceramic with mini sonic and that was a disaster! Stoped the tumbling motion and it was a pain to clean and strain the tiny buggers out! Do not do
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on May 30, 2023 21:52:19 GMT -5
Tried using 2mm round ceramic with mini sonic and that was a disaster! Stoped the tumbling motion and it was a pain to clean and strain the tiny buggers out! Do not do Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! Thanks for being willing to share your experience with this!
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Jun 23, 2023 8:25:01 GMT -5
I use 4 to 5 mm rounds and LOVE them. Yes they are a pain, but they get into every nook and cranny (I could tumble a THomas's English Muffin with them). THey don't pass thru my strainers (thank good or my sump pump would be full of them lol) and the literally bounce like super balls, but they cushion the loads and carry grit like NOBODIES business. THe 2 mm are just way to tiny!
|
|