billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Jul 15, 2013 13:49:38 GMT -5
hi all can a frankford arsenal case tumbler be used to polish agate. all the best billy d
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Jul 15, 2013 15:14:22 GMT -5
Yes.
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billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Jul 15, 2013 17:44:43 GMT -5
thanks for that. can you tell me what to use as a filler
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Jul 15, 2013 18:17:23 GMT -5
There are several different kinds. Our preference is to use ceramic pellets. One of the places I always recommend especially for starters, is www.therockshed.com. They have a great inventory of rock related supplies and you can find almost anything you want there.
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billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Jul 16, 2013 4:42:40 GMT -5
cheers will give them a look
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 17, 2013 11:10:47 GMT -5
Make sure you buy "non abrasive ceramic media". There are ceramics with various abrasives for metal finishing you don't want. Most tumblers use angle cut cylinders about 1/3 by volume for "normal" rocks and 70% by volume for flats. They don't embed with grit so you rinse them and move them along with the rocks. Also, don't use anything coarser than 120/220 mixed grade or 220 straight grade as the first step.
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Post by Peruano on Jul 17, 2013 21:35:27 GMT -5
I was discussing the filler question with some really experienced lapidary folks,and their response was the best filler is scraps cut off of the same material you are tumbling. You are sure they are not going to scratch anything, they are clean and not going to carry contaminants, and they will not leave a film and oh, by the way, they are free and laying around in your workshop. Ceramics are ok, plastics is a nono, and until someone tell me differently, tile spacers, those little rubber crosses are soft enough to add the final cushion to your load. The bottom line is don't be afraid to add rocks that you don't want to polish to your vibe load to make it optimal, just make sure they are similar in nature to what you are tumbling. Have fun, and let us know how you fare. tom
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 18, 2013 12:28:54 GMT -5
Tile spacers would work in a rotary but are too light for a vibe. I was assuming a beginner and no stockpile of saw scraps but those scraps would be a good filler. Hardness would not matter much. Plain pea gravel is a cheap filler as well.
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Post by Peruano on Jul 19, 2013 7:25:50 GMT -5
John, You undoubtedly have the experience to make the call on the tile spacers. I find they do not just float on top, i.e. they do stay mixed with the entire load, and I presumed cushion mare than add ballast. I try to get the maximal portion of the load to be the same type of stones, occasionally adding stones just for filler, and as needed ceramic pellets. I add the tile spacers in the later stages when I'm more sensitive (perhaps unjustifiably so) to chipping, breaks, and damaging stones for which I now have emotional attachment. Another quote that came out of the lapidary class was "don't fall in love with your stone" which I interpret to mean -- Work on it til its right, don't hesitate to make it right or throw it away. Maybe I'll ditch my emotional attachment and reconsider use of tile spacers. Cheers, Tom
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 19, 2013 10:04:00 GMT -5
I guess it depends on the tumbler, Tom. With Gy-Roc you need a full load with weight or you break suspension springs. Manufacturer says ceramics are too light and recommends gravel. Everyone I know using them for rock uses ceramics. I use small ceramics for fragile stuff and a mix of sizes for more durable stuff. Gy-Roc also recommends a little Tide thrown in the mix, especially in polish. In fact, when they made polish Tide was one part of the mix. If tile spacers work in your tumbler go for it. Just remember to dedicate loads like plastic as they will embed with grit. If the tumbler is light duty the lower weight of tile spacers may be fine. I don't like any media I can't wash out and move along from step to step.
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Post by Peruano on Jul 19, 2013 12:50:55 GMT -5
Your reasoning about light duty might be right on. I have a Raytech Vibe5, considered by many as an entry level (lightweight) tumbler, but mine has served me well and polished many loads. I hear all kinds of bad things about plastics and was hoping that the rubbery nature of the tile spacers would be immune to carrying grit forward. Thanks for the input and thought provoking comments. Tom
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billyd
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 157
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Post by billyd on Jul 19, 2013 14:37:25 GMT -5
thanks to you both will try the ceramic pellets have seen them in scotland. have lots of tiny bits of agate as well will try them. all the best billy d
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