Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Oct 10, 2014 17:08:49 GMT -5
Hello all. Need some help:Can you tumble nephrite jade with jasper? Or is jasper a little too hard to be put together with the nephrite. Also, the amount of nephrite quantity I have is below 1/2 of a 6 pound barrel. Will A LOT of plastic beads suffice for a filler....or would the load be to light to allow appropriate "action"? Any advice is welcome. Thanks. Henry
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Post by nowyo on Oct 10, 2014 20:33:14 GMT -5
I throw the nephrite right in with the jaspers and agates. Doesn't seem to hurt it any.
Russ
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Oct 10, 2014 21:56:44 GMT -5
I always use ceramic for filler in 60/90 when I don't have enough rock. Plastic slows everything down too much and the grit doesn't get used up.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Oct 11, 2014 5:14:18 GMT -5
I have never heard of anyone getting a good shine on nephrite using a tumbler or vibe. I sure haven't had luck. It is special stuff requiring special polish techniques. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Oct 11, 2014 6:42:12 GMT -5
panamark. It's "Big Sur" Monterey, County. California nephrite. I have been lucky depending on the type of nephrite I find. The hard translucent stuff takes a really good polish. The soft dull stuff...not so much. I add an extra 1000 grit step...ergo:60/90. 120/220, 500 (a.o.), 1000 (a.o.), then tin oxide to finish.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Oct 11, 2014 6:58:32 GMT -5
Yes, the tin oxide I think will really help the shine. But I find it easier to final polish on a buff.
That is a beautiful piece on your avatar
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Oct 11, 2014 7:09:30 GMT -5
panamark. Thanks. The piece that you are referring to (avatar) is "Willow Creek", Big Sur blue jade. It's actually a lot bluer in real life.
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Post by snowmom on Nov 13, 2014 6:24:05 GMT -5
looking for updates. How did your tumbles come out? Would love to hear about it and see pictures (subtle, huh?)
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Nov 13, 2014 12:37:55 GMT -5
Hello "snowmom". So basically they are in the final polishing stage of tin oxide. I have them buffered with glass marbles and plastic pellets. They come from the 2.? mile (or so) of legal collecting area of "Big Sur", Monterey County. California. The South end of this zone has mostly muddy, non-translucent greyish/green nephrite. Some of it can be quite nice (depending on it's color combos.). Once in a GREAT while, you MIGHT find the dark blue jade (like my "shark fin" pendant). A lot of the stuff I find is in the Central part of this jade hunting area...and it puts out a lot of translucent light green nephrite. Once in a GREAT while you may find "robin egg blue" colored nephrite or "chromium" (deep green) nephrite. My tumbled stuff is mostly average colored stuff, as the nicely colored stuff, I have them polished via grinder (not by me). Since I work on an ambulance, it take a lot out of me...so I have to find a day when I have enough energy to "butt-scoot' my way down some of the cliffs. It looks like next week maybe ideal for collecting/hunting, since it will be "negative low tide" after a few days of showers. I'll keep you updated...
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Post by snowmom on Nov 13, 2014 12:49:28 GMT -5
oh, I can't wait to see pictures of all that! Thanks!
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Nov 13, 2014 13:08:30 GMT -5
Is that the Jade Cove, Sand Dollar Beach area? I spent five days based in Monterey while my wife was at a teachers conference. I'd make day trips while she was busy working. I found some interesting tumbling material in the small cliffs just north of the Penguin Point lighthouse. Black with little specks of silver.
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Nov 19, 2014 17:29:28 GMT -5
billg22:Yes Jade Cove and surrounding areas. Those areas are mostly picked-out. Only after a several day deluge of rain, you might find a small nugget or two.
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Nov 19, 2014 17:33:55 GMT -5
snowmom:First week of Tin Oxide was meh...Some came out with a shine, but 50% percent didn't. I'm going to give them one more week with fresh T.O. with some minor adjustments. The best way to get a mirror shine is with a "grinder" (I don't have one...yet).
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Post by snowmom on Nov 19, 2014 20:14:44 GMT -5
And I understand jades are really difficult to get a high shine on due to varied texture through some of them. 50 percent sounds pretty decent with stuff of that reputation. Still watching with interest! Thanks Henry!
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