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Post by HankRocks on Apr 11, 2018 20:59:16 GMT -5
Just pulled this 4 pounder out of the polish today and I am pleased with the result; DSC_0189 by Findrocks, on Flickr This one spent 3-10 day cycles in coarse - 46/70 , 10 days in 120 Aluminum Oxide, 8 days in Polish. All stages were in the Rotary, Thumler's Model B. Did not think it would get enough action in the UV-18. Fortunately it was a river-tumbled rock so it was already well rounded. I have altered my coarse stage a bit, I was doing the last re-charge about 2 days before the 2nd stage. Adjusted to 4 days after last re-charge before moving to 2nd stage. Suspect that it gives the 2nd stage Aluminum Oxide less severe scratches to smooth out.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 11, 2018 21:02:35 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome!
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Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 11, 2018 21:21:17 GMT -5
Wow. Looks great.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 11, 2018 21:46:23 GMT -5
Hell Yea !!
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Apr 11, 2018 21:48:34 GMT -5
Aluminum oxide the miracle abrasive. Way to go Henry. How many days on the last 46 run ?
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 11, 2018 22:04:30 GMT -5
About 4 days on the last 46 run, figured the extra days let the 46 breakdown to a much finer grit which would pre-smooth some of the deeper SiC scars. Probably could have reduced the polish stage by 2 or 3 days.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 4:49:57 GMT -5
About 4 days on the last 46 run, figured the extra days let the 46 breakdown to a much finer grit which would pre-smooth some of the deeper SiC scars. Probably could have reduced the polish stage by 2 or 3 days. I won't post how fast SiC 30 breaks down with a 1.5 pound rock in a 6 pound rotary with small agates. Doubt anyone would believe it. 4 days with a 4 pounder in 46 is a lifetime for coarse SiC. Bet you were down to SiC 1000 after 4 days w/that bruiser rolling around. I like those coarse AO's for what you are doing. AO 80 is the one I use for that 3 step tumble in the rotary. AO has the perfect time release breakdown for Mohs 7 agates from 80 grit to pre-polish grit finish. Allows skipping 220-500-1000. Funny that the tumbling supply houses don't offer AO 46-80-120-220. Not one of them. I made that discovery by accident years ago when I acquired a 50 pound bucket of sand blast grade AO 220 for $25 years ago. I substituted it for SiC 220 in rotary step and it did fine. One time I let it run like 2.5 weeks being busy only to find a decent polish. Then I purchased some AO 80 and let siC 46 run out for a long 10 days, cleaned out and charged with AO 80 for just over 2 weeks and had a great pre-polish. Big step saver. Looks like a front and center monster tumble there Henry.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2018 5:42:51 GMT -5
One very nice tumble.
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 12, 2018 6:53:15 GMT -5
I won't post how fast SiC 30 breaks down with a 1.5 pound rock in a 6 pound rotary with small agates. I doubt anyone would believe it. 4 days with a 4 pounder in 46 is a lifetime for coarse SiC. Bet you were down to SiC 1000 after 4 days w/that bruiser rolling around.
I like those coarse AO's for what you are doing. AO 80 is the one I use for that 3 step tumble in the rotary. AO has the perfect time release breakdown for Mohs 7 agates from 80 grit to pre-polish grit finish. Allows skipping 220-500-1000. Funny that the tumbling supply houses don't offer AO 46-80-120-220. Not one of them. I am sold on the 3 step process with the AO middle step. One other note, I am adding 3 or 4 cups of saved 2nd stage AO slurry to the middle step run along with about a cup of the 80 AO. It's not completely dried slurry, I suspect the already broken down AO in that slurry is also helping finish a bit. Not hurting any.
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 12, 2018 6:54:15 GMT -5
now I just need to figure out how to make a user referenced quote!!
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 12, 2018 7:03:46 GMT -5
Really like those big tumbles. Been lining up 1 to 4 pound rocks as candidates for tumbling. It sure helps to start with river tumbled material. Now I just need to find somewhere to pick up nice river tumbled agates, wood and jasper. My keen mind says they must be around here somewhere!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 7:41:29 GMT -5
Really like those big tumbles. Been lining up 1 to 4 pound rocks as candidates for tumbling. It sure helps to start with river tumbled material. Now I just need to find somewhere to pick up nice river tumbled agates, wood and jasper. My keen mind says they must be around here somewhere! The last trip to the Rio was focused on big tumble cobbles as you are aware of. Used AO slurry is fine to use. Wary of SiC slurry. I have polished rocks with AO 22. And the particles did not breakdown, they too became polished ant transferred polish to the rocks. Aluminum oxide is a real charm for tumbling agates for it's rounding effect. Most ceramics are 96% aluminum oxide, they are giant particles of AO. Throw a load of un-tumbled new ceramic media in with polished rocks and you will loose your polish in hours. Throw a load of polished ceramic media in with a load of pre-polished rocks and watch them polish your rocks without adding polish. Assuming you are using ceramic media that is fused for polish like the one the rock Shed sells. Some ceramic media can be fused with very aggressive particles that will eat you vibe hopper up in short order. Glad you saw the light with the AO 3 step. I will never forget rolling this rock in SiC 30 in rotary and then throwing it in the vibe for 3 days with AO 22 - no polish !! Bottom of vibe hopper still had 2 tablespoons of(smooth) AO 22 at clean out. It was run with polished agate smalls only in big Vibrasonic.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 12, 2018 9:24:18 GMT -5
Now your talking..... NICE!
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Apr 12, 2018 13:50:54 GMT -5
[quote author="@henryrocks" source="/post/991443/thread" timestamp="1523534055"]now I just need to figure out how to make a user referenced quote!![/quote]
Like that
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 11, 2018 4:49:26 GMT -5
Are you going to do some more of these Henry ? Maybe some 8 pounders
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Post by HankRocks on May 11, 2018 7:16:56 GMT -5
I plan on more large tumbles. Just picked up about 3 gallons of what look to be river tumbled, possibly some Rio's, in the 1 to 3 pound range. Might try a bit larger than 4 pound, but not much more than 6 and it has to be a river tumbled. I think anything as big as 8 pounds is really going to slow the action in a 15lb barrel. Now if I can just get one of my Texas rock collecting friends and noted specimen photographer, and I won't name any names , interested in a trip down to the Rio Grande valley I could pick up some custom sized ones for tumbling.
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Post by txrockhunter on May 11, 2018 22:46:49 GMT -5
I plan on more large tumbles. Just picked up about 3 gallons of what look to be river tumbled, possibly some Rio's, in the 1 to 3 pound range. Might try a bit larger than 4 pound, but not much more than 6 and it has to be a river tumbled. I think anything as big as 8 pounds is really going to slow the action in a 15lb barrel. Now if I can just get one of my Texas rock collecting friends and noted specimen photographer, and I won't name any names , interested in a trip down to the Rio Grande valley I could pick up some custom sized ones for tumbling. Not sure who you're talking about, but I'd love to tag along! Sweet tumble, by the way!!!!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 27, 2020 2:02:49 GMT -5
I plan on more large tumbles. Just picked up about 3 gallons of what look to be river tumbled, possibly some Rio's, in the 1 to 3 pound range. Might try a bit larger than 4 pound, but not much more than 6 and it has to be a river tumbled. I think anything as big as 8 pounds is really going to slow the action in a 15lb barrel. Now if I can just get one of my Texas rock collecting friends and noted specimen photographer, and I won't name any names , interested in a trip down to the Rio Grande valley I could pick up some custom sized ones for tumbling. Not sure who you're talking about, but I'd love to tag along! Sweet tumble, by the way!!!! Where did this man go HankRocks ?
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 27, 2020 7:35:51 GMT -5
Not sure who you're talking about, but I'd love to tag along! Sweet tumble, by the way!!!! Where did this man go HankRocks ? Not sure, lost contact and have not seen him out on the forum in quite some time. I believe toiv0 said he had talked to him a while back.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 27, 2020 21:45:40 GMT -5
Not sure, lost contact and have not seen him out on the forum in quite some time. I believe toiv0 said he had talked to him a while back. He sure scored some fine stones in the Jacinto.
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