Post by connrock on Jul 31, 2004 9:45:14 GMT -5
Jack,,,,
First off let me say that if you're running #600 for a prepolish in a rotary 7 - 10 days won't get you where you want to go!If you don't want to buy a finer grit then #600,let run for a couple of weeks with plastic pellets.Check it after a week to see if it needs more water but DO NOT add any grit!
I have some #1000 grit that I use for a prepolish in my vibe units but when I run out of it I won't buy more of it.Instead I have found that I get much better results using Tripoli Powder for a prepolish and tin oxide or a polish that's called TXP which is a submicron alumina.
As for reusing grit, some people use only coarse grit in the grinding stage, relying on the silicon carbide
breaking down into finer and finer grit, rather than cleaning out and putting in new, finer grit.
I have never tried this method as i've seen some of the results and didn't think they were up to par.
Silicon carbide has a distinct shape when it's new.It has little sharp edges which grind down what ever material one is trying to work with.After a while (remember the 7 - 10 day 1/2 breakdown?) the edges get rounded off and aren't as "efficient" as when they were new.
Although I don't use the same grit throughout the entire process I do let the grit and prepolish run much longer then recomended.In most cases more then twice as long but don't forget that this is in my vibe units as I do "most" of my roughing with #30 and or #60/90 grits in my rotary's.
There are also people who reuse their polish by draining the "load" and putting the polish and water in a clean container and let the water evaporate.After the water evaporates the polish will take a "brick like" form which can be stored for future use where it is crushed back to a powder again and tossed in the tumbler.
I have gone as far as the "crushing" stage but just couldn't bring myself to reuse the polish.After spending several weeks and sometimes months to get my rocks just the way I want them I couldn't take the chance of the polish being contaminated and ruining my "pretties"!
The way I look at it,I have spent several thousands of dollars over the years for my "addiction" and after taking the time and effort to get things just right the cost of the polish is minimal!Now don't forget again,I only use a teaspoon of polish for every 4 lbs of polished rocks in my vibe units!If I were using all of my rotary tumblers,(which have a total of 65-1/2 lbs), for the complete cycle i'm SURE i'd give it a try!
Jack,,,,I have said this time and time again,,,,,
What it all boils down to is ones own personal preference and satisfaction.If you want tumbled rocks and are satisfide with your results then you have accomplished your goal and are happy with it.
If you want polished gems,,,,,,
You'll have to go a tad further!!!
WOW,,Was that long winded or what?
Hope I helped ya a little,,,,,,,
Tom
First off let me say that if you're running #600 for a prepolish in a rotary 7 - 10 days won't get you where you want to go!If you don't want to buy a finer grit then #600,let run for a couple of weeks with plastic pellets.Check it after a week to see if it needs more water but DO NOT add any grit!
I have some #1000 grit that I use for a prepolish in my vibe units but when I run out of it I won't buy more of it.Instead I have found that I get much better results using Tripoli Powder for a prepolish and tin oxide or a polish that's called TXP which is a submicron alumina.
As for reusing grit, some people use only coarse grit in the grinding stage, relying on the silicon carbide
breaking down into finer and finer grit, rather than cleaning out and putting in new, finer grit.
I have never tried this method as i've seen some of the results and didn't think they were up to par.
Silicon carbide has a distinct shape when it's new.It has little sharp edges which grind down what ever material one is trying to work with.After a while (remember the 7 - 10 day 1/2 breakdown?) the edges get rounded off and aren't as "efficient" as when they were new.
Although I don't use the same grit throughout the entire process I do let the grit and prepolish run much longer then recomended.In most cases more then twice as long but don't forget that this is in my vibe units as I do "most" of my roughing with #30 and or #60/90 grits in my rotary's.
There are also people who reuse their polish by draining the "load" and putting the polish and water in a clean container and let the water evaporate.After the water evaporates the polish will take a "brick like" form which can be stored for future use where it is crushed back to a powder again and tossed in the tumbler.
I have gone as far as the "crushing" stage but just couldn't bring myself to reuse the polish.After spending several weeks and sometimes months to get my rocks just the way I want them I couldn't take the chance of the polish being contaminated and ruining my "pretties"!
The way I look at it,I have spent several thousands of dollars over the years for my "addiction" and after taking the time and effort to get things just right the cost of the polish is minimal!Now don't forget again,I only use a teaspoon of polish for every 4 lbs of polished rocks in my vibe units!If I were using all of my rotary tumblers,(which have a total of 65-1/2 lbs), for the complete cycle i'm SURE i'd give it a try!
Jack,,,,I have said this time and time again,,,,,
What it all boils down to is ones own personal preference and satisfaction.If you want tumbled rocks and are satisfide with your results then you have accomplished your goal and are happy with it.
If you want polished gems,,,,,,
You'll have to go a tad further!!!
WOW,,Was that long winded or what?
Hope I helped ya a little,,,,,,,
Tom
