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Post by broseph82 on Apr 26, 2018 17:44:23 GMT -5
So I've only bought ceramics from TRS both small and large. Some come off white plain and some have little black specs. Now what are these black specs on the ceramics? Is it SiC grit to help break down stones, is it metal pieces? The reason why Im asking is because I get these phantom metallic scratches on softer stuff like obsidian while tumbling in my Lot-O. Sometimes they can be silver in color and sometimes golden. Its just weird and was wondering if anyone else has had this happen too. I only use TRH's 220 SiC and their 500g AO.
thanks for entertaining my thoughts
Jimi
edit: these scratches were seen after the washing out of the 220g.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Apr 26, 2018 18:59:16 GMT -5
Just looked at all my ceramics bought from the shed and saw no black specs. Some have turned from white to grey or white/grey mix but no specs.
I do get specs when I use them. Bits of the Thumlers bowl that have worn off stick to the ceramics readily. If I don't roll them around in my hand while rinsing the specs don't wash off.
Could the steaks in the softer rocks be coming from the Lot-O bowl itself?
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Post by grumpybill on Apr 26, 2018 19:04:31 GMT -5
Many of the ceramic pellets I've gotten from the Rock Shed have black specks in them.
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Apr 26, 2018 19:13:35 GMT -5
IIRC there are abrasive ceramics and the nonabrasive type and the black specs are generally the abrasive. As to SIC or ALO not sure but I am pretty sure it's not metal.They are generally described as one or the other. Here is a description I came across
Ceramic Tumbler Media Comes in Numerous Shapes
A unique characteristic of this abrasive tumbling media is that it comes in a wide assortment of shapes, which allows you to customize the material’s cutting capabilities to create the exact finish you need. Available shapes range from ceramic media tumbling triangles to ball cones, ovals, diagonals, wedges, pyramids and many others.
The type and grid grade also impact the finishing result — the two basic types include finished or shaped media and abrasive grit or grain.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,431
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 26, 2018 21:25:47 GMT -5
Are you using a metal colander to separate your rocks from the slurry ?
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Post by broseph82 on Apr 27, 2018 10:24:55 GMT -5
Are you using a metal colander to separate your rocks from the slurry ? Yes, but the don’t come in contact with the metal. It’s very few pieces per load compared to the ceramics, so when i start to dump out, it’s always ceramics and then my pieces fall into ceramics and I pull em out. Its also happened to agates and chalcedony when I’ve used these ceramic pieces. From what I can recall I didn’t order and special ceramics with special grits embedded. I just ordered the plain ones. I’m going to have to check the site now.
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Post by broseph82 on Apr 27, 2018 10:27:43 GMT -5
Just looked at all my ceramics bought from the shed and saw no black specs. Some have turned from white to grey or white/grey mix but no specs. I do get specs when I use them. Bits of the Thumlers bowl that have worn off stick to the ceramics readily. If I don't roll them around in my hand while rinsing the specs don't wash off. Could the steaks in the softer rocks be coming from the Lot-O bowl itself? I don’t think so. I mean I’ve checked the bowl Inside and out. The nipple is filled with epoxy... I have noticed some of my smaller ceramics have split lines in some and I’ve seen those black pieces sticking out. That’s what made me think they were SiC specs or possibly metal. Some of my ceramics are beat the hell up when I’ve gotten them. Almost made me think at one point that I was receiving some that had been run through a course cycle already
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,431
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2018 10:29:17 GMT -5
Another user was reporting bruises that looked to be metallic and crescent shaped.
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Post by broseph82 on Apr 27, 2018 16:56:10 GMT -5
Another user was reporting bruises that looked to be metallic and crescent shaped. yeah thats weird. I bet its prob the same. I had some before and saw it going into 500g. instead of redoing it I said screw-it and put into 500g for so many days. The 500 did take the marks completely out, so its def just superficial, but still annoying and would prob be discouraging for a total newb.
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