jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2018 9:17:52 GMT -5
These served as padding. The target glass and obsidian will be put in another thread as the 'world's most colorful tumble' he he. Quartz pea gravel was also incorporated to break down the aluminum oxide during vibe finishing. About 2 days in rotary with SiC 60, 2 days in rotary with SiC 500, 4 days in vibe with AO 220 and AO polish. Enjoy www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/28259846937/in/album-72157695409750702/lightbox/![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/915/28259846937_a688ccab2a_c.jpg) ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/845/29257452878_fbb167c88e_b.jpg) ![](https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1810/43079177412_369e368a3d_b.jpg) ![](https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1821/42410749704_d30fe69ee3_b.jpg) ![](https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1804/43079141192_5a020dc7ff_b.jpg)
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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2018 9:57:13 GMT -5
I really need to purchase some of those inexpensive glass rods I saw. To use as tumble media. Thanks for the suggestion.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2018 10:11:20 GMT -5
I really need to purchase some of those inexpensive glass rods I saw. To use as tumble media. Thanks for the suggestion. Make sure to use ~50% pre-polished quartz pea gravel in finish grits also Beth. Glass is too soft to break the abrasive down. These finished in the vibe, never tried finishing glass in a rotary other than obsidian.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2018 11:47:51 GMT -5
I have plenty of gravel. Started new batches of tumbles today. New tumbles, new gravel. Am half tempted to add some broken glass to the ones in course. Just to refine it to use as filler on later stages. Also have a 1960's piece of glazed pottery that has broken in half. Pretty thick, 3/8". Wonder if that would work as media? Afraid that the exposed areas that are not glazed would absorb the water.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2018 13:07:09 GMT -5
I have plenty of gravel. Started new batches of tumbles today. New tumbles, new gravel. Am half tempted to add some broken glass to the ones in course. Just to refine it to use as filler on later stages. Also have a 1960's piece of glazed pottery that has broken in half. Pretty thick, 3/8". Wonder if that would work as media? Afraid that the exposed areas that are not glazed would absorb the water. I tried a dozen media. Quartz pea gravel may be the best for rock tumbling. Not just because it is the cheapest. For alum ox and SiC the Mohs 7 quartz pea's hardness mates with Mohs 9 abrasive hardness so well if tumbling Mohs 5 to 7 target rocks/glass. Glass media is too soft to break down Mohs 9 abrasives effectively. Mohs 9 ceramics will break it down but it takes longer to assume a polish and transfer it to your target. That is why ceramics take so long to polish a load of glass or obsidian, so you better have 50 to 75% ceramics so the ceramics can grind each other. I will get shot at for saying bad about ceramic media but I do not like it because it is too hard and too slow to assume a polish and transfer it. Hard to beat running all agate in a mix of sizes without media, and if you need to add to your volume, quartz pea's or coarse shaped agates are hard to beat.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2018 13:38:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. The scientist in me might try the broken ceramic piece for softer stones. Just to see what happens. I am not about perfection right away. About doing the unconventional and learning. After all, rocks can always be tumbled again.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 2, 2018 4:47:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. The scientist in me might try the broken ceramic piece for softer stones. Just to see what happens. I am not about perfection right away. About doing the unconventional and learning. After all, rocks can always be tumbled again. I tumbled some soft lepidolite in with this glass and the flats polished some but the edges frosted bad. Wish you luck with soft. I took a whipping on them. ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/920/41337232810_d01db383cb_z.jpg)
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