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Post by miket on Nov 9, 2018 16:02:17 GMT -5
Traded for some of this and I'm excited to tumble it, but after reading some threads on the subject it is a little bit daunting. If anyone has any tips please let me know- I've read about burping the barrel, not to tumble it with any other rocks, burnishing between stages, using plenty of filler, etc. Thanks!
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Post by manofglass on Nov 9, 2018 16:25:00 GMT -5
Chips fly when I cut that stuff wear eye protection When your cutting it
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 9, 2018 16:40:34 GMT -5
It’s easy to tumble in a Lot-O. From what I’ve heard, it’s not so easy in a rotary. Which are you using?
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Post by miket on Nov 9, 2018 16:47:29 GMT -5
Chips fly when I cut that stuff wear eye protection When your cutting it Thank you- I'm pretty bad about eye protection, dust masks, etc. I need to get better. I'll make sure and do this!
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Post by miket on Nov 9, 2018 16:49:59 GMT -5
It’s easy to tumble in a Lot-O. From what I’ve heard, it’s not so easy in a rotary. Which are you using? Rotary. I read that it's more for advanced tumblers than beginners and I am such a beginner! But I'm willing to try. A Lot-O is on my list, it seems like everyone is able to move through a batch of tumbles (not necessarily obsidian) by doing the course stage in a rotary then finishing the rest in a Lot-O. But I have to do as finances dictate, unfortunately.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 9, 2018 16:57:00 GMT -5
When you have enough money saved up, get a Lot-O. It uses much, much less grit and less electricity too since the rocks get done so quickly. Here’s the best info I know of on rotary tumbling obsidian: Captain Bob’s Obsidian Thread
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Post by miket on Nov 9, 2018 17:43:28 GMT -5
When you have enough money saved up, get a Lot-O. It uses much, much less grit and less electricity too since the rocks get done so quickly. Here’s the best info I know of on rotary tumbling obsidian: Captain Bob’s Obsidian ThreadYep, like I said, on my list. Hard to save money with a 15-year old daughter about to turn 16 in a couple of months. Thanks, I read the thread. Not sure I could do 7 months- I have so much other stuff I want to tumble. Hey, maybe I could get my sons to pitch in together for a Lot-O...
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 9, 2018 22:18:30 GMT -5
When you have enough money saved up, get a Lot-O. It uses much, much less grit and less electricity too since the rocks get done so quickly. Here’s the best info I know of on rotary tumbling obsidian: Captain Bob’s Obsidian ThreadYep, like I said, on my list. Hard to save money with a 15-year old daughter about to turn 16 in a couple of months. Thanks, I read the thread. Not sure I could do 7 months- I have so much other stuff I want to tumble. Hey, maybe I could get my sons to pitch in together for a Lot-O... Yeah, seven months is sort of crazy, but I think the point is a longer tumble is better when doing obsidian in a rotary tumbler. Those were probably done in way under seven months.
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Post by Pat on Nov 9, 2018 23:18:50 GMT -5
tntmom is an obsidian polishing expert.
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Post by miket on Nov 10, 2018 8:32:33 GMT -5
tntmom is an obsidian polishing expert. Thanks maybe I'll send a message
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 10, 2018 10:13:02 GMT -5
tntmom is an obsidian polishing expert. Thanks maybe I'll send a message Here’s her recipe. I would have linked to it before, but it’s specifically for a Lot-O. It’s excellent though, so when you get a Lot-O, try it out.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Nov 11, 2018 4:04:21 GMT -5
Sure is easier to avoid bruises on glass or obsidian in your rotary if you have small tumbles(under 30 grams each) and keep your barrel 85% full during 220-500-1000-polish. It is OK to fill the barrel to the normal 70% for step 1(silicon carbide 60 or 80 or 60/90). Guessing one of those came with your tumbler. The first step has lots of wear which results in volume reduction in barrel to 60 to 70%. To obtain 85% barrel fill in 220-500-1000-polish steps simply add 5/8" glass marbles for extra filler.
Your kit may have different than 60/90-220-500-1000-polish....depends on the tumbler kit or the abrasives you have on hand. Just saying, glass/obsidian best done in 5 steps close to these steps: 60-220-500-1000-polish in a rotary. You might be able to skip the 1000 step, but that depends on what type of abrasive you are using.
Never had any luck with golf ball sized glass or obsidian in the rotary. Pieces that big haze the load(frost). Especially on the edges. That was my experience.
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Post by miket on Nov 11, 2018 6:03:46 GMT -5
Sure is easier to avoid bruises on glass or obsidian in your rotary if you have small tumbles(under 30 grams each) and keep your barrel 85% full during 220-500-1000-polish. It is OK to fill the barrel to the normal 70% for step 1(silicon carbide 60 or 80 or 60/90). Guessing one of those came with your tumbler. The first step has lots of wear which results in volume reduction in barrel to 60 to 70%. To obtain 85% barrel fill in 220-500-1000-polish steps simply add 5/8" glass marbles for extra filler. Your kit may have different than 60/90-220-500-1000-polish....depends on the tumbler kit or the abrasives you have on hand. Just saying, glass/obsidian best done in 5 steps close to these steps: 60-220-500-1000-polish in a rotary. You might be able to skip the 1000 step, but that depends on what type of abrasive you are using. Never had any luck with golf ball sized glass or obsidian in the rotary. Pieces that big haze the load(frost). Especially on the edges. That was my experience. Thanks for the tips. I have a borrowed tumbler- which i think I'm going to buy- and grit from Eric. That's pretty much what I did with my rocks and wood, I'll give it a shot.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Nov 11, 2018 10:15:40 GMT -5
I would maybe get some more material (assuming that picture is everything?) to fill the barrel more and then load it with plastic pellets. I just did some Apache tears and I lost ALOT of the material in the first stage
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Post by miket on Nov 11, 2018 11:01:36 GMT -5
I would maybe get some more material (assuming that picture is everything?) to fill the barrel more and then load it with plastic pellets. I just did some Apache tears and I lost ALOT of the material in the first stage No., thankfully that's just a few pieces i got a sfrb. That gives me a little room to experiment and learn... Someday I'd like to try Apache tears, i really like the way they look, too.
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Post by TheRock on Nov 11, 2018 14:14:21 GMT -5
Thanks maybe I'll send a message Here’s her recipe. I would have linked to it before, but it’s specifically for a Lot-O. It’s excellent though, so when you get a Lot-O, try it out. Her recipe is great for just about everything.
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