Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 18, 2017 8:11:35 GMT -5
I know shape is the goal here, and it's more of what you as an individual want them to look like, but... What are some of the standards you all have when deciding if a stone is ready, or not, for stage 2? Here's why I'm asking. Should I leave this be, or toss it back into coarse grit until it's rounded away? Why or why not?
|
|
ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
|
Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 18, 2017 9:27:09 GMT -5
I'm looking for perfectly rounded and smooth stones. No pits, cracks, chips, divots, dings, scratches, etc. I would knock off that corner with a chisel and throw it back into course grit. Why? Because I was smooth, rounded finished stones and that will never make it there. I want them to feel good in my hand when I'm holding them. Just my preference.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Sept 18, 2017 9:29:28 GMT -5
Yep, good eye. Any way you can grind, break, or get rid of that projection? Not the end of the world but isn't a good thing. The point will gradually wear away but will never be completely rounded and the rest of your rock will get a lot smaller while reducing the projection.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 18, 2017 10:22:54 GMT -5
It depends on the stones I am working with. If I am working with solid color stones, like Green Jasper or Aventurine, I go for the smooth rounded appearance and feel. For these, I grind/chip away the pits, dings and divots.
On stones that have interesting formations and complexity, like Mookaite or Serape Jasper, I just leave them in 80-grit long enough to remove the sharp edges. These will go into a vibe, which pretty much keeps their symmetry untouched.
Between each 80-grit tumbler recharge (once per week) I brush their teeth with a soft bristle toothbrush and sort out the interesting stones for inclusion into a future UV-10 or UV-18 vibe load (or just continue with a rotary tumbler). This sounds tedious - especially if using a 12 lb barrel - but I find the extra "laying-on-the-hands" to be a meditative and soothing process during my "weed-n-feeds." - I am learning to appreciate each stone's individual beauty and place in the Universe.... Ooooo.... ZEN!.
BTW - I would grind away that sharp protrusion on that Lapis... That is one of those stones that I prefer smooth and round.
|
|
Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 18, 2017 10:28:28 GMT -5
I will try to remove it tonight. I don't mind it, but it's...awkward. I appreciate the feedback, keep it coming! Would a chisel be best, or should I try to cut it off with a dremel? I have a tile saw, but it's large and clunky.
|
|
|
Post by gmitch067 on Sept 18, 2017 10:34:05 GMT -5
You will find a large piece of Lapis pretty hard to chisel (I got very frustrated trying to do that a few times). Saw and grinding should do the trick.
|
|
Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 18, 2017 10:38:29 GMT -5
Thanks, gmitch067! Seems I'm following in your footsteps lol
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2017 11:51:43 GMT -5
I'm with ChicagoDave in that I strive for perfectly rounded rocks. Not saying the rocks need be spherical, just rounded edges. I'm not trying tumble rocks to create marbles! That said, I might recommend leaving that nub alone. Let it run as is. Thinking that if you knock off the nub and run it more to make the new cut off corner "perfect" that you will lose too much of the rest of the rock. Just keep an eye out for such in the future and deal with it before the rest of the rock is pretty much ready to move on.
|
|
Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 18, 2017 12:46:29 GMT -5
Between gmitch telling me it's a hard one to chisel and your solid advise, I think I will leave it, it's a fairly small piece as is and my tumblers seem to gobble it up really quickly (I blame the harder, jealous rocks)!
|
|
melf77
having dreams about rocks
Member since July 2017
Posts: 70
|
Post by melf77 on Sept 19, 2017 18:54:28 GMT -5
I'm looking for perfectly rounded and smooth stones. No pits, cracks, chips, divots, dings, scratches, etc. I would knock off that corner with a chisel and throw it back into course grit. Why? Because I was smooth, rounded finished stones and that will never make it there. I want them to feel good in my hand when I'm holding them. Just my preference. Same here, I really prefer a chunky rounded piece or tumbled slabs. That's why I think I may be looking at something down the road to preshape before tumbling myself.
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Sept 19, 2017 19:01:13 GMT -5
I'm glad there are tumblers like all you patient tumblers. After the first stage, I'd be ready for the load to be done! A couple hours are ENOUGH!
|
|
Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 20, 2017 6:30:26 GMT -5
It's hard being patient, but it gives you something to be proud of when you finish (I hope ROFL)
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Sept 20, 2017 18:07:46 GMT -5
It's hard being patient, but it gives you something to be proud of when you finish (I hope ROFL) The more I roll, the more patient I find myself getting. In my most recent batch, I ran just the polish stage for 3.5 weeks. The batch before that was 2.5 weeks (yeah, it's time to take photos again). So, with the most recent tumbles, all of the remaining 3 stages after coarse took over 6 weeks to complete. To answer your original question, I look for shape first and then to eliminate imperfections. In the ideal scenario, I get both. But, as I encounter different rocks, I've learned that some will never be flawless due to the type of material it is. This is especially true with some of the stuff that I've gotten out in the desert. There simply comes a point when you may have to decide if you'll have to live with pits in some material, because no amount of tumbling will make them go away. But, as you noted above, it's going to be a personal decision at the end of the day. Whatever you do, good luck. Dave
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 20, 2017 18:31:23 GMT -5
I sort of like that nubbin. I think it’s interesting. I don’t really worry much about the shape of my rocks, I just tumble until the holes and cracks are completely gone. By that time there are rarely any sharp corners left. Lots of good advice in this thread, you just need to decide what YOU like.
The thing that I don’t really like is when I’ve cut a rock on my saw to be tumbled. That flat side doesn’t look natural. I’ll cut off sharp corners with my saw or grinder to make them look more natural after cutting. On the other hand, I don’t bother doing that if I have end cuts from slabbing.
|
|
Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
|
Post by Luminin on Sept 20, 2017 20:59:07 GMT -5
Thanks as always for the input. I'm holding off on restarting one of my tumblers until I can go through some of my rough material and maybe work on pre-shaping some first. Just have to find the time now...
|
|