Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 29, 2017 18:49:26 GMT -5
I'll be sharing several pictures of all the roughs I've bought. Any help identifying them would be greatly appreciated! Also if you'd like to make suggestions of what I should tumble from this stock that would be doubly awesome!
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Post by aDave on Aug 29, 2017 19:29:55 GMT -5
Without seeing it, choose agates and jaspers first. They are pretty hard and are usually recommended for beginning tumblers. Softer stones, especially in mixed batches, create more of a problem than you may care to deal with.
Dave
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 29, 2017 21:37:23 GMT -5
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 29, 2017 21:39:56 GMT -5
I know a few of them, Labradorite, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli and Tiger's Eye, but the rest are pretty much a mystery to me!
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Post by aDave on Aug 29, 2017 22:28:51 GMT -5
Luminin If you want your photos from Flickr to show up in your posts, instead of a link, follow these directions which I've posted for others before. Photos instead of links are more appreciated. ...with Flickr, you have the ability to copy and paste code that works in posting photos on this site. I'll make this as brief as I can.
Go to your photostream in Flikr and click on the photo you'd like to post here. When that photo loads as a single photo, you should see a series of symbols in the lower right corner of the screen. The curved arrow is what you are looking for.
Click on the curved arrow. After doing so, you should get a screen that says, "Share 1 photo to:". Select the BBCode tab. The code you see in the box is what you will copy and place in your post to show the photo. If you don't know, ctrl+c is copy, and ctrl+v is paste. After you've copied the BBCode, all you have to do is paste it directly in your post. Oh yeah, select "medium" as the size before you copy, as that attribute should be placed in the code you copy.
So with your OP (original post), simply go edit it by deleting your old photo links and pasting in the new ones from the BBCode generator. Again, just place it directly. You don't have to select "link" or "image" from the formatting menu. Hope this helps.
Good luck. Dave
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Aug 30, 2017 6:18:25 GMT -5
I say throw them all in together and see what happens. Check the progress once a week and pull out nicely rounded stones and replace with new rough. If you see something getting beaten up or disappearing rapidly go ahead and remove it also. This will quickly teach you what works best.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 7:57:32 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Aug 30, 2017 8:02:32 GMT -5
This is fluorite. Do not tumble it with your other rocks! It is too soft and will either disappear or be ruined in a quickness.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 8:10:54 GMT -5
ChicagoDave I have too much material to run at once, but I'm really really tempted to try that! Sounds like a more active way of tumbling! Which leads me to a question: in one of the videos I've watched, the host said to never let the stones dry fully during the entire tumbling process. I can think of a few reasons as to why he stated that, but I've come across a few pieces of conflicting, or at least non-conforming, info? I know a good few of the minerals above, namely the bulk ones I ordered. As to what I think is Labradorite, I was just proudly showing it off 😂. Any help identifying would be really appreciated!
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 8:14:09 GMT -5
captbob I read that after I ordered it. I figured I could run it solo, either cutting short or entirely skipping the course (1st) grit. Advise on the first stage? Same with the tiger's eye, I'm worried I'll lose too much of the outer edges?
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Post by captbob on Aug 30, 2017 8:17:36 GMT -5
Also, I have no idea from the photo what this is. Not so sure I would bother trying to tumble it. I see some Labradorite in your mix. I don't recall if I have ever tumbled any, so can't say from experience, but I would keep a close eye on it if you add it with the other rocks. May even want to save it for later as I imagine it is probably a tough rock to tumble well.
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Post by captbob on Aug 30, 2017 8:22:33 GMT -5
Your tiger eye will tumble beautifully. It isn't "normal" tiger eye. Too early to rack my brain for the name..., but your material has veins of hematite running through it. Tumbled well, it is stunning.
I would hold off on the fluorite for now. It is a TOUGH stone to tumble for the best of us. Get some experience under your belt before tackling something that challenging.
ETA: tiger eye is a sturdy rock. Go ahead and run it with little concern.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 8:38:11 GMT -5
Also, I have no idea from the photo what this is. Not so sure I would bother trying to tumble it. I see some Labradorite in your mix. I don't recall if I have ever tumbled any, so can't say from experience, but I would keep a close eye on it if you add it with the other rocks. May even want to save it for later as I imagine it is probably a tough rock to tumble well. This is supposed to be Sapphire and Ruby rough. By feel, it's very dense. The labradorite I planned on adding into the fluorite as they both are fairly flaky, the labradorite slightly less so. Thanks for the input, captbob! P.S. Thanks for telling me about the tiger's eye! I think it's one of my favorites!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Aug 30, 2017 9:29:01 GMT -5
I tumbled a little of the labradorite I got in my beginners mix, but wasn't happy with the result. Yes, I was new to tumbling, but I managed to get a shine on the better tumbling materials, like the tiger eye mentioned above. The labradorite loses a lot of it's appeal when tumbled, IMO. Maybe you could try to pre-shape on a saw or something to try to capture some flash and then vibe tumble, but that's a bit down the road for you. The tumbled result looks like a dull, flaky rock unless you can turn it just right and catch a little color. The problem when tumbling is you'll grind through or round over the planes that hold that flash. I like the rough specimen look much better.
And this is the best pic I'll ever get of my tumbled labradorite.
Not too bad there, but here is the same rock "live".
I'll leave the labradorite to the cabbers.
Get you some more tiger eye, everyone will be impressed with that.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 30, 2017 9:57:47 GMT -5
Do a scratch test to sort out the hardest material and start with those.
A scratch test is easy to do. Using a quality knife or steel file press against rock with a good amount of force. If the tool does not scratch the stone then it is hard enough to tumble well in most cases. A magnifying glass is helpful here as well. Harder stones that cannot be scratched may get a metallic streak on them which can look like a scratch to the naked eye. With the magnifier you can easily tell the difference.
The blue and white stones appear to be Sodalite which is softer than agate/jasper/quartz. I have mixed them with harder stones and most seem to hold up but these would probably be best run alone or with rocks of similar hardness.
The labradorite is a bugger ...in my experience it undercuts with coarse grit but rounds well with 2nd stage grit. It tends to look fine until the polish stage where undercutting and spalling hurts the finish.
If the rocks identified as sapphire are so then they would be the hardest thing you have in the mix. They will take quite a while to shape I'd guess.
You may want to run your quartz alone as well. Many people have problems with chips cracks and such when mixed with agate/jasers.
Hope some of this is helpful ...
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Post by captbob on Aug 30, 2017 10:18:34 GMT -5
Your hardest stones are going to be your sapphire and ruby rough. I would have to recommend setting them aside. (forever!) They are gonna be a bear to tumble. As in take months and months.
I think that you mentioned in your intro thread that you are a "gamer". I assume video game player. And, I also assume that such play is fast fast action. Tumbling rocks is more akin to watching grass grow. Except that grass grows faster.
Don't know how much reading of past threads you have had time for, but rock tumbling is an exercise in patience. EXTREME patience. If you are looking for quick gratification (like winning a video game?), rock tumbling will disappoint you. If you feel the need to check on your rocks every few days, you will be extremely disappointed. Rotary rock tumbling is a set 'em and forget 'em kinda hobby. Like - see ya rocks in a couple/few weeks, have a nice time in there!
Don't get me wrong, rock tumbling is a fun and worthwhile hobby. Just that good results take time. Lots of time.
I have several barrels of various rocks rolling now. One was started last December, one in February, a couple in May ... you get the picture - tumbling QUALITY rocks takes MONTHS. - Unless you speed up later stages by using a vibrating tumbler. Rough rock would still need to be started (shaped) in a rotary barrel, but a vibe will knock weeks (months!) off getting through the steps after the coarse grind.
Don't recall if you said what kind of tumbler you are starting out with, but if it is a small barrel rotary tumbler, it may be the end of the year before a batch of rough rock is finished.
Your lapis may be started with your tiger eye, but may need to be pulled out at some point to sit and wait for the tiger eye to catch up.
Good luck and enjoy the ride. It is worth the time!
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Post by gmitch067 on Aug 30, 2017 10:24:54 GMT -5
Also, I have no idea from the photo what this is. Not so sure I would bother trying to tumble it. I see some Labradorite in your mix. I don't recall if I have ever tumbled any, so can't say from experience, but I would keep a close eye on it if you add it with the other rocks. May even want to save it for later as I imagine it is probably a tough rock to tumble well. This looks like Corundum (ruby/sapphire mix) and is VERY hard... 8-9 Mohs. The grit used in tumbling is around 9 Mohs hardness. It can be tumbled... BUT... it will take forever and a day just to get out of the first 80 grit stage; And it will be difficult to polish in a tumbler. I wasted a lot of $$$ at Amazon when I began this hobby back in January 2017... I bought 4 lbs. of Corundum and had dreams of polished rubies and sapphires (and sugar-plum faeries) dancing through my head. The reality is I now have some very expensive large grade grit which I add to the Step-1 80 grit runs to speed up the grind. After almost continuous tumbling since February, they have worn down a little and smoothed a lot, but they are still going strong as a grit additive. Lol! (Note: Be sure to remove these Corundum pieces after the 80 grit run - when shifting your stones to the 220 grit stage - they will contaminate the load)
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Post by fernwood on Aug 30, 2017 10:56:48 GMT -5
Nice inventory. Read the advice of the experts here. Research past posts. Trial and error at times, but do not let that discourage you.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 11:32:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback! Garage Rocker, Thanks for the heads up! I'm not sure I will tumble the labradorite now. I like it as is. tkvancil That's sound advice. The blue and white stones are supposed to be Lapis Lazuli, which I believe is different than sodalite? And having gmitch067 and captbob mention setting aside the sapphire/ruby rough, that seems like a really good idea! gmitch067 Yikes! At least it's nice to know someone else was sharing that dream with me 😂 captbob You are correct, I'm very much into video games, but I don't expect results anytime soon. I'm hoping to get a single batch, doubtfully two, done before winter sets in. I plan on setting bi-weekly reminders to go check on the tumbler (depending on the material), researching rocks or gaming inbetween work. I'm in it for the long haul! I'm starting out with a very small rotary tumbler. I'm not sure of its exact size, likely 3lbs if not smaller? You all have so much knowledge, I'm doing my best to act like a sponge!
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Aug 30, 2017 11:34:14 GMT -5
Thank you fernwood. And thank you for the encouragement!
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