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I tried using a tumber and have the following issues:
1) Is it true that untreated media doesn't do much? Do I have to load it to get results?
2) What are the best suggestions for loading Walnut and Cob? Sources? Should I just buy loaded media (ie. RCBS)? Someone suggested Turtle wax rubbing compound for the Walnut and Blue Magic for Cob, is there any other suggestions for loading Walnut, or should I leave it untreated?
3) Will the tumbler remove stains? If not what should I use?
I ran my tumbler for close to 96 hours with untreated media and the Red Imp and saw no change.
I then treated the walnut media with Turtle Wax Liquid Rubbing Compound and a difference was noticed in around 24 hours. To "treat" the walnut media, I simply poured in about half the bottle with the tumbler running (and nothing but media). After 4 hours of that tumbling, I declumped a bunch of the clumps in the media, and then continued tumbling for another couple of hours. At that point, I rechecked the media and found no clups.
With the corn cob, I treated it in the same fashion but with the Flitz Tumbler Liquid. Since the corn cob media is so much lighter, it only took a few hours before it was completely treated and had no clumps.
Not sure about stains, as I have yet to tumble a stained razor (but I would assume that it would remove the stains...)
Bryon,
Did that give you a mirror finish?
I know that tumbler thread is long.... so I'll do a quick summary here:
Tumbling at most removes a minimal amount of metal - meaning pitting won't be touched. To remove pitting, you have to wet sand at 220 / 320 grit levels. Those two "facts" together mean that tumbling won't remove any scratches below a 400 grit level finish.
So, to get full mirror (just working with the known/discovered information):
Wet sand progression at 220, 320 and finally 400 grits (with WD40) to remove pitting and leave only 400 grit level scratches.
Toss blade into treated walnut media for at least 48 hours (I've been going 72) - This leaves so close to mirror but you will see any defects that might have been leftover (I could have sworn I removed all pitting on my Red Imp but then noticed some minute dimples after the walnut treatement).
Wipe the blade down - check your results.
Toss blade into treated corn cob media - timing of this varies. I would say that 24 hours in at least minimal, but longer cannot hurt.
Mirror? At least as close as you can without real hand work on the razor. I would say that you'll find defects that you missed at the hand sanding levels. But this method is the "lazy" method. If you want absolute mirror, use the Search and find posts by "The Topher".
BTW, this post shows that "close to mirror": http://straightrazorpalace.com/showp...&postcount=182
Thanks.
Finally,
I am using untreated media from Petsmart...does anyone know if this media (both walnut and cob) has similar properties (ie harness and grit) to media specifically designed for tumblers (other than what it's treated with)?