peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 15, 2011 14:37:24 GMT -5
Wondered what it was for. I found it among my estate materials. I assume it's a tumbling grit but I've been starting my materials with 60/90.
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Post by gr on Jul 15, 2011 14:47:17 GMT -5
Peach, 46/70 is a tumbling grit. Some here use it and like it as it removes material quickly . Just depends on what the tumble material is and size of same. I personslly haven't tried it (yet). I've been thinking of it because I want to try tumbling some larger pieces or rainbow wood. That stuff is so hard it takes some aggressive SiC grit to get it shaping up quicker.
gr
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 15, 2011 14:56:06 GMT -5
Thanks. Would you use it for garnet? I have some that I'm curious about.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 15, 2011 14:58:18 GMT -5
40/70 & 60/90, Dos`t break down very fast. Unless in a very large tumbler. I use it in a 24" octagon steel barrel, Loads in the range of 40 - 70 Lbs. After three weeks running the material is still frosted deep. 15 lb. tumblers and smaller i`d stick with the 60/90 our just use the 80 Grit for coarse run. The tumbler i use is 11" x 24". RPM 16.
The finer grit like 80, well break down fast in a few weeks running, one of my short cuts i do in tumbling rocks. Then to the 220 grit. which looks like 1200 grit after a week running. Remember i doing heavy loads. Small tumblers take, twice the time.
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Post by gr on Jul 15, 2011 15:04:59 GMT -5
I believe their is one member here that used it on garnets and they turned out gorgous. I know because I have a few of them. Maybe he will chime in here later for ya
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 15, 2011 15:05:56 GMT -5
I`d use 60/90 for a week an check the cutting on them, then add 40/70 if their the cutting slow. Idaho Garnets Wright? they seem to be more stable to tumbling.
Garnets are about MHO - 8 - 8.5 if the brain is on the wright page.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 15, 2011 15:20:35 GMT -5
Yes, they weren't labeled, but they look like Idaho Garnets to me. My tumbler has small barrels. Hmmm. Will probably do as you suggest and start with 60/90 then if it's too slow I can back up. But it sounds like it's slow going either way.
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Post by susand24224 on Jul 15, 2011 16:25:13 GMT -5
I have occasionally used 46/70 grit out of pure frustration when 60/90 seemed to be getting nowhere. It really isn't that different from 60/90 (in my experience) but it makes me feel better.
Susan
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Post by tntmom on Jul 15, 2011 17:33:36 GMT -5
I have occasionally used 46/70 grit out of pure frustration when 60/90 seemed to be getting nowhere. It really isn't that different from 60/90 (in my experience) but it makes me feel better. Susan ;D I have done the same thing... ~Krystee
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Post by rockrookie on Jul 15, 2011 19:20:08 GMT -5
i use it in my 12 lb barrels with larger and rough rocks . and leave it rolling for over a month . in my experience , i would not use it in smaller barrel with smaller rocks . or with pieces that are starting to get smooth . even after a long time , it seems like the smaller pieces don't provide enough impact for it to work . example ..... i figured the it would work for a 3lb batch of Lake Superior Agates . after 5-6 weeks . they looked similar to day one . and the grit looked like sand when i rinsed it out . --paul
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Post by paulshiroma on Jul 16, 2011 0:41:31 GMT -5
I switched to starting my first stage with 46/70. The agates I was working with were taking weeks to go anywhere with 60/90. Seems to help although to Susan's point, might be entirely subjective! Paul
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
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Post by jspencer on Jul 16, 2011 13:33:03 GMT -5
When I have collected enough very rough stones I use a 30 grit sc in my rotaryfor a week and then move them on to to 60 for a week. I`ve had good results and have some in rotary right now that is almost ready to go to 220. I found a few nice granite pieces by some RR tracks and have them in there with other stones. I also found some lava and what may be iron ore. I`ll post pics of these stones when finished. Right now my vibe is busy with a few goodies I found. Just keep in mind that it wears on your barrel lids a lot just like it does the rocks.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
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Post by quartz on Jul 16, 2011 18:23:26 GMT -5
we run 16 grit in a 5-gallon roughing barrel, 2 weeks per run; sometimes it takes two runs to get the rocks sufficiently ground, the grit does use up, then to 80 grit. I would agree with Jack, the really coarse grits work in larger barrels and loads.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 18, 2011 0:18:20 GMT -5
I just used 30/60 SiC in the first load, Lake Superior Agates, in my new (used) 12 lb Lortone, and the grit was pretty much used up in 10 days. I can't (yet) compare 30/60 to 60/90, but I'll never try grinding agates in a 3 lb. tumbler ever again! What a difference.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 18, 2011 8:21:01 GMT -5
Folks, while I'm aware I need a bigger tumbler to handle the rocks I have (let alone the grit), I'm worried about the increase in noise from a 3 pound barrel to a 12 pound barrel.
Not sure what to do...no plans to use this bag of 46/70 real soon, I guess. I only have a pound, or I would probably swap it with one of you guys who has a bigger tumbler already. But it's not worth the postage. WIll have to hold back awhile and try to figure things out.
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Post by susand24224 on Jul 18, 2011 10:10:59 GMT -5
My 6 lb and 4 lb are no noisier than my 3 lb, although that's a double. But--if I recall correctly, you were using a Chicago Electric (?) I have one my neighbor picked up at fair market value for $.50 at a yard sale which is actually running. The thing is *really* noisy!
Susan
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 18, 2011 11:00:07 GMT -5
Hi Susan, yes, I have the Harbor Freight CE double barrel rotary. Knock on wood, ours isn't noisy at all. If the larger rotaries are no noisier, I'm really thinking hard about adding a bigger tumbler because I have so much material. I can only swap or sell so much...the post office jokes that me and my flat rate boxes are the reason they're going bankrupt!
While I liked my Lot O' back in the day, I've decided not to go vibe again while I'm living with such close neighbors, with dogs that get stirred up by the noise, on either side. We had it before on a 50 pound block of concrete, plus a three inch foam pad, but people could still hear it and commented. That house now holds an extremely nervous dog that I *know* would be able to pick up on the sound of a vibe...
He does not seem to have noticed the rotary. It is more a soft sound like water might make off somewhere in the distance.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 18, 2011 14:52:49 GMT -5
My early experience with the 12 lb Lortone is that (after "tuning" it) it is only marginally louder than my 33b Lortone running two 3lb barrels. It was used, so I had to clean it and lubricate, put on a new belt, and tweak the motor mount and pulleys so they ran true and quiet. It's louder than my 3 pounder, but I wouldn't call it twice as loud.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 18, 2011 15:01:30 GMT -5
If you follow eBay you can pick up a used "bigger" Lortone for a pretty good price I think. Sometimes people get carried away and bid the price too high, but I was able to snag a used 12 pounder for $50 plus shipping and all it needed was a new belt.
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