|
Post by Lazy Perfectionist on Apr 11, 2023 12:58:56 GMT -5
I really appreciate the informative posts I've found here. In October we gathered about 100 lbs. of various kinds of obsidian from Glass Buttes, OR and I've been teaching myself how to polish it. Thanks to my mechanically inclined husband and a generous neighbor, we went from nothing to 2 rotary and 3 vibratory tumblers, and a flat lap within a week! I've had lots of frustration, and a few successes, but I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Trying to get a perfect finish without losing the microscopic gold sheen and fire layers has been a big challenge. With the flat lap I keep getting gouges from the finer grit discs (it seems that the obsidian will suddenly embed a micro-chip into the disc, which subsequently leaves deep scratches on my piece). With the tumblers I've been battling chipping and pitting, and figuring out when to advance to the next stage. I've yet to take a load of obsidian all the way through polish - but with some of the ideas I've seen here (and learning from my many mistakes) I'm getting close. I'll post photos when I can.
The good news is that the tumbling jaspers and agates from the beach are a piece of cake!
Looking forward to learning more and ogling your pretty rock pictures!
|
|
|
Post by Lazy Perfectionist on Apr 11, 2023 14:29:09 GMT -5
Here are my best examples of obsidian so far: mahogany/gold sheen/tri-flow, gold fire, super smooth gold sheen (I haven't seen another one like this!), and a rainbow w/silver sheen. I'm not certain on the terminology of the different types - it doesn't seem particularly consistent. And photographing them is almost as difficult as polishing them!
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Apr 11, 2023 16:04:36 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! Super big congrats on figuring out how to post pics!! I think you did a fantastic job on the tumbles...and you're only going to get better!!
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 16:35:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by manofglass on Apr 11, 2023 16:35:42 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan
|
|
chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,382
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 17:38:55 GMT -5
Post by chris1956 on Apr 11, 2023 17:38:55 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri. I don't do much obsidian but a lot of people talk about how hard it is to get done well. And your polish looks great. And thanks for the comment about disc contamination. I have had a couple stones the last few days where I didn't see scratches (even with drying) until I got to finer grit wheels. Wondering now if I have gotten something where it shouldn't be.
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 19:09:22 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Apr 11, 2023 19:09:22 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
|
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,610
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 19:32:39 GMT -5
Post by dillonf on Apr 11, 2023 19:32:39 GMT -5
Welcome - that obsidian looks great.
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 22:21:23 GMT -5
Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 11, 2023 22:21:23 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 11, 2023 23:10:01 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Pat on Apr 11, 2023 23:10:01 GMT -5
Welcome from California.
|
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,364
|
Hello!
Apr 12, 2023 9:41:25 GMT -5
Post by rocknewb101 on Apr 12, 2023 9:41:25 GMT -5
Welcome from NEOHio! I have a love/hate with obsidian. I can tumble it without issue (mostly) but cabbing/slant cabbing is a whole different beast for me. I find it very temperamental to work with lol. Great tumbles you shared! Nice smoothness and shine.
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 12, 2023 11:41:43 GMT -5
Post by Rockoonz on Apr 12, 2023 11:41:43 GMT -5
Nice, obsidian isn't easy to work with. Welcome from AZ
|
|
|
Post by Lazy Perfectionist on Apr 12, 2023 12:12:35 GMT -5
Welcome from NEOHio! I have a love/hate with obsidian. I can tumble it without issue (mostly) but cabbing/slant cabbing is a whole different beast for me. I find it very temperamental to work with lol. Great tumbles you shared! Nice smoothness and shine. Thanks for the compliments everyone! I should have clarified, the photos I posted are from pieces I polished using a flat lap. I got a decent polish tumbling, but so far it has come with chips.
|
|
wedger
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2023
Posts: 95
|
Hello!
Apr 12, 2023 12:29:33 GMT -5
Post by wedger on Apr 12, 2023 12:29:33 GMT -5
Welcome from the state north of you. Those are lovely and interesting.
|
|
|
Hello!
Apr 13, 2023 6:15:59 GMT -5
Post by liveoak on Apr 13, 2023 6:15:59 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Florida.
Patty
|
|