herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 4, 2012 13:58:41 GMT -5
I am looking at a vibratory tumbler for a final stage polish - I have lortone rotary tumblers for rough etc. but was thinking that speeding up the final stage in a vibratory would be nice.
My question is - since I am a hobbyist and really won't have 8lbs in any one batch for a while (although I am starting to cab, so I expect that to change) - can I use something else as a reusable filler so I can use the Thumler's UV 10 industrial tumbler with smaller loads?
I have read that the plastic wine corks can be used as a filler but I don't know if that has any issues with vibratory tumblers. I tend to tumble agate and jasper, as well as other similar hardness stones so I was wondering about a bunch of marbles or those glass beads used in decorating.
Does anyone have any input on this? I am new, this is my first post, and I already searched for filler in the tumbling boards.
Thanks!
John
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 4, 2012 14:34:46 GMT -5
Fantastic recommendation, the first listing on this page even shows the pellets with the UV-10!
Thank you so much Geoff. I do still wonder if marbles would be an option.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 4, 2012 15:02:00 GMT -5
Small (or a mixture of sizes) non-abrasive ceramic media would work very well. Plastic is too light. The smaller pieces help as a grit carrier as well as a filler/cushion.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 4, 2012 15:05:20 GMT -5
By the way, even if you have a full load of rocks unless you have many tiny rocks in the mix you should use approximately 30% ceramics. For flats more like 70%. The ceramic doesn't embed with grit so rinse out with the rocks and move on.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 4, 2012 15:25:01 GMT -5
Thanks John. We collect a lot of smaller stuff so there is a decent amount of that in the rotating tumblers now. Would you suggest as filler getting both the large and small (like 5# each) from this page or similar: therockshed.com/grit2.htmlOr would the large by itself be adequate for the polishing stage for rocks and cabs?
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 4, 2012 15:43:12 GMT -5
I make a mixture of 6 parts small, 2 parts medium, and 1 part large (3/8" X 5/8"). I think one to one would be too much large material. Shawn's prices are much better than mine too. If you have small rocks in the mix I would just buy the small size ceramic.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 4, 2012 15:56:57 GMT -5
Thanks again
I placed my order for several different sizes. Can't wait to get this vibratory going!
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Post by connrock on Jan 5, 2012 9:56:34 GMT -5
No one answered you about using marbles yet,,,, Marbles are round and pretty big and will wear down pretty fast as well as they are only glass. connrock
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 5, 2012 13:47:06 GMT -5
Thanks connrock, I have ordered the ceramic filler and will give it a try when I get it. No marbles.
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