Rocksinhead
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2014
Posts: 2
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Post by Rocksinhead on Jun 23, 2014 15:36:06 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I'm new to this site. I have tumbled rocks found in the mountains and stones etc. I need to know since my loving husband brought me some "overspray stones" or Fordite/ Detroit agate from work. Should i treat it as a soft rock or just regular like my mountain stones... (rose quartz) etc. I have searched for 2 days on the net and cannot find anything on tumbling this. thanks in advance!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 16:28:36 GMT -5
The material is very soft and i would think it would disintegrate in a tumbler.i sand mine with regular sand paper from homedepot.i use a fine file to rough the shape. Dave
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 23, 2014 18:43:29 GMT -5
I would think not possible to tumble. Maybe starting at 220 in a vibe. Maybe not.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 23, 2014 18:44:28 GMT -5
Isn't that stuff worth a small fortune?
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1nickthegreek
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 382
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Post by 1nickthegreek on Jun 24, 2014 4:10:40 GMT -5
Isn't that stuff worth a small fortune? It sure is, especially if it is the real deal from back pre EPA regulated paints!!!
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Post by Toad on Jun 24, 2014 5:00:06 GMT -5
I would sell it and get some harder rocks.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2014 6:58:47 GMT -5
Did your husband have a stash of the "old" stuff at work and brought it home?or does he presently work in a pliant and knocked some of the racks, and brought it home?big difference in quality,and value.the new stuff is way softer than the "old".i guess like a 30+ year cure time makes a work of difference.
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Rocksinhead
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2014
Posts: 2
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Post by Rocksinhead on Jun 24, 2014 10:40:25 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies! My husband works for Rick Hendrick chevrolet, and he gets it from the paint shop off the equipment they spray on. It is heated through each coat, It seems really hard to me, I can just grind and sand and polish. That's messy tho. lol Thanks!!!
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jun 24, 2014 14:59:11 GMT -5
If it's newer is it not as hard as the older fordite? I've seen newer boat over spray boat paint chunks and it seems as hard as the original stuff. If you are interested in selling some I'd love to buy some and try it out.
Cheers, Matt
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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dogtown46
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2014
Posts: 2
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Post by dogtown46 on Jul 11, 2014 22:21:46 GMT -5
I have worked the new and the old lead based material and don't find much difference. I am going to cut some square "logs" and round the edges. Cut in to bead length and drill. Put in my vibra-tumbler with tin oxide with corn cob media and see it they will polish. I swear by the vibra-tumbler as I have used them and barrel type on my Lakers and other agate material including agate slabs.
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detroit
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2017
Posts: 2
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Post by detroit on Jun 17, 2017 7:42:36 GMT -5
I am trying to find out if it is possible to make hardware for a cabinet out of fordite. Even if it is just the face of it attached somehow. How do I go about finding someone that could make this and does this kind of work?
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detroit
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2017
Posts: 2
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Post by detroit on Jun 17, 2017 7:45:07 GMT -5
Hi I am new to this forum. I am interested in having designed hardware for a cabinet using fordite/Detroit agate. How do I go about finding someone who does this kind of work and Could help me design and create it?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 17, 2017 8:41:54 GMT -5
A few people on here,work with Fordite.........Hopefully they see this post!!
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Jun 20, 2017 8:44:51 GMT -5
I have put some scraps into my Lot-O with other material, and if you have a good rough shape, you could throw it in and let it run, but I wouldn't let it go for more than an hour or two or you will end up with not much left. I just hand-sand it with 80/100/150/220 (dry) and then with 400/600/800/1000/1500/2000 wet. Then I use automotive polish.
I have tried short cuts, and ultimately, you end up with really polished scratches all over your material, and you end up going back and re-doing it.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Jun 23, 2017 10:32:34 GMT -5
Hi I am new to this forum. I am interested in having designed hardware for a cabinet using fordite/Detroit agate. How do I go about finding someone who does this kind of work and Could help me design and create it? Lee Valley sells door knobs with hollows on the top for woodworkers to inset with turnings, which might be what you're after. As for designing and manufacturing custom gemstone hardware, you'd need to find a good lapidary artist that's also a metalworker. I suspect that commercial hardware could be modified to take fordite, given a degree of ingenuity. Custom work will take time and a great deal of money; perhaps find a very high end kitchen remodeling company, they'll have expertise in the subject. As for tumbling fordite, I really doubt it will work that well. You've got the softness issue, maybe delamination to worry about, and maybe grit becoming embedded. No doubt it will round, but polishing will be tough. Maybe avoid SiC in a rotary, just run it in a vibe with all AlO, which will break the edges, and then polish with plastic pellets and car wax??? Can't know if you don't try.
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