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Post by mrbrett on Feb 28, 2005 9:07:07 GMT -5
Well due to pouring concrete in the bard and doing other things to it all my rocks are outside all 1000 + pounds of them. I figured that they are over a million years old that one more winter outside wont hurt them. Well yesterday I fired up the 20" saw to cut some slabs and noticed that two softball chunks of pet. wood was splitting. It broke really easy and all of it was opalized. It was some really cool colors in it and it is like glass. It cut the heck out of my finger. Now because it is like glass and almost breaks like glass can it be tumbled? I have enough to fill two 6 lbs tumblers and love to see what comes out.
Brett
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 28, 2005 9:24:49 GMT -5
I was told by the gentleman that gave me the saw/ringer/buffer told not to tumble the piece he gave me because it is just too fragile. Tami
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Post by gaetzchamp on Mar 1, 2005 0:37:10 GMT -5
Brett-
What would you do w/ them if you don't tumble them? Would it kill you to give them a try, or at least one of them a try? They really sound like fascinating rocks.
I've always loved opal. Did you find the pieces or buy them?? Keep me posted on what you decide to do w/ them. I'd like to see a pict too.
take care,
Gaetz
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 1, 2005 8:53:45 GMT -5
There is not much I can do with a bunch of broken pieces. So, I will try and tumble them.
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 1, 2005 9:29:19 GMT -5
Since you are going to tumble them and if you don't have enough to go in one batch, I would suggets you tumble them with glass or obsidian. Tami
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 1, 2005 12:20:50 GMT -5
I have enough to fill two barrels.
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 1, 2005 15:56:43 GMT -5
I have fragile wood that just disintegrates.If it is red brown when cut across the grain and shows fragments it may be , like mine, a poor candidate for tumbling....but what the heck all you lose is time and some grit...maybe you'll have better luck than me...maybe a relatively large amount of cushioning filler will make a difference
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 2, 2005 8:50:19 GMT -5
I think the next time I recharge my barrels I'm going to stick a piece in. So, in about a week and a half I'll let you guys know
Brett
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 2, 2005 10:06:48 GMT -5
Brett- The problem with opal is it is so soft- It does not like rapid temp changes (due to it's high water content)- But by being careful and using lots of filler it should work!
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 2, 2005 13:44:17 GMT -5
thanks for the info.
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Juniper
starting to shine!
Rock hound
Member since March 2003
Posts: 40
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Post by Juniper on Mar 3, 2005 14:44:36 GMT -5
Brett Good luck! I just got done with a load of o. pet wood ,mine was just like glass I used lots of filler, some peices came out ok the rest were very frosty. I could not get most to polish. I don't even want to post pic of the finished result it was not pretty.
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