[Rockhounds] air abrasive units - sticker shock!!!?

[Tim Fisher]

Like other, similar units, I have heard good and bad things about the 
CrystalMark. I doubt it would last hundreds of hours like the more 
expensive machines without a major overhaul. I can't wrap my head 
around a unit that doesn't use some kind of agitation (either 
mechanical or ultrasonic) to keep the media flow rock solid 
consistent. Just my $0.02...

At 12:40 PM 4/20/2008, you wrote:
>Hi Tim,
>
>Oh, the trade secrets...
>Crystal Mark in Glendale California makes a nice air abrasive unit 
>that is, get this, under $600.00.  Throw in a sand blasting cabinet, 
>an air compressor, shop vac, and a car filter and for under $1,000 
>all together, you have a nice microabrasive unit.  The only problem 
>with the el' cheapo unit is that glass beads get kind of clumpy real 
>quick.  I miss the self agitating units, but for Dolomite, Sodium 
>Bicarbonate and the like, this model works great.  I doubt you would 
>be using glass beads on fossils anyway, I find Dolomite works 
>wonders on most everything.
>
>Oh, and tell them The-Vug.com sent you.

Tim Fisher
Ore-ROCK-On!
Email address at http://OreRockOn.com