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Post by grumpybill on May 27, 2018 6:21:39 GMT -5
Good explanation jamesp. My comment was meant to show it's contradictory that people say not to mix soft and hard stones in the same batch, then also say to use ceramic filler. You and ingawh have convinced me to stop using ceramic a while back. Not ready to try the Metamucil 2-step, though. Sounds too much like an old peoples dance. <laughing>
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 27, 2018 7:29:01 GMT -5
Good explanation jamesp. My comment was mean to show it's contradictory that people say not to mix soft and hard stones in the same batch, then also say to use ceramic filler. You and ingawh have convinced me to stop using ceramic a while back. Not ready to try the Metamucil 2-step, though. Sounds too much like an old peoples dance. <laughing> Just rambling about my findings Bill. The modified Vibrasonic and the Lot-O similar, both like the same quartz pea gravel ratios and same slurry mix. Having 2 different vibes has been a reinforcement of my findings discussed here. I have not been able to do a 2 step with glass but almost. Not a concern or a goal. The 3rd step is the 14,000 for a great shine. And because the vibes are backed up I do 2 or 3 short steps in the rotary. SiC 60, SiC 500 and then AO 500 in the rotary before going to vibe. 1/4 doses. SiC 500 not near the same as AO 500, much more different in fact on glass anyway. SiC 500 way more aggressive and a poor prep for the vibe for glass. AO 500 is a great prep for glass going to the vibe as it lays down a very smooth finish. Must avoid bruise impacts rotary or vibe or you will go backward. Bruises deceptive, will make you think the abrasive is the problem. the vibes are so sensitive I have to increase slurry thickness moving into warm weather, really need climate control as they are outside. My object is simply to produce high polish 8 to 14 gram glass cabs whatever it takes. A specific task.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on May 27, 2018 17:07:33 GMT -5
ingawh, if the pieces of glass are larger. Say average 20 grams I sometimes get slight edge bruising. If they average 12 grams I get a polish in less than 24 hours(+/-). And seems almost perfect. If they average 16 grams I get a polish after 36 hours(+/-). May have faint surface 'frost'. Looks more like slight dishwasher stains.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 27, 2018 17:44:01 GMT -5
ingawh, if the pieces of glass are larger. Say average 20 grams I sometimes get slight edge bruising. If they average 12 grams I get a polish in less than 24 hours(+/-). And seems almost perfect. If they average 16 grams I get a polish after 36 hours(+/-). May have faint surface 'frost'. Looks more like slight dishwasher stains. Your "industrial scale" operation has been such a great laboratory! You've discovered some real science behind the art. Bravo!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 27, 2018 17:46:26 GMT -5
Good explanation jamesp. My comment was mean to show it's contradictory that people say not to mix soft and hard stones in the same batch, then also say to use ceramic filler. You and ingawh have convinced me to stop using ceramic a while back. Not ready to try the Metamucil 2-step, though. Sounds too much like an old peoples dance. <laughing> We should call it the "Metamucil quick-step" :-D
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conifer
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by conifer on May 29, 2018 11:01:52 GMT -5
Can you post some photos, they really help diagnoses conifer . Some rocks chip easily and make poor tumbling candidates, got to be stable enough to tumble. Impact forces in a vibe are substantial enough to break grit down quite a bit. I think James nailed it - There were just a couple rocks in the entire batch that chipped. I think I was too focused on those rocks instead of the 99% of the rocks that polished extremely well.
Jugglerguy - I tried to use 30% ceramics, but I didn't weigh anything - I just eyeballed it.
Inga - Thanks for your recipe! I'll give that a try next time. Also, the rubber-band solution is an excellent idea to keep the lid on. The lid on my polish barrel is loose compared to the lid on the other barrel.
One more quick question on adding water - Would two slabs sticking together indicate the need for more water?
Thanks again for all of your help - This is a great forum!
J
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 29, 2018 15:00:19 GMT -5
Can you post some photos, they really help diagnoses conifer . Some rocks chip easily and make poor tumbling candidates, got to be stable enough to tumble. Impact forces in a vibe are substantial enough to break grit down quite a bit. I think James nailed it - There were just a couple rocks in the entire batch that chipped. I think I was too focused on those rocks instead of the 99% of the rocks that polished extremely well.
Jugglerguy - I tried to use 30% ceramics, but I didn't weigh anything - I just eyeballed it.
Inga - Thanks for your recipe! I'll give that a try next time. Also, the rubber-band solution is an excellent idea to keep the lid on. The lid on my polish barrel is loose compared to the lid on the other barrel.
One more quick question on adding water - Would two slabs sticking together indicate the need for more water? Thanks again for all of your help - This is a great forum!
J
If you’re doing rocks with flat surfaces, like slabs, use a lot higher ratio of ceramics to rocks. The water doesn’t need to change.
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Post by grumpybill on May 30, 2018 7:54:57 GMT -5
Most of the stuff I run has flat surfaces. After my first 3 batches the ceramic pellets were also developing flat surfaces. As a result, I've started using small pebbles instead of ceramic and have been keeping my slurry much thinner...probably thinner than most people here. If it starts to look the least bit "snotty" or, especially, if the slabs are sticking together, I add water. Not sure it makes any difference. It's just how I prefer to do it.
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conifer
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by conifer on May 30, 2018 10:17:04 GMT -5
It sounds like I should try a few more quartz pebbles. I had a handful in my first Lot-O run, but likely not enough to make a difference.
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Post by spiceman on May 30, 2018 22:42:11 GMT -5
As far as the lid coming off. I took a plastic peanut butter jar, cut it around the bottom of the angle. Glued it on the lotto barrel with epoxy. Now I have a screw on lid for my lotto barrel. Works great.
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conifer
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by conifer on May 31, 2018 13:29:05 GMT -5
Figured I’d try to add those pictures that James requested. The First picture shows the small pits. The second picture shows the shine on most of the other rocks.
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Post by aDave on May 31, 2018 14:28:21 GMT -5
That first photo kind of looks like it could be some type of granite. Don't know for sure, but if it is, granite is known to undercut. Seeing your second rock tells me it's not your polishing technique that is lacking. It could just be the type of material in the first photo is prone to pitting or undercutting. Disclaimer: I know nothing about using the Loto, so take what I wrote with a grain of salt. You'd definitely get change back from my 2 cents.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,169
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Post by jamesp on Jun 3, 2018 7:17:42 GMT -5
That first photo kind of looks like it could be some type of granite. Don't know for sure, but if it is, granite is known to undercut. Seeing your second rock tells me it's not your polishing technique that is lacking. It could just be the type of material in the first photo is prone to pitting or undercutting. Disclaimer: I know nothing about using the Loto, so take what I wrote with a grain of salt. You'd definitely get change back from my 2 cents. Agree with Dave. Nothing wrong with your process conifer looking at photo #2. I'd rather polish a brick than any granitoid. Have tried and tried, granite should not be put in a tumbler.
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Post by arghvark on Jun 28, 2018 10:28:12 GMT -5
The Metamucil 2-step! I just had to clean coffee off my phone screen. Thanks for that.
But seriously, as the proud new owner of a Lot-o, this thread has some really great info. I knew I'd find what I was looking for with a search.
Thanks, folks.
Argh
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 28, 2018 12:08:48 GMT -5
These are also helpful:
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conifer
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by conifer on Jun 29, 2018 13:09:55 GMT -5
A funnel is a good suggestion. I have been slowly adding my rocks (basically individually) so they don't chip each other. Probably paranoia on my part.
JS
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 29, 2018 21:31:14 GMT -5
A funnel is a good suggestion. I have been slowly adding my rocks (basically individually) so they don't chip each other. Probably paranoia on my part. JS I fill mine with water before adding rocks so the rocks drop in gently.
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conifer
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2018
Posts: 19
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Post by conifer on Jun 29, 2018 22:54:12 GMT -5
JS[/quote]I fill mine with water before adding rocks so the rocks drop in gently.[/quote]
Excellent idea! That’ll be a time saver!
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Post by grumpybill on Jun 30, 2018 6:46:59 GMT -5
I fill mine with water before adding rocks so the rocks drop in gently. I've done this from the start. And I use a tea strainer (that fits the opening of the bowl) to keep the stones from coming out when I drain the water.
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