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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 22, 2020 14:51:15 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? Hiya- just popping in to let you know that you can tag someone to get their attention by placing the @ symbol before their name without a space. BUT, be careful, with SOME people you need to mouseover their name to see the right name. The @ symbol will disappear when you post and you will see a link instead.
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 865
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Post by lordsorril on Oct 22, 2020 14:51:44 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? Everyone has their own 'recipes'. I'm sure you can successfully use all sorts of different graded sizes to tumble without issue...the only difference would be the time it would take to complete each stage. I use 46/60 SiC in all my tumblers (including 3-lbers) because I buy it in bulk-no issues with tumbles as long as the barrel is not overfilled. I think 60 would work well in 3lb. barrels for most materials. If hard stuff only: I would still use 46. As for 150/220: The smallest SiC I use is 120 graded (for softer materials)--all grits I use smaller than 120 are aluminum oxide based.
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Post by Mel on Oct 28, 2020 10:28:17 GMT -5
HuntingHuron - Pick the larger (smaller #) grit, and just run it longer. It's all going to break down eventually.
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Nov 2, 2020 19:08:23 GMT -5
Thanks all for the tips...and thanks Mel for the lead to Surface Prep. I just picked up about 10 years worth of grit from them last week . I had to swallow hard when I told my wife how much I had spent. Note to rockjunquie . Thanks for your tip too. Unfortunately it picked the wrong Mel though, so I had to drop the @ symbol .
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Post by Mel on Nov 2, 2020 21:24:50 GMT -5
Glad to help out!! Should keep you busy for a long while now! Just remember, it never goes bad, and you can always sell your excess to other rock hounds.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 3, 2020 7:43:23 GMT -5
Thanks all for the tips...and thanks Mel for the lead to Surface Prep. I just picked up about 10 years worth of grit from them last week . I had to swallow hard when I told my wife how much I had spent. Note to rockjunquie . Thanks for your tip too. Unfortunately it picked the wrong Mel though, so I had to drop the @ symbol . If you mouse over her name, you will see that Mel's board name is prettygritty. So add the @ symbol to that name and you will tag her.
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Nov 3, 2020 12:26:31 GMT -5
Ahh, okay got it - thanks.
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storm
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2020
Posts: 18
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Post by storm on Nov 6, 2020 1:27:23 GMT -5
Johnson Brosthers Lapidary also has straight graded. 44# for $85 and free shipping. I can't find cheaper than that. Slicon Carbide Grit 60-90 - ( 44 Lbs. in large Flat Rate box) $85.00Silicon Carbide Grit 220 - ( 44 Lbs. in large Flat Rate box) 109.00---------------------------------------------------------------------------- No tax, no shipping .. can anyone beat that?!? Really good deal - thanks guys!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Dec 11, 2020 9:34:56 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? There is no substitute for silicon carbide for shaping Mohs 5-6-7 rocks. Perhaps diamonds but they are too costly. Single/multi grades mean little. Single grade is usually more expensive and is not necessary. Breakdown will crush them all. Now the size of the silicon carbide must be selected carefully for your tumbler system. 3 pound barrels best with 60-80-90 grits due to poor mixing rate. Unless(maybe) turning real fast. Bigger factory speed tumblers better with 30-46, for 30 a thickener may be needed. Medium to large tumblers turning fast with slurry thickener allows use of much larger silicon carbide particles(up to 3/8"). I do big SiC with fast rotation and medium diameter barrels with thickener. My favorite for cost savings and fast grind rates.
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HuntingHuron
starting to shine!
Member since October 2020
Posts: 39
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Post by HuntingHuron on Dec 13, 2020 15:06:34 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? There is no substitute for silicon carbide for shaping Mohs 5-6-7 rocks. Perhaps diamonds but they are too costly. Single/multi grades mean little. Single grade is usually more expensive and is not necessary. Breakdown will crush them all. Now the size of the silicon carbide must be selected carefully for your tumbler system. 3 pound barrels best with 60-80-90 grits due to poor mixing rate. Unless(maybe) turning real fast. Bigger factory speed tumblers better with 30-46, for 30 a thickener may be needed. Medium to large tumblers turning fast with slurry thickener allows use of much larger silicon carbide particles(up to 3/8"). I do big SiC with fast rotation and medium diameter barrels with thickener. My favorite for cost savings and fast grind rates. Thanks jamesp. I am seeing your information after I had actually bought the grit. I wasn't sure at the time, so I purchased some 60, 80 150 and 220 just to make sure I had it all covered for the first two stages of my Lortone 33B. I also saw your information on the larger barrels. If I were to purchase a QT66 or QT 12 down the road, would 60 SiC still be okay for those two models in your opinion, or is that getting a bit too fine ? Does the QT66 or QT12 care what you would use for the 2nd stage - 150 ? 200 ? Thanks for the info !
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ironbrewer
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2020
Posts: 14
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Post by ironbrewer on Dec 13, 2020 19:04:47 GMT -5
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. Where do you get the course grit for 45 cents a pound? Is that delivered or pick up? Is there a thread around here with places to buy grit?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2020 6:16:15 GMT -5
There is no substitute for silicon carbide for shaping Mohs 5-6-7 rocks. Perhaps diamonds but they are too costly. Single/multi grades mean little. Single grade is usually more expensive and is not necessary. Breakdown will crush them all. Now the size of the silicon carbide must be selected carefully for your tumbler system. 3 pound barrels best with 60-80-90 grits due to poor mixing rate. Unless(maybe) turning real fast. Bigger factory speed tumblers better with 30-46, for 30 a thickener may be needed. Medium to large tumblers turning fast with slurry thickener allows use of much larger silicon carbide particles(up to 3/8"). I do big SiC with fast rotation and medium diameter barrels with thickener. My favorite for cost savings and fast grind rates. Thanks jamesp. I am seeing your information after I had actually bought the grit. I wasn't sure at the time, so I purchased some 60, 80 150 and 220 just to make sure I had it all covered for the first two stages of my Lortone 33B. I also saw your information on the larger barrels. If I were to purchase a QT66 or QT 12 down the road, would 60 SiC still be okay for those two models in your opinion, or is that getting a bit too fine ? Does the QT66 or QT12 care what you would use for the 2nd stage - 150 ? 200 ? Thanks for the info ! For starting out SiC 60 is fine for 6 and 12 pound barrels. SiC 80, maybe SiC 60 for the 3 pound tumble. SiC 200 for step 2.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,560
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2020 6:25:04 GMT -5
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. Where do you get the course grit for 45 cents a pound? Is that delivered or pick up? Is there a thread around here with places to buy grit? Contact Washinton Mills for the 45 cent stuff. The product is called Carbolon SC (spelling may be off slightly) It is 90% pure silicon carbide used for melting with steel for achieving certain properties. Particle size = 3/8" and smaller. They usually sell it in larger quantities. You will probably have to go thru a distributer. Best to use rugged barrels for running such coarse grit. This stuff is aggressive.
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Post by Mel on Dec 14, 2020 15:13:32 GMT -5
jamesp - Glad to see your post! Question; anyone know what particle size of titanium dioxide to use for a polish? I'm thinking 14K same as AO but want to make sure I'm correct.
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Post by Mel on Dec 15, 2020 16:03:06 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? My opinion would be go to go with the lower number; smaller numbers break down into larger ones. If you can't get 60/90, go 70 or 80 if you can. 60 if you have to. With medium, I would go 150 or 220 straight. I've done 120/150, 150/220, and 220, and really I never noticed anything special or extra great about any specific one. Now I use straight 220.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 25, 2022 8:29:58 GMT -5
Johnson Brosthers Lapidary also has straight graded. 44# for $85 and free shipping. I can't find cheaper than that. I"m looking to buy bulk, is the consensus that Johnson Brothers 44# for 85$ is the way to go? Looks like the price still stands a year later I usually buy 80grit, but from what I've heard, using 60/90 for Lortone, Thumler, etc., shouldn't be an issue? www.johnsonbrotherslapidary.com/GR-60-90_LFR_45_LB.html
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 26, 2022 14:01:53 GMT -5
So after doing a little more research, Kingsley North carries a flat rate box for $78.30, shipping included. kingsleynorth.com/80-silicon-carbide-abrasive-grit-45-lbs.htmlThe only caveat, is that it is reclaimed grit from 80 grit lapidary wheels, customer service said they've had no problems in the 15 years they've been selling it. I'll give it a run in that case, they are solid on everything else. No reason not to take their word for it.
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Post by Bob on Jan 26, 2022 16:17:52 GMT -5
Mel, I travel a lot in CAN but have only visited one rock shop, a substantial one in Victoria. They are very knowledgeable about rock tumblers and sell them. Seeing grit prices made me feel very lucky at USA prices. I think they said though they do ship in CAN. They were super nice people too.
Minnesota Lapidary Supply, being pretty close to border, might also ship to you. They are so far the best equipped and most knowledgeable rock shop I've been to in the USA.
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Post by Bob on Feb 2, 2022 12:34:38 GMT -5
An update on this thread to Mel and anyone else who has read of me mentioning that I buy a lot of grit from JESCO in Oklahoma City. I had a long talk with their key person KC yesterday. They are surviving COVID okay. Their main business is supplying grit to dentists and also grit and special lapping compounds to golf courses to sharpen high tech lawn mower blades. But their hobby rock tumbler sales are growing and they are now selling on Amazon too, something of which I was unaware.
I have not looked at what they are doing on Amazon. When I first started buying from them in 2014, I was told they don't sell grit in boxes of less than 50lbs. They don't even have a retail location or anything to see in that way, but they do allow one to pick up things from their office after an order has been placed via phone or email. The heavy duty boxes they use for packaging the grit are amazing--they must be expensive to buy. They are so strong and so durable that I use them for all kinds of things and can't stand to discard them. I weigh 162lbs, and have no doubt that I could step up on one of the empty 50lb boxes turned upside down with open flaps on the floor. Although I have never had them ship anything to me, because I pick up in person, I predict that anyone ordering from them would find the grit arrives very soundly.
Their prices are about same as KN's when KN has special flat rate shipping sales. With KN I have to pay shipping but no tax. With JESCO no shipping because they are close to me but sales tax. Comes out about the same but JESCO usually a bit better deal. I think I use about 25lbs of grit/month more or less. So I usually buy 200-300 lbs at a time. If you guys are not in Oklahoma I guess that means you would have no sales tax to buy from JESCO. I think sales tax for me is ~8.5%--not entirely sure.
I don't have prices memorized, but I recall in 2014-5 I was buying 50-60 grit net of all costs for about $1.50/lb from these two sources. I think it's running around $1.80 now.
I asked about shipping to CAN. I was told the shipping costs aren't the hassle, but the paperwork is, so they don't do it. But they do have longtime customers in CAN that use one of those forwarding companies that facilitate things. So a person in CAN ships to an address in USA, but then that outfit after ships to CAN and deals with customs. My wife using something like this to ship from Amazon to China. There is a company in Oregon that does this for extremely reasonable prices. Once that company has enough to make a decent size shipment to China, they combine several orders to get it done. I speculate the same thing applies to this USA/CAN thing.
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