jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 1, 2015 13:35:16 GMT -5
On loan for me to tumble for txrockhunter. Started about 10 pounds worth. 5 weeks/30 Grit/8 grit changes/clay added to thicken/no filler/biggish 1-2.5 inch rocks/ barrel at 50-60% Out of vibe, 5 pounds filler rocks, sugar and SiC 220 for 2 days, sugar and AO 500 3 days. Ready for Borax and AO 14,000 polish Photos snapped off fast, some out of focus and poor manual exposure, apologies. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/721576617620168315 pounds mixed filler used in 14 pound vibe, not rotary. Please excuse dirty hands.
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Thunder69
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Thunder 2000-2015
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Post by Thunder69 on Dec 1, 2015 20:06:45 GMT -5
Man that is a big ol pile of pretty......john
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 1, 2015 21:43:38 GMT -5
Man that is a big ol pile of pretty......john Lots of palm over your way John. Great mix of woods jaspers palms and agates. But different than Rio stuff.
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Post by paulshiroma on Dec 2, 2015 9:00:45 GMT -5
These came out great. I can't wait to get my San Jacintos into the tumbler ... after I get everything working again. Looking good, James!
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 2, 2015 16:07:28 GMT -5
NICE!
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MoonRock
off to a rocking start
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Post by MoonRock on Dec 5, 2015 1:51:35 GMT -5
Why do you use borax? I'm thinking of buying that too, but as it is hard to get in Estonia... i would like to be sure what to do with that:).. could I use something else instead? What might be the grit size for this #14000 AO... I have 3200 mesh AO, is it compearable anyhow? Ohhh, i found the answer for that... now i have a new one... what grit size is last you use before 14000? 500?
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2015 4:11:42 GMT -5
Why do you use borax? I'm thinking of buying that too, but as it is hard to get in Estonia... i would like to be sure what to do with that:).. could I use something else instead? What might be the grit size for this #14000 AO... I have 3200 mesh AO, is it compearable anyhow? Ohhh, i found the answer for that... now i have a new one... what grit size is last you use before 14000? 500? Welcome to the forum Moonrock. Borax is probably mined in the US for the most part. Believe some have used Tide and other clothes washing detergents for the polish stage. I have used sugar for the AO 14,000 step, but it is more difficult to wash off than Borax. AO 14,000 is 1 micron I believe. I start with SiC 30 and 1 cup clay/14 pounds rock in the rotary and do about 8-12 grit changes. The last 30 grit change I let it run longer, about 12 days to break the grit down. That just skips the redundant SiC 220 step. Then go to AO 500 for 3 days, 1 cup sugar/1 cup water for a 14 pound vibratory. Final polish using AO 14,000 is 12 hours with 2 tablespoons Borax and drip dried rocks for a 14 pound vibratory. So it is a 3 step tumble. SiC 30, AO 500, AO 14,000. The clay is used to circulate the heavy SiC 30 in the coarse runs. I have used AO 1000 with 2 tablespoons of Borax and get the same shine as the AO 14,000 if it runs 2 days in the vibratory. So you can use AO 3200 in a vibratory with Borax to get a great polish.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2015 4:17:31 GMT -5
These came out great. I can't wait to get my San Jacintos into the tumbler ... after I get everything working again. Looking good, James! You should have great tumbles Paul. San Jacinctos are fine rocks. Lots of wood and palm. Conglomerates.
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MoonRock
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Member since September 2015
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Post by MoonRock on Dec 5, 2015 12:04:16 GMT -5
Why do you use borax? I'm thinking of buying that too, but as it is hard to get in Estonia... i would like to be sure what to do with that:).. could I use something else instead? What might be the grit size for this #14000 AO... I have 3200 mesh AO, is it compearable anyhow? Ohhh, i found the answer for that... now i have a new one... what grit size is last you use before 14000? 500? Welcome to the forum Moonrock. Borax is probably mined in the US for the most part. Believe some have used Tide and other clothes washing detergents for the polish stage. I have used sugar for the AO 14,000 step, but it is more difficult to wash off than Borax. AO 14,000 is 1 micron I believe. I start with SiC 30 and 1 cup clay/14 pounds rock in the rotary and do about 8-12 grit changes. The last 30 grit change I let it run longer, about 12 days to break the grit down. That just skips the redundant SiC 220 step. Then go to AO 500 for 3 days, 1 cup sugar/1 cup water for a 14 pound vibratory. Final polish using AO 14,000 is 12 hours with 2 tablespoons Borax and drip dried rocks for a 14 pound vibratory. So it is a 3 step tumble. SiC 30, AO 500, AO 14,000. The clay is used to circulate the heavy SiC 30 in the coarse runs. I have used AO 1000 with 2 tablespoons of Borax and get the same shine as the AO 14,000 if it runs 2 days in the vibratory. So you can use AO 3200 in a vibratory with Borax to get a great polish. Is it possible to achieve in rotary tumbler?
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2015 12:33:00 GMT -5
moonrockNot sure. I go the conservative route when using the rotary tumblers since they do not break fine grits down near as fast as a vibe. For rotary: SiC 30 about 8-14 grit changes, depending on shape of rocks, change/add every 5 days SiC 220 or AO 220 for a week AO 500 for 14 days AO 14,000 for 7-10 days.
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MoonRock
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2015
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Post by MoonRock on Dec 5, 2015 16:10:53 GMT -5
jamesp thank you, i will give it a try ☺
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 5, 2015 17:18:24 GMT -5
jamesp thank you, i will give it a try ☺ That menu works on agates and jaspers, Mohs 7 type rocks. Softer rocks different, and trickier to polish.
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MoonRock
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2015
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Post by MoonRock on Dec 6, 2015 2:45:29 GMT -5
jamesp thank you, i will give it a try ☺ That menu works on agates and jaspers, Mohs 7 type rocks. Softer rocks different, and trickier to polish. What to do softer ones then
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 6, 2015 6:50:40 GMT -5
Not my area. Probably add filler, milder grits, thicker slurries. Other members do well with softer stuff.
Mohs 7 rocks are easy to tumble, less gray hairs, and tons of variety.
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Post by txrockhunter on Dec 7, 2015 14:26:21 GMT -5
James, that is a beautiful job on those rocks! Thank you so much for taking this project on and detailing the steps for us newbies. I have no Idea how to repay, but I surely owe you one!!!
- Jeremy
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