Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jun 7, 2003 15:33:38 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I am brand new to this hobby or vocation. I have a grandson that I would like to polish some stones with as a hobby. I am an avid shooter so I have a large Dillon vibratory brass cleaner (the biggeest one they make) I would like to start gatering supplies to start this process. My question is what should I begin with first ? which abrasives should I use ?
Thanks Dwight P
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Post by docone31 on Jun 18, 2003 7:47:06 GMT -5
A dillon vibratory polisher is something I have never used. I too reload, and I use my polisher for cleaning my silver after a casting. It is way too agresive, noisy, and the polish speeds seem to lack a predictability. I managed to acquire two Loretone tumblers used. One a two barrel, was used once and stored for ever. The second is a 70's play kit single barrel. I also acquired a very inespensive grinder, 6". I dop my stones and grind to rough shape. I like calibrated free forms. I dip my stones in a cup of water to keep the wax from seperating. Both tumblers desperately needed lube on the bearings. Once lubed they worked like new. The single barrel playkit I use exclusively for the final polish. The two barrel I use one for stage two and one, the second for stage four and three. I do a second polish with just one. You have an internet connection, Loretone makes a four stage polish kit That works for small runs. It is a package of the four grits and they are enough for a reasonable quantity of tumbles. Watch the Jaspers, and fossilized stones. They develop gasses and must be burped. There are unusual buys for rough on EBAY. Hope this helps, tumbling is contageous.
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Post by docone31 on Jun 20, 2003 19:41:30 GMT -5
Hi brand new. Good for you. Tumbling is definately addictive. I read everything I can get my hands on on anything. Tumbling and cabbing is the latest. I have a faceter on my shelf ready to begin a new frustration. to the point. I read about using different buffers for the final polish. One I will not use again is cornmeal. Six days into the final polish, Boom!!! I burped the drum every other day and I checked it today and there is white crud on everything in the room. The tumbler is ok, there is no cornmeal visible in the mast, the drum is ok, and the tumble is still in the drum. It must have built up pressure from the organics building up. It really looked like plaster of paris in side the drum. Beryl is not known to produce gasses, and there is no other element inside except for cerium oxide. I did not check for dull finish after the completion, I read advice for final polish and didn't think it would hurt. I do not have an answer except be aware it happened to me. It is water solouble and wet comes off easily. The drum was basically intace except the nut had come off, and it was spraying from the rim. I have recharged and the tumble is continuing.
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