peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 1, 2012 18:19:33 GMT -5
I'm so happy! Talk about delayed gratification when you go the rotary tumbler route. Here are some pieces that I shaped, drilled, and tumbled that came out today: Most of the load was some Utah Pigeon blood from a swap with Ozzie: Better look at my two favorite pieces:
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Aug 1, 2012 19:25:32 GMT -5
great job . nice shine too.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Aug 1, 2012 19:33:34 GMT -5
Those look amazing! I love the colors that came out in them. This is great inspiration as I'm looking to tumble after shaping as well. Did you tumble only carbs with cushion media or a percentage of with like rough stones?
This forum and active posts by members really get my rocks off. Sorry, had to pun
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 1, 2012 19:45:52 GMT -5
those are nice ones. I know what you mean about the wait, I have a 3lb barrel of agates in a rotary right now for the 11th week.
Did you put your performs in with your 60/90? I have been grinding the profile on my preforms on a 100 grit wheel and then throwing them in the 120/220 stage so they dont get re-shaped in 60/90.
Chuck
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 1, 2012 20:29:46 GMT -5
Chuck, you must have peeked into my workshop because that's pretty much exactly what I did. I started by doing some rough shaping and hitting a few hot spots on the wheel on the Utah pigeon blood, and then I ran them for awhile at 60/90. For the pendants, I did the shaping on the wheel and then drilled. I filled the holes with hard soap once I realized that they were sometimes getting impacted with my small bits of rocks. Also, I knew that the Utah pigeon bloods would get worn down and not fill the barrel so I tried to plan to have something else to add in the later stages. Matt, I work so slowly that I would rather have more stones or beads or even glass in there working, rather than ceramic media. So that's why I went with the strategy I used. I think I still have more drilled, shaped preforms that have not had their chance to be added to a tumbler yet. However, I have both barrels running 60/90 at the moment...
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 1, 2012 20:39:08 GMT -5
Nice ones there Mary.
snuffy
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Post by tntmom on Aug 1, 2012 20:56:22 GMT -5
Awesome batch!!!
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 1, 2012 21:54:28 GMT -5
Definitely came out great! Love the pendants. Paul
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 1, 2012 22:13:39 GMT -5
Thanks, everybody! Hey Snuffy, do you see the one that looks like it has Arabic writing on it? That is one of your slabettes, but I did some shaping and drilling on it. Is that Chinese writing rock? I lost half the slabette in the working but I think it was worth it! Pretty sure the Parral Dendritic is also from one of your swaps. I couldn't do it without you guys! :-)
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Aug 1, 2012 22:22:28 GMT -5
Mary,if its the red one top right with the black lines,I had some from a piece of Arizona pet wood.
snuffy
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Aug 1, 2012 23:59:30 GMT -5
they are all nice and great shine. love the first pic
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Aug 2, 2012 0:11:53 GMT -5
Nice Mary!
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Aug 2, 2012 5:11:35 GMT -5
That's a nice batch. The pigeon blood is really nice material and the pre-drilled stones turned out nice. I've wondered how that might work out , I'll have to try a couple now. What type of drill bit do you recommend?
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 2, 2012 12:13:09 GMT -5
I'm afraid to recommend any drill bit. We tried several but I'm not satisfied yet with their longevity. Part of it is probably my bad noob technique...but expensive ones don't last any longer than cheap ones so I guess I would say play around with it for cheap. You have to really have a light touch, in addition to work underwater.
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YooperGal
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2012
Posts: 12
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Post by YooperGal on Aug 4, 2012 22:22:05 GMT -5
Wow.... I didn't know you could drill before you tumbled!
Did you drill before any tumbling? Or was it in between stages?
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 5, 2012 8:45:58 GMT -5
Those turned out nice!! The pendants are cool
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