rockrockrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2016
Posts: 91
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Post by rockrockrock on Jun 17, 2021 13:56:29 GMT -5
Actually, this is two questions in one.
Here's the deal. I work in plastics, not stone.
First Question: When I tumble with black 60/90 Silicon Carbide it does a great job for me. However, I use multiple colors of material, and it covers everything with such a deep black color that I can't tell what is what and have to rinse and sand each one. I'm sure the answer is no, but is Sil-Carb available in white?
Second Question: Before acquiring the Sil-Carb grit I used white AO for several years, with pretty good results, and it does not cover the workpiece. I may have to go back to it. Are there advantages to Sil-Carb vs AO? I see that is recommended a lot for lower grit levels in the 90-600 grit range. Does it cut better? More aggressively?
Thanks for your info.
RRR
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Post by HankRocks on Jun 17, 2021 14:12:32 GMT -5
SiC only comes in the Black(dark shiny gray in my book) and is the best for removing lots of material. Very rarely have I had "black" slurry, mostly shades of grey. I suspect the black color is coming from one of your rocks. I am not sure I understand your concern about the rocks being covered in a slurry. That's a good thing as it tells me a lot of material is being removed. Rinsing is a required task so I do not see an issue with that.
Explain what you mean by covering the workpiece? Are you tumbling or is there another process you are using?
Basically SiC is a "cutting or removing" agent, and AlO is a smoothing agent.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 17, 2021 18:10:10 GMT -5
I think you missed the statement that he is using SiC for tumbling plastic. SiC only comes in black(grey). It cuts faster than AO. I think it is cheaper as well.
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rockrockrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2016
Posts: 91
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Post by rockrockrock on Jun 17, 2021 18:44:15 GMT -5
Thanks for your responses, gents. I had also heard that SC cuts faster. It's not a major deal. It doesn't permanently darken the material; it's just a matter of cleaning off the workpiece. I correctly assumed that SC came only in a dark color.
Thanks Again,
RRR
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 18, 2021 7:31:33 GMT -5
Actually, this is two questions in one. Here's the deal. I work in plastics, not stone. First Question: When I tumble with black 60/90 Silicon Carbide it does a great job for me. However, I use multiple colors of material, and it covers everything with such a deep black color that I can't tell what is what and have to rinse and sand each one. I'm sure the answer is no, but is Sil-Carb available in white? Second Question: Before acquiring the Sil-Carb grit I used white AO for several years, with pretty good results, and it does not cover the workpiece. I may have to go back to it. Are there advantages to Sil-Carb vs AO? I see that is recommended a lot for lower grit levels in the 90-600 grit range. Does it cut better? More aggressively? Thanks for your info. RRR I do not think I have ever seen white SiC (doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist somewhere) but there is certainly green SiC which is more pure than the black stuff that is typically used for tumbling rocks. What I have had was a lighter green, may be easier for cleanup?
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Post by victor1941 on Jun 18, 2021 10:54:27 GMT -5
Rockrockrock, have you tried cleaning in AlO as you sanding step?
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rockrockrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2016
Posts: 91
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Post by rockrockrock on Jun 18, 2021 10:56:52 GMT -5
Rockrockrock, have you tried cleaning in AlO as you sanding step? That could be a solution. However, I've already gone ahead and purchased the black SC in 60/90, 220 and 600. That black coating seems so thick that I'm wondering if it is inhibiting the cutting action. Thanks very much. Interesting idea. RRR
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Post by victor1941 on Jun 18, 2021 11:09:18 GMT -5
RRR, I use a UV-18 vibe and add borax to help develop a slurry while others might add kaolin to make a slurry that aids in surface removal. The slurry needs to be moist enough that the surface is gray and the motion is not inhibited when in motion. I am pretty sure there are some video samples on RTH.
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rockrockrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2016
Posts: 91
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Post by rockrockrock on Jun 18, 2021 13:04:39 GMT -5
RRR, I use a UV-18 vibe and add borax to help develop a slurry while others might add kaolin to make a slurry that aids in surface removal. The slurry needs to be moist enough that the surface is gray and the motion is not inhibited when in motion. I am pretty sure there are some video samples on RTH. Victor. My mistake. I neglected to mention that the really weird plastic I used (it's called casein, made from milk, if you can believe that) turns to mush in water, so anything I tumble has to be done completely bone dry. Wish it were otherwise. Miserable, wonderful stuff. Thanks Again, Victor, RRR
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Post by greig on Jun 18, 2021 14:47:04 GMT -5
Tumbling your plastic (dry) sounds like the time I tried to polish a marsh mellow. hehe You might want to experiment with different materials but I don't know a coarse or medium typically used for tumbling that could be suggested. That size SC is black or grey - nature of the material.
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Post by victor1941 on Jun 18, 2021 18:40:13 GMT -5
RRR, some tumblers use dry shredded corn cob/abrasive for the process without water. You might research this method and see if it might work for you.
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