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Post by TheRock on Mar 21, 2022 21:21:55 GMT -5
I just purchased a Covington Auto16" Vibrating Flat Lap. Does anyone hove one and what can you tgell me about it. I have been cutting some thunder eggs and slabs for MaryJaneto make some Fridge Maggot's so I will be needing to polish the flat side hence the flat lap. If cut on saw how long does it take to achieve a respectable finish?
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 21, 2022 21:40:05 GMT -5
I just purchased a Covington Auto16" Vibrating Flat Lap. Does anyone hove one and what can you tgell me about it. I have been cutting some thunder eggs and slabs for MaryJaneto make some Fridge Maggot's so I will be needing to polish the flat side hence the flat lap. If cut on saw how long does it take to achieve a respectable finish? I have an old style Lortone 20 inch Vib Lap. Length of time really depends on three main factors; Smoothness of cut, weight of the rock, and efficiency of the Lap. Slabs will definitely need added weight. Even non-slabs might need added weight if they have their mass is unbalanced. For me the 1st stage, 80SiC, usually takes the most time of the 3 SiC stages. For non-slabs i run them thru as many 1st stages as required to get a smooth even surface. Your Covington may(should) be better at grinding than my Lortone so my time in stages may be excessive for you. Just curious, what size slabs are you going to use for the Frig Magnets? I just made 50 of them to replenish my stock as they have sold well. The slabs I use are between 1 1/2 and 3 inches in the longest dimension and have have all been Tumbler polished. I have tumble polished slabs up to 6 inches in the longest dimension. Slabs runs can take longer with the flat surfaces. I also use the "gel-type" superglue to attach the magnets, it's easier to control the flow. Henry
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Post by TheRock on Mar 21, 2022 22:18:14 GMT -5
Thanks Hank Well this is my / her first go at the Maggot thing Id say "3 would be the max length Id say how thick ya slice em? Do you cut to pattern or just random? Any pictures? Thanks ~Duke
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 22, 2022 2:22:34 GMT -5
Thanks Hank Well this is my / her first go at the Maggot thing Id say "3 would be the max length Id say how thick ya slice em? Do you cut to pattern or just random? Any pictures? Thanks ~Duke Most have some sort of pattern and are in the .2 inch thick range. It's just me but I look for slabs that have enough pattern or color to hide(or mostly hide) the magnet. That's not a requirement just my personal preference. I have even used a few end pieces and have successfully glued to the non-cut side as long it's sorta(very technical term) flat. As luck would have it I put them all away yesterday afternoon into a Show tray, I can pull them out pretty easily as soon as the nasty weather down here clears out hopefully later today and get some pictures.
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Post by TheRock on Mar 22, 2022 13:30:21 GMT -5
That would be great!! and how much do you $$$ charge $$$ for them? When you show pics give me some prices for them please. I don't know why, but i never thought of tumbling them so thanks for that Idea! Hey do you use any Ceramics for cushion with the slab pieces? And If you don't mind me askin what's your procedure? Thanks again Henry for your help!!!! ~Duke
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 22, 2022 15:01:25 GMT -5
$4 for 1, 3 for $10. Think about bumping that to 3 for $11. I just price them all the same, it's simpler.
I don't use ceramics, Pea Gravel and trimmings from Pendant cuts and other misc smalls. Ceramics should work great as you do need some sort of smalls to help with grinding and polishing the slabs.
For me it's all first stages, 80, 220, 600 SiC and 500 AO in Rotary, Model B Thumlers, and then UV-18 for Polish. Note that there's a chance that any slabs with fractures will break. I have started back to letting the 80SiC run go for 9 or 10 dyas and then skipping 220SiC and going straight to 600SiC.
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Post by TheRock on Mar 23, 2022 13:51:54 GMT -5
Henry, Thanks for all of the Info don't get me wrong. but I think that is Kinda Cheap! MJ sells rocks I polish pretty ones 1" to 2" size between $3 to $5 ea. I would think a 3" long Slab that has been Cut on a Diamond Saw them Polished then Maggots Glued in place should go for $15.00 ea for all the equipment, work and Material Involved. If not it seems to me like yer tradin dollars.
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bstone
spending too much on rocks
www.sterling-n-stones.com
Member since August 2019
Posts: 290
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Post by bstone on Mar 23, 2022 14:42:08 GMT -5
Keep eye for Richard Ranch polisher also. You will be shocked at what 60 grit will do.
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Post by TheRock on Mar 23, 2022 19:08:48 GMT -5
Interesting Piece of Equipment!
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Post by perkins17 on Mar 23, 2022 19:22:38 GMT -5
That video is made by someone who goes to my club!
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Post by TheRock on Mar 23, 2022 20:39:35 GMT -5
I think the Richardson is Overkill to make Fridge Maggots! I am sure the Richardson has it's place in the Lapidary world but for fridge Maggots the tumbler and vibe will be fine + the flat lap for larger pieces. ~Duke
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Post by parfive on Mar 23, 2022 23:56:51 GMT -5
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Post by HankRocks on Mar 24, 2022 6:29:54 GMT -5
I think the Richardson is Overkill to make Fridge Maggots! I am sure the Richardson has it's place in the Lapidary world but for fridge Maggots the tumbler and vibe will be fine + the flat lap for larger pieces. ~Duke It just occurred to me a person could use tumbled end cuts for Magnets, just grind a small flat area on the rounded side for the magnet. I have a few pounds of tumble polished Brazilian Agate end cuts, some have pretty neat patterns. I would be a bit nervous about using that Richardson Grinder, if you lost your grip you have rock heading somewhere very fast!! That and I think the dust will be a bigger problem than the video indicates.
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Post by perkins17 on Mar 24, 2022 9:18:17 GMT -5
Thanks! Yeah, that sale looks awesome. I'm probably going to go, but I might have to go out of town this weekend .
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Post by TheRock on Mar 25, 2022 12:50:00 GMT -5
I think the Richardson is Overkill to make Fridge Maggots! I am sure the Richardson has it's place in the Lapidary world but for fridge Maggots the tumbler and vibe will be fine + the flat lap for larger pieces. ~Duke It just occurred to me a person could use tumbled end cuts for Magnets, just grind a small flat area on the rounded side for the magnet. I have a few pounds of tumble polished Brazilian Agate end cuts, some have pretty neat patterns. I would be a bit nervous about using that Richardson Grinder, if you lost your grip you have rock heading somewhere very fast!! That and I think the dust will be a bigger problem than the video indicates. I'm with ya Henry, Many times I dont use a Dop Stick On My Cab King I can polish the Stones pretty good free hand and I have the most WONDERFUL PUPPY in the whole world in BO cause he inspects me after each trip to the LAP SHOP as he licks my wounds clean. A person might think oooooo yuck but lemme tell ya that lil guy heals the ole man up in record time! Now I have two as we just picked up a Full Blood Havenese a Brother for him. Since BO was named after the Greatest Coach that ever coached the game This ones name is BRADY the G.O.A.T. The GREATEST of all TIME! "GO BLUE" Now Ill have two Wound Healers!
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1200cc
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2022
Posts: 9
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Post by 1200cc on Apr 6, 2022 22:10:54 GMT -5
Very cute pups, nice they are helpful. I just got some vibrating flat laps myself. From my research getting them and keeping them level is a big help in rate of polish. I agree with TheRock your prices seem a little low for the work involved HankRocks, you can always do a discount as you see fit for individuals. Allows you to have one price posted but negotiate down on stuff that is not as impressive. The dust is the biggest turn off for the Richardson's Ranch polisher, dust in general sucks rock dust can kill. My two cents hope it helps.
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 7, 2022 6:56:52 GMT -5
Very cute pups, nice they are helpful. I just got some vibrating flat laps myself. From my research getting them and keeping them level is a big help in rate of polish. I agree with TheRock your prices seem a little low for the work involved HankRocks, you can always do a discount as you see fit for individuals. Allows you to have one price posted but negotiate down on stuff that is not as impressive. The dust is the biggest turn off for the Richardson's Ranch polisher, dust in general sucks rock dust can kill. My two cents hope it helps. For me, pricing is always an interesting exercise. My usual guideline is "what would I be willing to pay for it". I did move the prices on the Magnets to 3 for $11. At the Craft Show I did this past Sat, I sold 1!!. That was a bit surprising to me as I had been selling between 15 and 20 of them at each Show. I don't think that had anything to do with raising the price on the "3 for". I have a 2 day Craft Show this coming weekend and as an experiment I am going to set the "3-for" price back to 3 for $10 and see what happens. The Show was good and it tied my previous best sales for a one day Show. Selling the 3 highest price Spheres really helped the total sales. A good friend of mine once told me that tumbled stones usually pay for the booth. That has always been the case and this past weekend, I sold $51 in tumbled stones and the booth cost was $55.
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