timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Nov 9, 2013 11:24:38 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Nov 9, 2013 13:44:05 GMT -5
It looks like it might be the result of impacts, but I'm not positive. Yes, more smalls & some plastic pellets in the fine & up grinds might help, assuming your using rotary. If vibe, then ceramic or well tumbled (no pits, defect, etc) pea gravel.
Rich
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Nov 9, 2013 14:59:35 GMT -5
Hi,
Just wondering if these have been agates have been transported by water to the collection site sometime in the distant past. The reason I ask is that I collect a lot of beach agate and they all have a layer of these "impact crescents" on the outer layers. To remove them you may need to spend up to 6 months in repeated stage one. Also looking at your photos I don't see one stone that really should have been moved out from stage one.... Sorry not meaning to be harsh but if you want a great tumble be prepared to sit through repeated stage one grinds. I have a very large tumbler drum (200 lb+) that runs 24/7 and on clean out days it is not unusual for me to just put the whole lot back in. I only do 2-3 15 pound stage two through to polish runs a year as I am looking for the perfect competition winners. So my advice would be to go back to stage one and keep going until you have flaw free material to move to stage two. Looking at you material I would absolutely guarantee that I lot of it may remain at the first stage until it is dust but if you want great results just and accept that less will come out than went in.
Patience is a virtue that you will need to develop to get those perfect tumbles.
Cheers Scott
Patience
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Nov 9, 2013 16:32:11 GMT -5
This material was pretty fractured and low quality. Really I wanted to just grind the rind off and see what it looked like on the inside more than anything. I'm ok with non competition grade rocks as long as I get enough nice shiny spots to look inside it and see if I might grind it into something. This material was what was left over after I sorted out the rocks to slab and cab.
I've got 2 6lb barrels for tumbling. This batch went on stage 1 for a couple of weeks, then a week on each stage after that.
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Post by frane on Nov 9, 2013 18:46:31 GMT -5
Cool batch. I suspect it is all impact fracturing. some materials really need some cushioning in with them through the tumbling process and a variety of sizes in the mix. I have a bunch of old ceramic mugs that I have broken up and tumbled on their own with just a little water for a few weeks to round off edges. I now use that as filler and it seems to work great.
Fran
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 9, 2013 22:24:17 GMT -5
The divots look just like the divots on lots of Montana agates. I like them anyways..............Tony
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 9, 2013 23:01:12 GMT -5
Nice!
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Nov 10, 2013 11:58:41 GMT -5
Old ceramic mugs, brilliant! That's a great idea. I've been trying to vary it up with trim saw trimmings but I have not been making enough cabs lately.
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Post by nowyo on Nov 11, 2013 1:24:29 GMT -5
Good stuff. I've noticed little divots in some of my stuff if I didn't keep the volume up in the tumbler when recharging and all that. But, I'm not entering competitions either, and I think that some of the natural pitting and rawness, with a good polish on the rest looks just fine. Some of that fractured stuff just doesn't get any better. I say good job.
Russ
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,178
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Post by jamesp on Nov 11, 2013 10:14:47 GMT -5
Looks like the tumbler was not full enough w/rocks.need like 2/3 to 3/4 full. And water just below the rock level. Those are tumbling impacts-betting. Bigger rocks like that are famous for those impact fractures. A mix of more 3/4- 1 1/4 inchers would be better . that damage is virtually unfixable. Been there done that. Sorry.
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Nov 11, 2013 15:37:08 GMT -5
I'm not disappointed at all. They turned out better than I expected. I used to be all paranoid about grinding them down all the way, months in stage 1 no cracks perfect shape, separate barrels for the different grit, burnishing runs, etc... but since I started cabbing stuff the tumbling is more to reveal material for that than anything except fill that basket of shiny rocks in the living room. Those marks aren't very deep, they should grind out on a cabbing machine fine if I wanted to use them.
The real take home for me is I gotta get back out out this spot and go walking around looking at the ground some more...
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Post by pghram on Nov 12, 2013 0:07:23 GMT -5
Definately worth getting more, lots of potential in those, some beautiful cabs waiting to be revealed.
Rich
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