badrock
starting to shine!
Member since January 2022
Posts: 30
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Post by badrock on Feb 18, 2022 12:24:30 GMT -5
This is my stock of grit. I currently have two tumblers going that are beyond step 1. The step they are currently at is highlighted in yellow. Where I intend to go, the next steps, are in red (QT-6). This morning my 3a finished step 5 with TXP. A few nice Rainbow Ledge Agates, which were almost perfect but not quite. After a super clean out, I threw them back into the barrel with Cerium and a pinch of borax for a two week run. Fingers crossed... Please share your grit experience. How do you get to perfection? Am I missing any ingredients, grits, or polish? Thanks!
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Post by rmf on Feb 19, 2022 3:09:13 GMT -5
My grit(s) of choice for rock tumbling, 46-70 coarse SiC, 120-220 medium SiC, -600 SiC for fine, Polish is MicroAluminum. I have tried Tin Oxide polish it is too expensive and you have to reuse. Cerium Oxide is also too expensive if you don't reuse. Micro Aluminum I can dump after one use, I also have used Tripoli when polishing agates. Cheap enough to use and dump. As you tumble grit breaks down so the -600 grit has 600 and finer which will breakdown to even finer. though using 1000 or 1500 might be better I have not tried them.
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badrock
starting to shine!
Member since January 2022
Posts: 30
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Post by badrock on Feb 19, 2022 16:54:15 GMT -5
Grit breakdown, 60-90 Sic, it's gone within 3-days of grinding. Cerium, worked great in my vibe, but definitely likes to leave residue in cracks. I'm experimenting with it in the tumbler again. Thanks!
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badrock
starting to shine!
Member since January 2022
Posts: 30
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Post by badrock on Feb 20, 2022 18:27:48 GMT -5
I pulled the Rainbow Ledge rocks early. Tumbled with Cerium Oxide. There are several I really like. Here's one of them.
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