JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
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Post by JR8675309 on Sept 7, 2021 6:50:32 GMT -5
HankRocks where do you source your weights? I see sinkers, bullet shapes etc on amazon, which general shape are you using? Thanks!
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Post by HankRocks on Sept 7, 2021 7:37:13 GMT -5
HankRocks where do you source your weights? I see sinkers, bullet shapes etc on amazon, which general shape are you using? Thanks! I Was fortunate enough that the old Lapidary whom I bought so much rock from had about 20 - 22 lead weight rounds about 1 1/4 diameter and about 1/2 inch thick. I use them for slabs and flats. Have a assortment of fishing weights I acquired over the years for adding to rocks with uneven surfaces. I use a clear drying caulk to attach weights. For the uneven pieces and the fishing weights I try and slope the rock so the the gluing surface is relatively level, otherwise the weight will move off the rock in the soft caulk. For any gluing, allow adequate drying time. If not the weights can work themselves loose with the vibration. Also extended exposure to water will loosen the caulk. For slabs I intend to polish I generally cut them a bit thicker and I try and keep the water level to a minimum. Of course that means it dry out quicker and needs more attention. I have been so lucky on acquiring rocks and equipment and misc lapidary stuff at bargain prices, if not free. Of course it's not too wise to brag on good luck, it's evil twin, bad luck is always lurking!!!
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Post by HankRocks on Sept 7, 2021 8:37:41 GMT -5
HankRocks where do you source your weights? I see sinkers, bullet shapes etc on amazon, which general shape are you using? Thanks! I did talk to one of the dealers at the last Rock Shows who specializes in polished petrified wood, including fairly large slabbed rounds up to 20 or more inches. He said he used flat pieces of wood with weights permanently attached that were generally a bit larger than the rock to be glued to. The wood also served as a bumper to keep pieces from hitting each other. (I never use any sort of bumper as it has not seen like a big problem to me) I have not done it but one can also use rock with a cut flat side as a weight for lapping, just glue it to the slab. The main issue with any of this is the gluing.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 751
|
Post by JR8675309 on Sept 7, 2021 9:04:31 GMT -5
HankRocks where do you source your weights? I see sinkers, bullet shapes etc on amazon, which general shape are you using? Thanks! I did talk to one of the dealers at the last Rock Shows who specializes in polished petrified wood, including fairly large slabbed rounds up to 20 or more inches. He said he used flat pieces of wood with weights permanently attached that were generally a bit larger than the rock to be glued to. The wood also served as a bumper to keep pieces from hitting each other. (I never use any sort of bumper as it has not seen like a big problem to me) I have not done it but one can also use rock with a cut flat side as a weight for lapping, just glue it to the slab. The main issue with any of this is the gluing. Your last two posts have outstanding information. I really appreciate it. I like the approach of putting weights on wood. I tried flat cut rocks as weights, attaching with the tacky blue adhesive, but that didn't hold. I think I will go thrifting to see what I can find for weights. I could put the weights In containers and glue them on. I get these "International delight" coffee cans from my father in law and could fill those with sand or grit and evaluate if it's sufficient weight. I'm sure I could even fill them with junk rocks. Thundereggs will be a definite issue.
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Post by HankRocks on Sept 7, 2021 9:53:51 GMT -5
I did talk to one of the dealers at the last Rock Shows who specializes in polished petrified wood, including fairly large slabbed rounds up to 20 or more inches. He said he used flat pieces of wood with weights permanently attached that were generally a bit larger than the rock to be glued to. The wood also served as a bumper to keep pieces from hitting each other. (I never use any sort of bumper as it has not seen like a big problem to me) I have not done it but one can also use rock with a cut flat side as a weight for lapping, just glue it to the slab. The main issue with any of this is the gluing. Your last two posts have outstanding information. I really appreciate it. I like the approach of putting weights on wood. I tried flat cut rocks as weights, attaching with the tacky blue adhesive, but that didn't hold. I think I will go thrifting to see what I can find for weights. I could put the weights In containers and glue them on. I get these "International delight" coffee cans from my father in law and could fill those with sand or grit and evaluate if it's sufficient weight. I'm sure I could even fill them with junk rocks. Thundereggs will be a definite issue. Only problem I see with coffee cans would be that eventually, rust will show up. In the polish stage that's "probably" not a good thing. The first thing I tried was the tacky blue adhesive, failed pretty quickly. The challenge with any adhesive is that you want it to stay through the vibration and a wet pan, but then release when finished. The best I found is DAP's "All Purpose Acrylic Latex Caulk plus Silicone", the Clear variety. It takes a few days to dry, usually easy to tell as it goes on white but dries to clear. The tube says 100% waterproof. That's not completely true, submerged in water it eventually softens and releases. I have seen a couple of new super adhesive tapes that I might test out. The problem is getting them to release. The other important issue to avoid with the use of any adhesive is to try and avoid any grit traps. In Vibe Lapping any transfer of grit from stage to stage is not welcome. Especially the coarser grits to polish, they leave the neatest squiggle lines on polished rocks surface. The fact that the rock needs to move back a stage or two is very annoying. One other thing, Fails are part of the process. I still have them after hundreds(couple thousand?) of rocks polished so don't get discouraged by them.
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