nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 11, 2018 21:23:22 GMT -5
Has anyone used quartz chips as filler instead of ceramic cylinders? I recently bought a lortone QT6 and have started running some larger rough. A lot of the rough has been cut from LARGE rock, hence not much in the way of smalls. I figured I could get a bag of quartz chips at a landscape supply store and use them for filler, and either continue to use them till they're used up, or after they get all smooth, the wife could use them in planters or some such thing.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 11, 2018 21:30:16 GMT -5
I use aquarium gravel or other small rough
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 11, 2018 21:37:33 GMT -5
I feel like I could use the chips "out of the bag", with sharp edges, on hard stones, and as they wear, use them with softer stones. Just thinking economically. The chips would be much cheaper than ceramics, and should be about the same hardness.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Apr 11, 2018 22:11:07 GMT -5
I've mentioned, like others here, Agate chips make a good filler on all harder material. The Botswana I tumbled awhile back was exclusively Mex Lace Agate filler. This was prior to my use of ceramics......the Moss and Moza in the rotaries now have a mix of Mex Lace and Brazilian chips as filler.........will use ceramics the in the next stages since I'm losing filler volume and size (and all out of Agate chips)....
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 11, 2018 23:15:47 GMT -5
I've mentioned, like others here, Agate chips make a good filler on all harder material. The Botswana I tumbled awhile back was exclusively Mex Lace Agate filler. This was prior to my use of ceramics......the Moss and Moza in the rotaries now have a mix of Mex Lace and Brazilian chips as filler.........will use ceramics the in the next stages since I'm losing filler volume and size (and all out of Agate chips).... It breaks my heart to use stones (even small ones) that might otherwise tumble up nice, as filler. Since I wouldn't be offended at using common landscape quartz, I thought I may be able to have my cake and eat it too. Not to mention, even as the quartz smoothes up, I could continue to use it or re-purpose it. Also, most of the rock I get is purchased and in small quantities, so I don't have a lot of small anything just lying around.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 4:22:32 GMT -5
You only get to tumble 6 pounds per load. Why not fill the balance around you bigger stones with chips and smalls of fine agates ? You will end up with all polished agates small and large. Add more agate smalls to top of load during coarse grind since the volume of the barrel does not change much after coarse grind. I tumbled a lot of 1 to 2 pound agates(alone) with a 4 -5 pounds of small agates many times and it works like a charm. At 1 to 2 pounds I would only run one to avoid 2 big rocks crashing into each other and bruising. But you can run 1/2 of the rocks under 1/2 pound and the rest agate chips and smalls. small agates in pan was run with almost 2 pound chunk of petrified wood shown - 6 pound barrel finished polish plus some nice tumbled agate smalls that went along for the ride(not in photo) More large tumbles www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/albums/72157662746031090
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 4:30:57 GMT -5
Sacrificial media is best used for large stones in a vibe, most stones in a vibe, vibe or rotary for delicate material. Stay with agates and wood - Mohs 7 rocks and your tumbling life will be easy. It will serve you well as smalls and they can decorate your favorite display bowl. Don't try to tumble granite/obsidian/felspars till you master the sport. They are many times more tricky.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 12, 2018 8:13:00 GMT -5
Sacrificial media is best used for large stones in a vibe, most stones in a vibe, vibe or rotary for delicate material. Stay with agates and wood - Mohs 7 rocks and your tumbling life will be easy. It will serve you well as smalls and they can decorate your favorite display bowl. Don't try to tumble granite/obsidian/felspars till you master the sport. They are many times more tricky. I actually finished a load of mahogany obsidian a couple of weeks ago that I was quite pleased with. They had some small imperfections, but overall I liked them.
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goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
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Post by goatgrinder on Apr 13, 2018 14:19:23 GMT -5
Yeah small agates are nice and will work, but I can fill my QT12 barrel with quartz chips that I rake up or empty out of my boots. Six of one, six of the other, same hardness and pretty when polished.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Apr 14, 2018 5:39:41 GMT -5
Sacrificial media is best used for large stones in a vibe, most stones in a vibe, vibe or rotary for delicate material. Stay with agates and wood - Mohs 7 rocks and your tumbling life will be easy. It will serve you well as smalls and they can decorate your favorite display bowl. Don't try to tumble granite/obsidian/felspars till you master the sport. They are many times more tricky. I actually finished a load of mahogany obsidian a couple of weeks ago that I was quite pleased with. They had some small imperfections, but overall I liked them. View AttachmentWell done sir !
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 14, 2018 13:57:32 GMT -5
I actually finished a load of mahogany obsidian a couple of weeks ago that I was quite pleased with. They had some small imperfections, but overall I liked them. Well done sir ! Thank you. Coming from someone that turns out the caliber of material that you do, that is encouraging.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Apr 14, 2018 14:21:54 GMT -5
Thank you. Coming from someone that turns out the caliber of material that you do, that is encouraging. One thing about tumbling is it pays to procrastinate which says a lot about the man tumbling.
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