jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 12, 2012 15:23:21 GMT -5
These have been coarse groundafter treatment to prepare for tumbling.Heated by placing on ground and covering with 1.5 to 2.5 inches of sandy soil.Then built a slow burning smokey campfire directly on top passively for about 6 hours.Then let it slowly go out.Seems easy.The grey one is not heated.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 12, 2012 17:52:00 GMT -5
Nice!!!!!Maybe I'll take some rocks with me when we go camping...LOL
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 13, 2012 9:34:42 GMT -5
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Post by tntmom on Nov 15, 2012 9:45:08 GMT -5
Very cool! I've seen Tiger Eye turn red with heat treatment but never knew coral could color change with heat! I learn something new here every day!
Sent from my SGH-T769 using proboards
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Nov 15, 2012 14:18:54 GMT -5
That sure made for some pretty colors. May have to bury some rocks in my campfire ring.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 16, 2012 20:15:32 GMT -5
Heat treating was 1rst done a few thousand years ago by native americans.Many agates can be cooked.Temp range is mostly 4-600 degrees.I am learning,about 75 percent gets chunked.Doing it with an electric furnace can way reduce waste-but that's boring. It is a common practice with us southern boys that knapp arrowheads.I am not a knapper.I am doing it for tumbling.Google 'heat treating agate' and you will find a plethra of info.I finished a 16 pound load of a Georgia agate today and it isawesome,but more awesome is they were left over heat treated chips from native americans.Savannah River artifacts are some of the most sought after.Most knapped out of H Treat matl.Will post pics soonThanks for visiting.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Nov 17, 2012 12:05:36 GMT -5
That is one heck of an upgrade. A lot more character in the treated coral. Looks like the internal structure really pops now.
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Post by Pat on Nov 17, 2012 14:43:33 GMT -5
You turned ho-hum into gorgeous!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 17, 2012 15:07:52 GMT -5
Looks really good but I have to ask instead of a slow burning fire slowly raising temp then cooling for 6+ hours in 1.5 inches of sand.... Why not go a little deeper and build a good fire (ie:..a campfire) over it, the heat will still penetrate and will do so quicker but without the scorch marks on the edges. I don't know as I have never done it, but it seems to me that ancient man wouldn't necessarily spend that much time heat treating an item when his top priorities were fire, food & water, protection. not necessarily in that order. I am just curious about the whole affair and have questions.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 18, 2012 13:20:52 GMT -5
The process is best done in an electric furnace.Fast is a problem due to cracking.Too fast with the heating or too fast cooling and you will have really fractured material.A common recipe is 25 degrees increase per hour...Mostly because of moisture.It is hard to say what this process was to them as far as priority.All i know is they make a lot more attractive material than i can make.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 21, 2012 5:34:20 GMT -5
Another batch.Small fire on top of sand one inch deep on top of one layer of coral all laying directly on ground.Rekindled 3 times in 2-3 hours to keep a steady slow fire.The soil was still warm the next morning.Fire started 10:00AM,all coals by 4:00PM.Coals probably burned out by 3-5:00AM. A very passive operation,starting and rekindling was a total of 4 visits to the fire. Come morning i am anxious to see what i got. Attachments:
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,204
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Post by jamesp on Nov 21, 2012 5:42:14 GMT -5
OOps oversize photo-this one's smaller Attachments:
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Nov 21, 2012 5:59:08 GMT -5
Simple but effective. Those come out pretty nice. Thanks for the info.
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