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Post by Mel on Oct 5, 2020 16:43:01 GMT -5
I know it's primarily Americans here but had to try my hand.
I'm curious where other people are buying grit in bulk; I know Washington Mills is a big name in the states, but am coming up empty in Canada (nobody carries their SiC, or if they do, they're playing dumb when I phone). The only place I've been able to find so far has the worst customer service and a long wait to get it in (BUT comes in 150 pound bags), or I can get from the rock shop 4 hours away....at $9/pound. Ouch.
Any ideas?
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Oct 5, 2020 22:11:01 GMT -5
I get mine from Kleen Blast, they have facilities all along the U.S. west coast and sell in 50 lb. bags. They have the best price I can find, and it's straight graded.
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Post by Toad on Oct 6, 2020 4:21:26 GMT -5
Johnson Brosthers Lapidary also has straight graded. 44# for $85 and free shipping. I can't find cheaper than that.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Oct 6, 2020 4:59:22 GMT -5
I bought metallurgical grade 90% pure sic, a Washington Mills product called Carbolon SC if memory serves. But it is 3/8" and smaller and so coarse it eats most tumbling barrels up. 1000 pounds in 50 pound bags for $450. I had to build rugged HDPE barrels to run it though Mel from Yuma & Spokane. I really like shaping with it, the big particles time release in a sort. The PVC barrel in my avatar to left after running this mean grit after about 6 months lol. If it will do this to a PVC barrel you should see how fast it works on rocks ! Dealing with Washington Mills is a bit like pulling teeth. If you are not a big operation they don't have time for you. And buying from one of their distributers is about as bad. I impersonated a corporate purchasing agent to close the deal, changed hats to the pick up guy and picked it up in my pick up truck at a distributor in Birmingham Al where a few steel mills still operate. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157683529500581/with/35330351430/
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Post by Mel on Oct 6, 2020 9:55:42 GMT -5
jamesp - Yep, tried them already. The distributors I talked to don't carry the SiC, just the AO. Toad & quartz - Tried both of those too, not real feasible since they're too far away.
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Post by Toad on Oct 6, 2020 10:43:00 GMT -5
jamesp - Yep, tried them already. The distributors I talked to don't carry the SiC, just the AO. Toad & quartz - Tried both of those too, not real feasible since they're too far away. It’s free shipping, who cares how far away it is? At least Johnson Bros is free. Less than $2 a pound delivered.
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Post by Mel on Oct 6, 2020 11:06:05 GMT -5
jamesp - Yep, tried them already. The distributors I talked to don't carry the SiC, just the AO. Toad & quartz - Tried both of those too, not real feasible since they're too far away. It’s free shipping, who cares how far away it is? At least Johnson Bros is free. Less than $2 a pound delivered. I had no idea Toad , I just saw they were in the US and noped out of there; compared prices to my source with poor customer service, and it works about the same.
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Post by Toad on Oct 6, 2020 13:20:55 GMT -5
No idea? My post said it was free shipping. As does their website.
I think I will be ordering from them for the first time this month. Hopefully it works out well
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Post by Toad on Oct 6, 2020 13:24:39 GMT -5
I apologize Mel. I thought you were missing the details and turns out I was. Read your post and just missed that you were in Canada. I’m doubting they will be shipping to you for free. Sorry for being a jerk.
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dkurtz
having dreams about rocks
Tumbling to de-stress from my work. :)
Member since February 2010
Posts: 66
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Post by dkurtz on Oct 6, 2020 13:53:57 GMT -5
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Post by Mel on Oct 6, 2020 16:02:57 GMT -5
Toad , no worries, I didn't take it as a jerk comment at all! Their prices are on par with my current supplier (which is awesome), I just have to wait 4-6 weeks for it to come in (definitely not awesome). I've got polishing to do, dang it!
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Post by Mel on Oct 6, 2020 16:05:26 GMT -5
Yep; I called them when I first got into to large amounts of tumbling. Duty + Customs + Canadian Pesos = But thank you guys for replying anyways. I'll just have to keep doing as I do; order and wait. There are worse things
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Oct 9, 2020 11:45:59 GMT -5
Hi Mel - I'm glad I had cancelled my order from Johnson Bros. The prices were amazing but the rest of the costs to ship here to Ontario, Canada was too much. The prices the advertise for grit around here is enough to make you want to pack in this hobby. Can I ask where you are getting your grit?
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Post by Mel on Oct 9, 2020 13:50:35 GMT -5
In Ontario, talk to Surface Prep. They've got awesome prices but you need to buy A LOT. Like 50-100pounds of each size. I was going to use them but the freight cost was too much.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Oct 10, 2020 15:13:13 GMT -5
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Oct 18, 2020 14:43:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip Mel. I'm assuming you are referring to International Surface Preparation in Mississauga, correct? Looks like they sell single grits only (i.e. not 60/90, 150/220). Does anyone have single grit recommendations that would be suitable for 3, 6, 12lb Tumblers?....hopefully that would work for all three . Thanks !
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Post by stephan on Oct 18, 2020 20:32:11 GMT -5
This question is a curiosity one, since I don’t tumble, but I’ve been wondering... what is the advantage or appeal of combo grits? Cabbing wheels are single grit, and it seems to work.
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Prov
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2020
Posts: 116
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Post by Prov on Oct 18, 2020 21:03:30 GMT -5
Cheaper than straight graded grit usually.
It all breaks down over the course of the tumble, so there's less need for it to be perfectly 60 grit for instance. Higher grits for semi-polish, and polish need that stricter grading, but at the coarse grind step it's not.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Oct 20, 2020 5:36:44 GMT -5
Cheaper than straight graded grit usually. It all breaks down over the course of the tumble, so there's less need for it to be perfectly 60 grit for instance. Higher grits for semi-polish, and polish need that stricter grading, but at the coarse grind step it's not. That's right Prov. The size of SiC in step 1 can be all over the chart preferably 80 grit and larger. And the quality of the silicon carbide can be the lowest grade cheapest SiC obtainable. I use low purity metallurgical SiC(Carbolon SC) that is only 90% pure and only costs 45 cents per pound. Particle size starts at 3/8" and goes smaller. But it wears most barrels fast as it does rocks.
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Oct 22, 2020 14:26:40 GMT -5
Prov, jampesp - thanks for your thoughts on the straight grit. Would either of you, or anyone know what a good substitute would be for 60/90 and 150/220 if you could only choose the single SiC?
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