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Post by liveoak on Jul 3, 2022 14:10:25 GMT -5
I'm looking to try carving on some stone.
Initially maybe just on some cabochons, I have a lot of river jade I can practice on.
My question is about what grit of diamond burs would be recommended for using on my flex shaft.
I have some cheap ungraded variety packs now, but need to zero in what would be a good progression of grits to buy for new burs.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Patty
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Post by manofglass on Jul 3, 2022 14:24:47 GMT -5
36 grit tire burrs I got mine at jadecarver.com they have lower grits to
I gave most of mine to miket
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Post by liveoak on Jul 3, 2022 14:36:51 GMT -5
Interesting Walt, manofglass, I hadn't looked at the tire burs before. But I was certainly looking at jadecaver.com. My brain says that 36 grit sounds real course ? But then I don't know, which is why I'm asking in the first place :-) OK, further question - If you started with 36 grit - would you need to work through all the grits (80,120,220,400 & 600 ) before polishing ? I was thinking in relation to my cab unit - It starts at 80 hard, then 220 hard, then moves to soft 280 & 600. So I wasn't sure if copying that grit sequence would work ?? Suggestions and/or advice appreciated. Thank you, Patty |
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Post by manofglass on Jul 3, 2022 15:27:52 GMT -5
I was grinding stone to replace parts of cement figures that I covered with bondo body filler then had to sand and paint them
Miket would be the one to ask
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Post by liveoak on Jul 3, 2022 16:06:00 GMT -5
tagging- miket for any other input ? :-) Patty |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 3, 2022 20:05:30 GMT -5
SiC cutoff discs on mandrels stacked up 2 or 3 thick are a relatively cheap way to shape carvings with over-under features or anything you want with lines. I use a lot of ball end burrs too, and the DP Nova burrs as well. For polishing nylon brushes with diamond paste get into all the tight places. If you prefer smaller holes for bails half a toothpick with diamond paste works great.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 3, 2022 20:42:55 GMT -5
liveoak Patty the largest grit diamond burrs I use are 60 grit. I only use those if I need to hog off a lot of stone. I generally will start with 80 grit and go on from there. Here's a thread from a few years ago that I did when I carved an opal. Maybe it will give you some ideas.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 4, 2022 6:19:28 GMT -5
Thanks Robin hummingbirdstones, your opal carving thread was just what I needed - lots of tips there & different wheels, etc mentioned.
It's funny, when I made that leaf cab a couple of months ago, I was frustrated as I wanted to carve veins in it and didn't have a way to polish them. Ground them just fine.
So I decided I needed to have that potential available. (sounded innocent enough).
I recently found a nice water system that I can clamp onto my cab unit, so the mess stays in the tray. I'm still working on a clamp to hold my flex-shaft, so I don't have to hand hold it .
I laughed at myself, I have some diamond discs, like you mentioned - but of course they are in my enameling area.
Hit myself on the head on that one.
Anyway, thank you both for getting me thinking & moving further on this project.
Patty
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Post by miket on Jul 4, 2022 8:47:14 GMT -5
Sorry, Patty, late to the party!
I like the 36 grit tire burrs, also
I shape the cabs, then use a used burr to go over the cab again to remove the scratches.
I don't really use a progression of different grits, I finish mine in the vibe.
If I can be of any help, just PM me...
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Post by liveoak on Jul 4, 2022 9:08:17 GMT -5
Thanks miket . I ordered up some assorted burs & going to see what I can come up with otherwise , without breaking the bank, just yet  I figured the assorted 50 pack gave me enough of a choice to figure out what I like & don't before I invest further. Thanks for weighing in. Patty |
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Post by miket on Jul 4, 2022 10:35:18 GMT -5
Thanks miket . I ordered up some assorted burs & going to see what I can come up with otherwise , without breaking the bank, just yet  I figured the assorted 50 pack gave me enough of a choice to figure out what I like & don't before I invest further. Thanks for weighing in. Patty You're welcome, like I said if I can be of any help just let me know!  |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 4, 2022 10:50:45 GMT -5
liveoak I forgot to mention that I get the solid cutoff discs without the fabric reinforcement
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Post by liveoak on Jul 4, 2022 12:54:30 GMT -5
Thanks @ Rockoonz, makes sense, as I guess they would be more flexible without the backing.
So I really like the sound of those diamond embedded rubber dental discs, Robin, hummingbirdstones - but the price was staggering. Tom found them on e-bay , actually out of Australia, at a MUCH better price. They have different sized points in numerous grits.
So I didn't want to let the hubby down, since he found them for me & all - so I ordered up a couple of sets.
OK, they won't be here tomorrow - but the shipping was pretty cheap, seeing as it's coming all the way from the other side of the world.
Once they come I'll give a report.
Thanks for the tip-
Patty
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 4, 2022 14:42:31 GMT -5
Thanks @ Rockoonz, makes sense, as I guess they would be more flexible without the backing.
So I really like the sound of those diamond embedded rubber dental discs, Robin, hummingbirdstones - but the price was staggering. Tom found them on e-bay , actually out of Australia, at a MUCH better price. They have different sized points in numerous grits.
So I didn't want to let the hubby down, since he found them for me & all - so I ordered up a couple of sets.
OK, they won't be here tomorrow - but the shipping was pretty cheap, seeing as it's coming all the way from the other side of the world.
Once they come I'll give a report.
Thanks for the tip-
Patty
Patty, let us know how they work when you use them. I've never ordered them (because, yeah they're pricey), but I sure would be interested in knowing. The other thing that I remembered is that you can make you're own carving points out of wood dowel. Use a coarse file to shape the point. Then you charge them with either loose diamond bort or paste and use an extender fluid with them (silicone). The diamond will get embedded in the wood and you have to charge frequently when you first use them, but then only occasionally when you need to once they're fully charged. You need to make the same shape for each grit you need and, of course, keep them separated by grit size to avoid cross contamination. The beauty of these is that they're cheap to make and more cost efficient, especially if you use loose diamond bort. You're crafty enough to be able to make these without a problem, I would think.  |
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Post by liveoak on Jul 4, 2022 15:38:08 GMT -5
I've read about people doing that, just never have. But you're right, cheap is good, you can easily get carried away $$ with these kind of things.
Crafty enough- that gave me a chuckle ( sometimes too much so for my own good ! )
Happy 4th of July. Patty
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