rockinmom
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 481
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Post by rockinmom on Mar 10, 2007 22:19:52 GMT -5
Hi there. I was wondering what everyone's favorite thing to use is besides the pellets for their rotary tumblers? I have the pellets but have been reading that some use other things as well and I'm curious what the best is.  Thanks! Tammy |
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Post by MrP on Mar 10, 2007 22:47:11 GMT -5
I don't know what is the best but I started using ruby rough. I bought 5 lbs Inda ruby rough,
and 5lbs of RUBY SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL ROUGH. The Inda is larger and used for rubble rough and the ruby sapphire is smaller and I use it like ceramic pellets. It is working great. I started the ruby in a rough cycle to clean it up some and have been moving it through the other cycles.They seem to be lasting much longer then the pellets. They almost seem like they will last forever and if I find some that are looking real good I pull them out and will work them later. They didn't cost a whole lot more then ceramic pellets and I will have some nice ruby in the end. Maybe not much for highend stones but then with pellets they just disapear anyway....Mrp
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 10, 2007 23:00:21 GMT -5
i have ceramic pellets from the rock shed i used in Kim's vibe and I'm gonna use them as fill in the later stages in my rotary they worked good in the vibe and they dont seem to carry the grit from the last stage --- they rinse clean so im thinkin im gonna use them in the last three stages there expensive but i bought the bigger ones and they dont show any wear yet so i think there gonna last a long time i got the ones at the top they are the biggest but i have 6lb barrels if you have smaller then that you might want the next size down so they can move in the barrel more therockshed.com/grit2.html. . . |
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Post by MrP on Mar 10, 2007 23:20:58 GMT -5
I used a combation of large and small pellets. They do last a long time even the small ones. I just thought I would see if I could have something for my money when I was through using the ruby for filler. I just hate to spend good money and see it disapear. Speaking of spending money, if a person is in this hobby you had better be ready to spend. Allways find a new type of rock to buy. I have never spent so much until I found this board. Sure is fun!!!!!!...MrP
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rockinmom
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 481
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Post by rockinmom on Mar 11, 2007 18:54:03 GMT -5
Hi guys. I only have a 3lb tumbler (for now  ). I was looking at the ceramic pellets on The Rock Shed's website and was wondering how those would work out. I also heard of someone using those styrofoam peanuts you get for packing. Could those be used as well? Also, what is the crushed walnut for exactly and has anyone used that before? Thanks! Tammy |
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Mar 14, 2007 17:02:56 GMT -5
I sometimes use plastic pellets for filler, but mostly I use them for cushion in later stages to protect rocks and help distrubute grit among the rocks. My pellets last forever, I just use different ones for different stages and use them over and over. I normally use stones I find in driveway or other places for filler, very cheap(free), and you don't care if they disappear.
Terry
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 15, 2007 13:52:08 GMT -5
I mostly use pellets in the late stages- But for early grinds (well really just 120/220 as I never have a shortage of Rough) I sometimes use that Dollar Store decrotive gravel (kinda semipolished fungshaw stones) Cheap and they actuallly take a great shine (heck I even found a small Chinese Agate in one of the bags!!!)
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Post by Toad on Mar 18, 2007 21:16:56 GMT -5
I use both large and small angle cut ceramic cylinders from Kingsley. I figure it helps move the grit around. They are not the best quality, so I only use them in rough grind for fear of grit being carried over.
Just got my vibe running. I am using ceramic spheres in 220 through polish. They seem to be very high quality, so they will be used from one stage to the next.
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). I was looking at the ceramic pellets on The Rock Shed's website and was wondering how those would work out. I also heard of someone using those styrofoam peanuts you get for packing. Could those be used as well? Also, what is the crushed walnut for exactly and has anyone used that before?
