FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Aug 24, 2014 18:33:51 GMT -5
After trying to find a cheap alternitive for filler/media, I remembered my son has those electric airsoft guns that shoot hard plastic BBs. I learned that they don't float in water but stick well to slurry and they are made from a really tough, seemless 6mm plastic BB that weighs in at only .12grams, they come packaged in different quantities and weights from .12 to .25grams and fairly inexpensive. So far I've only used them in one polish cycle(10days of agate) and didn't notice any size difference from when they went in and when I took them out. They can be bought at online or Walmart and many other department stores. Maybe some of you can try it out and see how well they work for tumbling. in the bottom picture you can see some marbling on a couple of the tiny balls from being in the polish stage.
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Post by braders on Aug 24, 2014 18:56:50 GMT -5
They work great ..joanns sales poly beads to I think its a couple bucks for 2 pounds. There is always popcorn too ha ha
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Aug 24, 2014 20:28:18 GMT -5
I try to stay away from putting anything edible into my tumbler... Food/ condiments don't seem to have a very good track record haha
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Aug 24, 2014 23:12:45 GMT -5
We have been using those air soft bb's for about three years in the polish run, very pleased with the result. Use them as about 20% of the load. Best deal I can find is a pkg. of 10k at Walmart.
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Aug 25, 2014 10:29:14 GMT -5
That is what my son has the pkg. of 10k. I dont think he would mind if a handful went missing from time to time. I was sorta skeptical at first but they get the job done very well.
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