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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 24, 2021 11:55:31 GMT -5
So I found this product at my shop and I'm wondering if I can use this for my first stage coarse grit. I can't find anything on their site, but on other suppliers sites like this it says the hardness is between 6.0-7.0 mohs  I think my only concerns are it being a material that produces excess gas or that it may be too coarse for my lortone or thumler tumbler. The numbers on the spec sheet have numbers like 16-40, 20-40, 30-60 etc. (after a little more research, I believe those numbers are the mesh sizes...which I think equates to grit size) Ok, I found this www.raptorblaster.com/sandblasting-grit-conversion-chart/ so they are nearly equivalent. So, I guess real question is what grit is too coarse for those tumblers.... If anyone has had success please let me know, I will still do a trial run but perhaps someone has some tips. |
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rewdownunder on Nov 24, 2021 13:13:03 GMT -5
How hard is it? Are the particles sharp or rounded. A lot of sand blasting media is rounded and not that hard. Good eye though as a lot of industrial material is cheaper than what we buy for the hobby. Why does the bag say "Must Stay Dry" What happens when it gets wet?
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Post by perkins17 on Nov 24, 2021 13:35:50 GMT -5
Maybe for really soft stuff like flourite but probably not with stuff like agates. Interesting idea.
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rewdownunder on Nov 24, 2021 13:46:11 GMT -5
From Google
Coal slag is an abrasive blasting media that is created as a recycled byproduct of coal combustion in power plants. The slag forms unique angular shapes making it a perfect material for a variety of applications. hardness of 6.0-7.5. Sounds like it could work on some softer material.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 24, 2021 13:47:52 GMT -5
I'm due to swap out tomorrow...I'll keep this updated. I have some septarians that I've been meaning to experiment on for a while. That would be a batch I would be taking a peak at every day, so this provides a good chance to see what is happening.  |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 24, 2021 13:50:14 GMT -5
rewdownunder yea they offer rounded and angular from the small amount I've researched. The material I have is angular. Typical silica carbide is mohs of 8-9?
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LazerFlash
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Post by LazerFlash on Nov 24, 2021 13:59:22 GMT -5
"Coal slag, also known as boiler slag, is a recycled product produced by coal-burning plants. When coal is "fired" at over 2,500 degrees, it melts and produces a by-product called slag. The slag is cooled through a process called vitrification which causes it to solidify and form sharp, angular granules in a variety of sizes. This slag is then reclaimed, dried, crushed, and the remaining granules are sorted into seven different grades of blasting abrasives." |
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LazerFlash
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Post by LazerFlash on Nov 24, 2021 14:06:20 GMT -5
Why does the bag say "Must Stay Dry" What happens when it gets wet?I'm not sure of the exact answer to the question, but apparently the material doesn't change when used in fresh-water fish tanks:
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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 24, 2021 14:10:19 GMT -5
I just got off the phone with one of the Black Diamond reps, who had been asked about this same thing before. She said that if you did use it for tumbling to use the most coarse version, which is their 1240 product.
I still don't know which I have as my bag isn't tagged, but she mentioned that you can pick it up at tractor supply (she said they call it the medium grit...I'll have to check on that) a 50lb bag for like 9-12 bucks.
So I guess the real question is it hard enough to do harder material?
They also sell Aluminum Oxide, but they source it from a 3rd party vendor. I did not ask about pricing.
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LazerFlash
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Post by LazerFlash on Nov 24, 2021 14:14:37 GMT -5
I did have a side concern: What to do with the slurry once you're done with it? Certainly it wouldn't be the volume that a power plant would produces, but once slurried, (and likely reduced in physical grit size), what is a safe disposal method?
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
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Post by rewdownunder on Nov 24, 2021 14:34:57 GMT -5
I did have a side concern: What to do with the slurry once you're done with it? Certainly it wouldn't be the volume that a power plant would produces, but once slurried, (and likely reduced in physical grit size), what is a safe disposal method? Interesting Coal ash and slag are known to contain some nasty heavy metals but it's not like your going generate that much material. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 24, 2021 19:06:01 GMT -5
I hadn't thought about that LazerFlash . I would guess the impact would be minimal but I honestly don't know. I dump all of my rock slurry down a hillside right now. I imagine I'll do the same...
I decided to jump the gun a little and now have a batch of slag glass and a batch of septarians going. I added 1TBSP to each 3lb tumbler and will check every 4-8 hours to see how things are progressing.
I've never really tumbled anything this soft as a whole batch so it's probably overkill...we'll see.
Sorry for not replying rewdownunder...I put some in a cup and soaked it for 4 hours and saw no change. I imagine it has to do with the sandblasting application. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Nov 26, 2021 22:16:01 GMT -5
I don't see enough action with to believe it's a viable alternative. I may try a comparison down the road but for now I think it's a not worth attempting.
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Post by stephan on Nov 26, 2021 22:34:44 GMT -5
The bag says it must stay dry, but doesn’t specify what will happen if it doesn’t.  |
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Post by Peruano on Nov 27, 2021 10:24:23 GMT -5
Is this the same stuff that railroads used to cover railbeds with and that every post WWII high school used on their track ovals. If so, everyone over 70 undoubtedly has it ingrained in the palms of their hands and knees. Railroads used deposit such cinder just about everywhere someone would tolerate them.
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rockeddie64
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Post by rockeddie64 on Oct 26, 2023 15:06:38 GMT -5
How hard is it? Are the particles sharp or rounded. A lot of sand blasting media is rounded and not that hard. Good eye though as a lot of industrial material is cheaper than what we buy for the hobby. Why does the bag say "Must Stay Dry" What happens when it gets wet? Here's a Material Safety Data Sheet for coal slag. I don't think it's hazardous if it gets wet. I'm going to try it out.
Coal Slag Material Safety Data Sheet |
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quartz
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Post by quartz on Oct 26, 2023 21:22:22 GMT -5
I think the idea of keeping it dry is that wet sandblasting media of any kind really fouls up the blasting unit, from the reservoir to the nozzle. Sticks to parts and clumps.
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Oct 28, 2023 8:01:23 GMT -5
This has been tried before with mixed results. It breaks down very quickly and is too soft for agates, jaspers, etc. Softer stuff it will work fine. Because it is super heated most of the toxic metals are extracted from it and this should not pose a health risk beyond the normal dust born concerns.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by dshanpnw on Oct 29, 2023 11:55:59 GMT -5
I bought some coffee cans of grit labelled as 14 and 12/36 grit from a past rockhound. I used it for the coarse stages in a 12 pound barrel of mixed agates and jaspers, and a 12 pound barrel of nothing but Montana agates and there was no obvious change in them. I think I tried it three times with no change. I researched online all the types of grits and finally determined that it was probably coal slag. It might work on the softer stones. Also, I didn't notice that it damaged the barrels at all.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 29, 2023 12:15:19 GMT -5
dshanpnw Dang, I was hoping to read your post and find that you had success. I always clench a little buying my big box of grit 
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