RJB Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Hi folks. Im wondering if anyone here has ever used the comco accuflo unit? I bought one a couple of years ago and just today got it all set up and realized I need more nozzles and did order some more, also bought some dolomite, but am wondering about the tank that holds the media. I cant use it yet cause my light for my box went out and really cant see what I would be doing, but once I get going, (next week hopefully), I am wondering about that little hose in the tank? What is that for? Im positive that once I get going Im going to come up with some more questions and hoping that someone here has used one so I can bother them with these certain questions. Thanks RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Ron... That hose in the tank is the inflow for compressed air. Why is it there? Not sure. Why not just send the air in from the bottom through the powder... Not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejd Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Can't help with your questions but just wanted to say that I need to get me one of those. Let us know how it works for you. A fossil hunter needs sharp eyes and a keen search image, a mental template that subconsciously evaluates everything he sees in his search for telltale clues. -Richard E. Leakey http://prehistoricalberta.lefora.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted November 29, 2014 Author Share Posted November 29, 2014 Thanks JP. and will do rejd RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silcrete Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Hello RJB, I upgraded to an Accuflo more than ten years ago and it is a great machine. Yours looks slightly different to mine, as I do not have any tube on the side of the tank (see pic). Previously I used cheaper micro-abrasive options that were adequate for small prep jobs, but not viable for several hours or days of prep work. High quality abrasives (with a tight particle size distribution [PSD]) are too expensive when shipped to Australia (~$70 AUD/kilogram). I have used several kilos of 50 micron Comco pumice for special jobs. It took a few years for me to find a cost effective option for cleaning opalised fossils (Moh's hardness ~6), then fine tuning the machine for them. I am now getting great results from the following configuration: Pumice abrasive - Siladent "fine" at pressures between 20 to 30 PSI. Siladent pumice is imported from Germany to Australia and costs about $6.30 AUD/kilogram (Sep 2021 delivered) from dentist supply firms. I cannot find any information from the manufacturer on particle size, but comparison with other powders (feel, dust volume, flow) suggests that it might have a PSD ranging from about 1 to 100 microns. Obviously serious caution is required when the fossil matrix has a similar hardness to the fossil, otherwise pumice will start eroding the bone at pressures around 30 to 40PSI. Tank orifice - A 0.040" tank orifice provides consistent flow while a 0.030" orifice will clog periodically with larger particles. Bypass tube - Using Accuflo bypass tube 1B (1.5mm hole) provides too much abrasive and tube 1C (~4.5mm hole) does not provide enough. I resolved this by getting a second 1B tube and increasing the size of the bottom hole to 3mm by drilling it out. I now have a steady flow of just enough abrasive. Nozzles - I generally use a yellow nozzle (0.046") and sometimes a green nozzle (0.030") for fine work. Sorry about the mix of imperial and metric sizes, but I am sure you and other readers will do any necessary conversions if the information is of any use. It would be great to know how you are going with your Accuflo, what you are cleaning, the abrasives you are using, orifice sizes, bypass tube/s sizes, etc. Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 not to change the topic but we would love to see some excellent opal material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted October 24, 2021 Author Share Posted October 24, 2021 I havent used mine very much. Not even one time this year. Being cripled makes it tufff for me to do just about anything, plus, I had humidity problems this year, so the only time I even tried to use it, the material got 'caked' and I gave up and started prepping Lebanese fishes. Now im learning how to do editing and starting a fossil video series. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silcrete Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 RJB - It is a shame that you haven't been able to use it much, because it is truly an exceptional machine for the final prep of lots of fossils. I use a desiccant air dryer (biggest cannister on wall behind accuflo in picture) filled with silica gel (sold in big bags at the local supermarket as kitty litter) to keep my air dry and avoid 'caking'. JPC - I would love to provide more opalised fossil pics, but most of my prep work in the last few years has been on items owned by others, either private collectors or items in public collections that are under active research. Sharing pics of these treasures at this time would be naughty and inevitably frowned upon by the respective custodians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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