texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
|
Post by texhex on Aug 19, 2023 14:54:31 GMT -5
I got a pound of "Nice tumble rocks" from a local store. About half the rocks are flat. Does anyone have any comments or tips on tumbling flat rocks?
|
|
|
Post by velodromed on Aug 19, 2023 15:02:59 GMT -5
I got a pound of "Nice tumble rocks" from a local store. About half the rocks are flat. Does anyone have any comments or tips on tumbling flat rocks? I like to cut mini slabs of petrified wood and agate. Typically they run from 3 to 5 inches long and a couple inches wide. I’ll run them through a rotary Tumbler just like I normally would any rock, then finish up in the vibe. I do make sure to mix in Small Agate and/or ceramics during the rotary tumble. I haven’t noticed any issues or have to do anything special with them. Every now and then one will chip or break, but it’s not a big deal.
|
|
ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 915
|
Post by ashley on Aug 19, 2023 19:39:24 GMT -5
Run them pretty much like you would anything else. Make sure you have more ceramics if you’re doing just them, mixing some rounded rocks with it will help too. When you check to see if they need water check to make sure they’re not sticking together, if they are just pull them apart.
|
|
|
Post by vegasjames on Aug 19, 2023 19:57:34 GMT -5
Figure out what kind of rock it is first. Some softer rocks can form in flat sheets such as shale are too soft to tumble well. So, it would help to ID the stone first.
|
|
texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
|
Post by texhex on Aug 19, 2023 20:03:14 GMT -5
Run them pretty much like you would anything else. Make sure you have more ceramics if you’re doing just them, mixing some rounded rocks with it will help too. When you check to see if they need water check to make sure they’re not sticking together, if they are just pull them apart. This post caught my eye and created a new question ashley .... Can you possibly elaborate on "checking if they need water" ? Do you check during your stages if you need to add water? If so, when do you do it, and how do you know if you need water? This is the first time I have ever heard something like this.
|
|
texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
|
Post by texhex on Aug 19, 2023 20:05:08 GMT -5
Figure out what kind of rock it is first. Some softer rocks can form in flat sheets such as shale are too soft to tumble well. So, it would help to ID the stone first. When I have good lighting, I can take a few photos of these rocks.
|
|
ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 915
|
Post by ashley on Aug 19, 2023 20:33:32 GMT -5
Run them pretty much like you would anything else. Make sure you have more ceramics if you’re doing just them, mixing some rounded rocks with it will help too. When you check to see if they need water check to make sure they’re not sticking together, if they are just pull them apart. This post caught my eye and created a new question ashley .... Can you possibly elaborate on "checking if they need water" ? Do you check during your stages if you need to add water? If so, when do you do it, and how do you know if you need water? This is the first time I have ever heard something like this. I check everyday. When I first start a new cycle of grit I check it a few times a day. It needs to be checked more often with 120/220 as it dries out more then the finer grits. I should note that I am talking about using a vibe not a rotary. What tumbler are you using? Your slurry should be the consistency of yogurt. Add water if it is less then that.
|
|
texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
|
Post by texhex on Aug 19, 2023 20:57:36 GMT -5
This post caught my eye and created a new question ashley .... Can you possibly elaborate on "checking if they need water" ? Do you check during your stages if you need to add water? If so, when do you do it, and how do you know if you need water? This is the first time I have ever heard something like this. I check everyday. When I first start a new cycle of grit I check it a few times a day. It needs to be checked more often with 120/220 as it dries out more then the finer grits. I should note that I am talking about using a vibe not a rotary. What tumbler are you using? Your slurry should be the consistency of yogurt. Add water if it is less then that. ashley I am using a rotary tumbler / not a vibe. Thank you for taking the time to explain this clearly. I thought I was doing something wrong. I have been tumbling for several weeks, but I have not even started any of my tumbles into stage 3. I am a patient tumbler.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Aug 19, 2023 21:03:06 GMT -5
Tumbling flat rocks is no different than tumbling cut slabs. That's done all the time. I remember one thread was talking about it and the consensus was if the flat rocks (or slabs) trap the grit between them, this will actually help assist the grinding/polishing process.
|
|
dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 892
|
Post by dshanpnw on Aug 20, 2023 9:51:34 GMT -5
I haven't tumbled an entire batch of flat rocks, but I have seen other people's tumbled flat rocks and they turn out pretty darn amazing.
|
|
Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
|
Post by Wooferhound on Aug 22, 2023 15:35:32 GMT -5
Flat rocks like to stick to the flat barrel ends , Ashley's suggestion of adding smalls or ceramic media will help prevent this from happening. I would also suggest Flipping the barrels end over end, once a day which will help them to detach from the barrel rubber.
|
|
texhex
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks 10 - TexHex 2
Member since August 2023
Posts: 149
|
Post by texhex on Aug 24, 2023 18:53:26 GMT -5
Flat rocks like to stick to the flat barrel ends , Ashley's suggestion of adding smalls or ceramic media will help prevent this from happening. I would also suggest Flipping the barrels end over end, once a day which will help them to detach from the barrel rubber. This is an AWESOME suggestion. Thank you.
|
|