soccermud
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2008
Posts: 18
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Post by soccermud on Aug 2, 2009 13:05:00 GMT -5
Hey guys. My fiance and I have decided that we want to try and polish up some slabs. Since we don't have a tile saw, we're probably just going to purchase some slabs and then polish them up. Since this is the first time I've done this, I'm not too sure how to polish the flat surface of the slab. I've just been rock tumbling for a few months now and really haven't done anything with slabs before. If someone could let me know how you polish slabs, that would be great!
Thanks, Chris
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soccermud
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2008
Posts: 18
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Post by soccermud on Aug 2, 2009 13:23:37 GMT -5
Sorry...I forgot to add that we're trying to polish slabs to make coasters for our coffee table and dinner table and such. Thanks.
Chris
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,484
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 2, 2009 13:43:59 GMT -5
Howdy Chris, Unfortunately, the equipment involved for slab polishing is usually pretty expensive. Most folks would use a vibrating, reciprocating or spinning flat lap and multiple pads or discs of different mesh are needed too. Costs would run in the hundreds of dollars just to get started. I've seen folks use the type of pad polishers used for detailing cars etc but even that technique demands the various mesh sizes of grind and polish etc ie Coarse, fine grind, prepolish and polish. The slabs must be weighted for the vibe and reciprocating laps too. Overall, it's a pretty expensive and complicated process....Mel
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 2, 2009 14:36:41 GMT -5
The easy way would be to get a large vibratory tumbler, like a thumlers UV-18. Anything smaller wouldn't be big enough to polish a coaster sized slab. Even with the expense of a UV-18, it would still be cheaper than a flat lap I would think. I polish slabs in my UV-10 All the time.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,484
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 2, 2009 15:00:21 GMT -5
I'd say Randy's right. It's been awhile since my flat lap broke but I think it was in the $400 range and that was years ago too....Mel
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soccermud
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2008
Posts: 18
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Post by soccermud on Aug 3, 2009 21:25:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice guys...even if it may have been a little disappointing :-(. I'll keep on tumbling rocks and maybe just try to buy some polished slabs on Ebay or something.
Chris
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Post by catmandewe on Aug 3, 2009 22:07:57 GMT -5
If you find what slabs you want to make coasters out of, you can trace the coaster out on the slabs, then send them to me. I will cut them and polish them for you.
Tony
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soccermud
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2008
Posts: 18
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Post by soccermud on Aug 4, 2009 18:08:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the offer, Tony, but by the time I purchase the slabs, pay for the shipping to/from you, I might as well just buy some polished slabs on Ebay :-)
Chris
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Post by catmandewe on Aug 4, 2009 18:20:57 GMT -5
If you know what kind of slabs you are looking for, I have a few slabs here. If you want to get them on ebay, that is ok too. Happy hunting either way.
Tony
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 5, 2009 17:58:17 GMT -5
Hmmmm, buy them from ebay or get them from Tony, slabs that were polished special just for you. That's a hard decision. lol
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on Aug 9, 2009 20:53:23 GMT -5
Speaking of polished slabs! I remember when i built the RTH Friendship table about 15 people sent me slabs to go on it and 90% of them were polished they didn`t have to send polished slabs because bar top clear was going on top of them they did it because the members of RTH are very good people who truly care about each other and for that i will always be gratefull.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Aug 12, 2009 10:30:04 GMT -5
tony and i both have tons of slabs cut, you don't need ebay. lol Go with tony, hes a great guy and will do a wonderful job for you. Ebay, you never know what your gonna get. Just my 2 cents
mary ann
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 12, 2009 11:31:48 GMT -5
Yeah, Tony might have a few slabs lying around... LOL
Personally, I would jump on that offer!
Chuck
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