Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
|
Post by Steve on Jul 29, 2012 15:29:04 GMT -5
During the winter I cut sphere preforms. I lazy tumbled the trimmings - without sorting. I just threw them into the barrels, put in 60/90, let run for 3 or 4 months, clean, put back into fewer barrels with TiO2, let run for a couple of months. As you may expect the agates, jaspers, and pet woods come out great. Most of the obsidian has frosted edges, although a few pieces cam out quite good. Most of the softer stuff just disappears. This first picture is polka dot agate. These are from 3 different rocks, one a very high quality that I got directly from the mine for real money, another fairly high quality, and a lower quality one ( still quite nice). This second picture is Kern County rose quartz that I got from Christopher on this forum. This should have frosted, given the way I tumbled it. But it didn't and came out pretty good. Next is some sodalite. Much of this disappeared, still these came out much better than they should have. Here's some picture jasper. The rock turned out to have too many deep fractures so I gave up on getting a sphere preform. I may just bust up the rest of the rock for tumbling stock. And lastly, this is just the pile, warts and all.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2012 15:57:15 GMT -5
That is so not fair. My quartz always came out frosted on the edges so I gave up on it. Yours is awesome. They all are super and I did not see any warts. They must be friendly warts. Jim
|
|
riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
|
Post by riverrock on Jul 29, 2012 16:53:28 GMT -5
i like the polka dot. very nice mix over all.
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 29, 2012 17:53:33 GMT -5
Awesome variety, I like the polka dot best too!
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on Jul 29, 2012 21:09:51 GMT -5
Very fine job of tumbling!!! The Rose Quartz around here is pretty hard!! The Titanium in it is what gives it its star ability.
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Jul 29, 2012 21:53:14 GMT -5
Nice "pile" of trimmings and they came out great. Thanks for posting the photos. The rose quartz came out just fine.
|
|
carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
|
Post by carloscinco on Jul 30, 2012 5:18:10 GMT -5
Great batch and rock mix. That polka dot is really nice and I see some pretty cool woods in the pile.
|
|
rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
|
Post by rockingthenorth on Jul 30, 2012 10:24:15 GMT -5
they are all nice..I like the polka dots too.
|
|
unclem
starting to spend too much on rocks
Me
Member since August 2012
Posts: 119
|
Post by unclem on Aug 3, 2012 17:19:56 GMT -5
very nice! sadly I have had very little success with tumbling. But after around a half dozen runs now I think they are getting better. Did you say MONTHS! Really Really? Maybe I just dont have the patience.
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Aug 14, 2012 8:35:14 GMT -5
I'm with you, Unclem. I have to "consciously ignore" the tumblers and just leave them. I think the best batch I did ran for four months but ... they came out nice.
|
|
Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
|
Post by Steve on Aug 15, 2012 20:26:51 GMT -5
With a rotary you will generally need at least 4 weeks to get a good polish - if you start with already rounded, pit free rocks.
|
|