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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 24, 2013 18:02:50 GMT -5
John: What do you think of using this product on larger saws?
Thanks! Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 24, 2013 18:00:14 GMT -5
Correct: plastic in rotaries, ceramic in vibes. Some people also use tile spacers in rotaries because they're cheap and readily available.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 23, 2013 21:26:44 GMT -5
I think I still have some old glass marbles. I might have an actual aggie, too, but I don't remember. They're all buried somewhere in the house.
Modern marbles just don't have the same appeal.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 23, 2013 21:23:48 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs, as always! That crazy lace is unreal.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 22, 2013 18:53:39 GMT -5
lemon squeezy
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 22, 2013 10:48:26 GMT -5
I might go higher than Roy at $1000 to $1800. Location plays a part, too. We don't get saws that size for sale around here that often.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 22, 2013 10:46:23 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs! Great to have you back!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 13:32:37 GMT -5
Wasn't trying to bust any balls. Maybe I just over thought the pricing angle. If he's just looking for recommendations of rock to try, then yes, anything in the Mohs 6-7 range that is solid would be fine. Price is what he's willing to pay.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 13:23:44 GMT -5
Yep, either grind flat or make blocking cuts. John is absolutely right about making sure your rocks are secure. I had one slip last night that jammed the blade. Fortunately it's just a little dished.
Be sure to candle your Montanas for best orientation.
Congrats!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 13:19:27 GMT -5
I second the Rock Shed recommendation. Kingsley North is another option for grit. If you produce chips in the shop you can use them as filler, or just take a chunk of scrap and break it up.
Be sure to fill your barrel 2/3 to 3/4 full and fill it with water to just below the top layer of rocks. Whenever you change grits you'll need to add filler to take up the space. For rough grind this can be just more rocks. For the later grinding/sanding stages a lot of people use plastic pellets in a rotary tumbler.
Don't dump the slurry down the drain! It will clog pipes.
Chuck (we're not all named Chuck)
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 9:49:14 GMT -5
Yeah, the shaft iron miners hated it when they hit pockets of jasper (particularly Mary Ellen) because it was so much harder than the hematite, so yes, it will undercut. In fact you can see it in the layered weathering in your photos. If you can run a load of just Jasper Knob stuff and for shorter time, it should help.
All the red in your slurry comes from the hematite, not the jasper. You did well considering the mixed load. BIF can be very pretty.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 18, 2013 9:41:45 GMT -5
I really like Binghamite, but the quality is extremely variable. Blues and greens in solid pieces command premium prices.
My favorite rocks are the ones I've collected. :-) Having said that, I'm crazy about Crazy Lace, like Flint Ridge, my son loves Tiger Eye, Kaleidoscope Jasper looks awesome...
In general I'm really fond of SW Texas material (Stillwell Ranch varieties, Woodward Ranch varieties, Marfa bouquet and plume).
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 17, 2013 20:31:51 GMT -5
Excellent description of the varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz!
I've often wondered about amygdaloidal agates, too, particularly with Lakers. Specifically, we know that many amygdaloids form in the gas pockets in basalt (think Lakers), so the basalt must be fairly solid at that point. Could it still be relatively hot? Not likely, because that would likely lead to large crystals, unless there was significant pressure, too, which would have to occur underground.
On Stillwell Ranch you can find _lots_ of nodules with a rough chalcedony exterior that lead you to believe they're agates. Cut into them, however, and you'll find chert (often pretty, but opaque grey, brown, black, and white). Is that what you have, too, Mel? I've never seen them anywhere else.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 17, 2013 20:26:09 GMT -5
I think that's a very difficult question to answer because it has so many variables, including what I like, quality of the material, size of the material, rarity of the material, etc. For example, you won't find me buying picture jaspers because they just aren't my thing, but they're the favorites of many. Once you get into picture jaspers, there is an incredible variety, including Ohwyhee (and subtypes), Biggs, Deschutes, Gary Green, Willow Creek, Vistaite, Morrisonite, etc., etc. Within each of those varieties you quality of the picture, size of the slab, uniformity, etc.
My favorite rough tends to come in nodules, rather than slabs, as I prefer nodular agates.
Sorry, not trying to be a jerk. It's just not as straightforward as it might appear. On the other hand, if you like it and the price is right, buy it. That's all it really comes down to.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 16, 2013 12:24:12 GMT -5
Go for it. I recently gave instructions for building a tumbler to our club for the newsletter. Maybe I should write them up properly and sell the plans on ebay. My focus was more on building a large (100 lb.) barrel as opposed to the tumbler itself.
On the other hand, I've had about enough of ebay, so I'll probably never do it.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2013 22:44:04 GMT -5
Thank you Sheltie! I've been looking for a way to polish slabs and face some big material for a long time, but never wanted to spend the money on the Barranca. I think I'll give the vacuum Rotoblast a shot. It's getting too cold to work outside wet here, so I really like the vacuum feature.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2013 13:02:26 GMT -5
Funny, Don, you're right. I didn't look at the dead of the first post. Just showed up in my Recent Posts list.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2013 11:12:02 GMT -5
You might try handballs from a sports store. They look to be about the right size, somewhat hard, but not too hard.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2013 8:56:16 GMT -5
The historic name "Montana Moss Agate" fits what Sara describes (and apparently the article author). Now most people refer to it as Montana Agate to avoid the confusion.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2013 8:42:19 GMT -5
I use a leather covered custom built 8" disk that was given to me. It works great on the end of my vintage HP grinder. Author John Sinkankas describes how to make one if you can find one of his books.
I also recommend wet, although Bobby1 has a good technique for sanding slabs dry on a loaded 600 grit SiC belt on an expanding drum.
Sheltie: the Rotoblast looks like a great alternative to the Barranca units. Do you have the vacuum unit? How do you secure the slabs for polishing?
Chuck
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