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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 24, 2014 19:51:08 GMT -5
I had to do the one thing I always put off when it comes to tumbling. It was time to bust up my slab saw end cuts to make my next round of tumbles. I rank this job right up there with changing oil in the slab saw. Here's the results after awhile whacking the stuff with multiple size hammers. Ended up with 25 pounds of tumble size and about 5 pounds of scraps that were too small. And here they are after a thorough wash cycle to get an idea of whats really in there On a better note I did finish up a lot-o load of Michigan rocks today too This one is my favorite. 2 pics to show both sizes. this was another cool one Thanks for looking Chuck
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Jul 24, 2014 23:26:29 GMT -5
Thanks for showing the process. I need to start breaking rocks down. Do you just wail on them with a hammer or try to aim for fractures/etc? I'm worried I'll lose good parts of the rock but I guess that's inevitable. Love your local stones.
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Post by nowyo on Jul 24, 2014 23:30:11 GMT -5
Smashing stuff is always fun.
Nice looking tumbles there.
Russ
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Post by snowmom on Jul 25, 2014 5:12:44 GMT -5
this is a good topic and not one I have seen referred to very often. It looks like a concrete block that you are placing the rocks on. Looks like you maybe just drop the hammer on pieces from above? I am interested in your technique. I am thinking rock chips must fly everywhere. how do you contain that? Eye protection and steel toed shoes seem like 'musts'. Does it generate a lot of dust? wet the rocks first? .... Chuck, it may seem simple to you but for those of us who have never done it, what can you tell us to help us succeed when we try it for the first time? thank you!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 25, 2014 5:27:54 GMT -5
Thanks for showing the process. I need to start breaking rocks down. Do you just wail on them with a hammer or try to aim for fractures/etc? I'm worried I'll lose good parts of the rock but I guess that's inevitable. Love your local stones. If I were only busting up a few rocks and they had obvious fracture points I would break out the chisels but when dealing with quantity I just have at it and hope for the best. Some loss is expected. this is a good topic and not one I have seen referred to very often. It looks like a concrete block that you are placing the rocks on. Looks like you maybe just drop the hammer on pieces from above? I am interested in your technique. I am thinking rock chips must fly everywhere. how do you contain that? Eye protection and steel toed shoes seem like 'musts'. Does it generate a lot of dust? wet the rocks first? .... Chuck, it may seem simple to you but for those of us who have never done it, what can you tell us to help us succeed when we try it for the first time? thank you! Long pants, long shirt, boots, safety glasses are all a must for sure. I do not were gloves but probably should. I basically box in an area that's about 6 ft x 6 ft with plywood or cardboard to contain all the shrapnel. Breaking rocks right on your concrete is not a good idea since the rocks are harder then concrete there would be damage. I have a 1" thick steel plate and a 3/4" thick aluminum plate I put under the rocks. I like the aluminum better because its a bit softer/quieter but still pretty darn loud. Just another reason my neighbors must think I am crazy. I do all of this outside so dust is not an issue and I think wetting the rocks first would just make the job that much messier. obsidian is a whole different animal. Last time I busted up 25 pounds of that I took a piece to the cheek and bled like a stuck pig. Gloves are required for that stuff. Chuck
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zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
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Post by zerocd on Jul 25, 2014 5:56:18 GMT -5
Love those tumbles!
I have a rock pile including a large white w/green marble boulder that's about 100lbs.
Gonna be some hard labor before it's done!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 25, 2014 7:34:23 GMT -5
For individual small breaks, I use a small Tupperware type container turned upside down over the rock. There's a hole just a bit larger than my chisel in the bottom that I put my chisel through. All shrapnel is contained withing the Tupperware, but I still wear safety glasses.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 25, 2014 8:22:33 GMT -5
When I have just a rock or two, I wrap it in an old discarded pair of blue jeans (slide it up the pant leg) then I put it on a big flat VERY tough rock I have in the side yard. You pretty quickly get a feel for where the big pieces still are and how the breaking is going. When I am done I just empty the pant leg into a bucket. (That doesn't sound right)
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jul 25, 2014 8:40:16 GMT -5
those are both good ideas for doing just a few rocks panamark and Jugglerguy. all my rocks that need busted up go into a bucket till its either full or I need some rough for the tumblers so I am usually breaking around 20 pounds at a time so I do it the quickest way possible and just accept the loses. of course the easy way is just to let the kids do it. They love breaking stuff anyway. lol Chuck
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