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Post by hermatite on Oct 10, 2003 9:12:54 GMT -5
Hi! I'm just starting out with rock polishing ...have a box full o' stuff from the rock shed at home just waiting to be unpacked and tumbled! I also make jewelry and so am interested in faking seaglass. I've seen in other threads that some of you work on glass and am curious to know if you follow the same procedures for it that you do for stones. Any info at all would be v. helpful!
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Oct 10, 2003 16:24:47 GMT -5
Hi hermatite, I'm liking glass. It is easy to tumble and looks like it is really going to turn out pretty. The only thing I'll say is to keep an eye on it. Compared to the harder agates and other hard stones, it reduces quick. Just check it daily as it may finish a stage before you might think. I lost about 50% volume on this batch so far in less than 2 weeks, but they sure are rounding out nice. Have fun, Don
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Post by hematite on Oct 11, 2003 8:34:57 GMT -5
Thanks Doc! I've been saving colored bottles for a little while now. From the sound of it I'll have to make the peices pretty large so they don't grind to nothing. Do I need to start with the 80 grit though? Or could I start it with the lighter stuff?
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Post by hematite on Oct 11, 2003 8:38:01 GMT -5
er...make that Thanks DON (sorry...no coffee yet today).
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Oct 11, 2003 17:41:39 GMT -5
No prob ;D. If it was me, I would start it with the med grit (120-220). The results should better simulate beach glass and I would bet money on that. You can always go back and run the 80 if you don't like the shaping the 120-220 did. All you'll lose is a week or 2. I bet you'll be happy with the medium grit run for 5 to 7 days though. I ran 60-90 on my glass, but It was large chunks from a busted up boulder of slag glass with odd shaped pointy edges. Just remember to have a good mix of sizes in the batch, that will help to work any flat spots on the busted bottle glass. Also to simulate beach glass, you may only have to run the 120-220 and then pre-polish. The glass should be well rounded and have a hazy finish just like the real deal. But for me, it would be hard not to finish it off with a bright shine from a good final polish. Good luck and have fun! Don
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Djinjuice
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 47
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Post by Djinjuice on Oct 12, 2003 2:49:35 GMT -5
I am curious..... What does "slag" refer to? Also, I took out my sliding glass doors and replaced them with the french kind. I nice gentleman offered to take the metal frame and tracks (recycle?), but I am still left with the 2 huge glass panels. Could I take a hammer to them and tumble the glass? Would be a great way to get rid of them and have something nice too!
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Oct 12, 2003 9:25:24 GMT -5
Hi djinjuice, slag glass is just a term for waste glass, usually from a glass factory. The place I got mine from used large ladles to melt glass. What was left over after the pour was left to cool and then knocked out into a waste pile. Some of it has a lot of bubbles and impurities, like slag, hence the name. I don't see any reason you couldn't bust up the old sliding glass doors and make a mess of clear glass gems from them. Sounds like fun! Talk to you later, Don
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