Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jul 11, 2012 13:48:42 GMT -5
Since I've been experimenting at running shells through the tumbler, I decided to see what happens with some steamer clam shells from dinner. A lot of nice color and patterns were exposed. The shells go shinny, but I did not really get a polish on the outside. The inside of the shells did polish quite nicely and exposed a bit of color.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Jul 11, 2012 16:30:13 GMT -5
you ran them through without breaking them
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Post by Peruano on Jul 12, 2012 16:30:17 GMT -5
I'm hardly an expert, but the inside surface is the nacreous layer, harder and with a pearlescence shine even before you started. I've done a lot with tumbled fragments remnants of shells that have been previously tumbled by the surf with quite mixed but worthwhile results. As the shell erodes, a complex crystaline structure emerges - note this is not for all shells, but seems to be especially true for large "Shell Oil" like shells when they have eroded enough to abrade the ridges. Here are a couple of examples, poor photo but showing hint of the complex patterns visible. Play with what you have at hand. Tom
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jul 13, 2012 0:01:10 GMT -5
Glad that someone else is experiments with shells. You did a much better job at your photo than I have. Nice showing of the pattern.
I've found that at the club's booth that the tumbled shells are always a big hit. I've run 4 or 5 batches trying various techniques and combinations of rotary and vibes. I'm always surprised at how much volume is lost and yet how much the shells maintain their shape. The grinding seems to be fairly uniform - although when they get too thin they turn in fragments. I've found that by putting in thin pieces that the resulting fragments seem to help carry the grit.
So far, the best results I've had are with pismo clam shell pieces. I picked them up on Pismo Beach on a trip to Calif. They allow cars and beach buggies on that beach so all I found were pieces.
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