tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 30, 2017 16:33:20 GMT -5
I had at one point begun to be bored with tumbling. Yeah I know, right? It was because I was rolling "the same old thing". Being the cautious type I'd never really spent more than $5 a pound for rough for fear of "ruining" more expensive material. However to get something new meant spending more $. So we have Blue Lace once again from the Rockshed. I really like the color and patterns in this rock and plan on rolling some more in the future. Oh yeah still catching up on pic posts. Not much to say 'bout this stuff other than it sure is purdy. IMG_3289 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr IMG_3309 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr IMG_3305 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr IMG_3301 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr IMG_3297 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr IMG_3292 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr The piece top center is probably my favorite of the lot. Not only does it look nice but represents a change in my tumbling attitude. At one time I never would of tried to polish it because of the geode like pockets in it. Cross contamination is an over stated issue. I also think polished rocks with natural "flaws" look cool. IMG_3315 by Ken Vancil, on Flickr Thanks for looking and keep on rollin' them stones.
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Post by aDave on Sept 30, 2017 16:47:01 GMT -5
That's neat looking stuff. I'd seen that on their site, but not knowing anything about the material, I didn't pull the trigger. Was that finished in a rotary or a vibe? Nice job on the polish in either account.
Dave
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 30, 2017 17:05:32 GMT -5
That's neat looking stuff. I'd seen that on their site, but not knowing anything about the material, I didn't pull the trigger. Was that finished in a rotary or a vibe? Nice job on the polish in either account. Dave Thanks Dave. Vibe finished. Thumlers UV18. SIC 220 - 48 hrs., SIC 600 - 48hrs., AO 1000 - 72 hrs., Rockshed AO polish - 72 hrs.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 30, 2017 17:06:05 GMT -5
Another nice batch! Do you do anything to prevent cross contamination when you have a void like that? I do a short cleaning run between stages. I run for 15 to 45 minutes in my Lot-O with either dish detergent or borax. I sometimes repeat once if it’s a particularly nice batch of rocks or if there are known voids in the rocks.
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Post by Pat on Sept 30, 2017 17:29:23 GMT -5
I sure am glad some folks like to tumble!!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 30, 2017 17:48:44 GMT -5
Another nice batch! Do you do anything to prevent cross contamination when you have a void like that? I do a short cleaning run between stages. I run for 15 to 45 minutes in my Lot-O with either dish detergent or borax. I sometimes repeat once if it’s a particularly nice batch of rocks or if there are known voids in the rocks. At the end of the run I put in 7 or 8 drops of Polmolive, the original formula with no additives. Let that work into the slurry, when the action slows then pour in about 1 and 1/2 cups water. Let that run until foam threatens to crawl out of the hopper. Dump the works into one of those 18 quart plastic dish pans. Take that outside for several minutes of full blast under the garden hose, swishing rocks around by hand until overflow runs clear. After that I basically look at every rock before they go into the bowl for the next stage. This may sound tedious for 15 pounds of material but isn't too bad. Smalls basically have to be perfect for me to finish so only my larger pieces will normally have voids that need attention. Any thing that hasn't washed out already comes out easily with a few squirts from a spray bottle. Takes probably 90 minutes for the whole process. In the 600, 1000, and polish I've been using psyllium fiber as a thickener. This stuff is great IMHO. It makes a thick gel that penetrates voids and seems to lubricate as well. Then when I do my wash/rinse it seems to have bonded with the slurry/grit and pulls most of it out. Still have to look at each but any thing left in the voids sprays out super quick and easy.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Sept 30, 2017 18:19:44 GMT -5
Nice batch of agates
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Post by fernwood on Sept 30, 2017 18:39:45 GMT -5
Nice finished product. thanks for sharing your technique.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 30, 2017 18:46:56 GMT -5
Another nice batch! Do you do anything to prevent cross contamination when you have a void like that? I do a short cleaning run between stages. I run for 15 to 45 minutes in my Lot-O with either dish detergent or borax. I sometimes repeat once if it’s a particularly nice batch of rocks or if there are known voids in the rocks. At the end of the run I put in 7 or 8 drops of Polmolive, the original formula with no additives. Let that work into the slurry, when the action slows then pour in about 1 and 1/2 cups water. Let that run until foam threatens to crawl out of the hopper. Dump the works into one of those 18 quart plastic dish pans. Take that outside for several minutes of full blast under the garden hose, swishing rocks around by hand until overflow runs clear. After that I basically look at every rock before they go into the bowl for the next stage. This may sound tedious for 15 pounds of material but isn't too bad. Smalls basically have to be perfect for me to finish so only my larger pieces will normally have voids that need attention. Any thing that hasn't washed out already comes out easily with a few squirts from a spray bottle. Takes probably 90 minutes for the whole process. In the 600, 1000, and polish I've been using psyllium fiber as a thickener. This stuff is great IMHO. It makes a thick gel that penetrates voids and seems to lubricate as well. Then when I do my wash/rinse it seems to have bonded with the slurry/grit and pulls most of it out. Still have to look at each but any thing left in the voids sprays out super quick and easy. You are certainly not taking any chances with cross contamination. That’s basically how I feel about moving rocks on with voids. I’d rather not do it, but if I do, I’m extra careful to make sure everything is well cleaned.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 30, 2017 19:27:32 GMT -5
Jugglerguy I think what we do for cleaning between stages would be called reasonable precautions. Far less work than scrubbing with tooth brushes and multiple washes I've heard recommended. I have heard some recommend ultra sonic cleaners. I've also heard of week long rotary and two day long burnish cycles between stages. To me stuff like that is over the top. It occurred to me that even if I were to miss a few particles of say 220, what would happen to "ruin a batch"? Most likely they would come out early in the run, make some scratches as it broke down. The whole time those scratches are being attacked by an overwhelming amount of 500/600 essentially wiping them out as fast as they're made. So on down the line...miss a few particles of pre polish? Shouldn't hurt as it has already made the rocks shiny.
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Post by youp50 on Oct 1, 2017 3:56:37 GMT -5
I am thinking my wife will not be liking me putting her stool softener in the tumbler. Oh well, it has been said "Stuff Happens". Or maybe not...
Would you care to share how much fiber you add? Thanks.
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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 1, 2017 8:15:48 GMT -5
I am thinking my wife will not be liking me putting her stool softener in the tumbler. Oh well, it has been said "Stuff Happens". Or maybe not... Would you care to share how much fiber you add? Thanks. First off I got the idea of using psyllium from here on the board. The original poster used 1/4 tsp. for a Lot-O batch. In my UV-18 I use 1 & 1/2 level tsp. Don't think it would be good for rotary. Biologicals tend to produce gas in rotary. I start the vibe slightly on the wet side, the psyllium soaks up water. Add grit or polish first then add the fiber. The action in the vibe will slow significantly at this point. Things will look different at this point as well. As the psyllium and grit begin to combine, the coating on the rocks becomes uneven. Looks like "snail trails" (best description I can come up with). It takes about 2 hours for the fiber to break down and the coating on the rocks to even back out. After that business as usual.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2017 10:34:45 GMT -5
I am thinking my wife will not be liking me putting her stool softener in the tumbler. Oh well, it has been said "Stuff Happens". Or maybe not... Would you care to share how much fiber you add? Thanks. Lol, Ya know? You could buy your own on the secret.....
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Post by youp50 on Oct 1, 2017 13:42:20 GMT -5
I am thinking my wife will not be liking me putting her stool softener in the tumbler. Oh well, it has been said "Stuff Happens". Or maybe not... Would you care to share how much fiber you add? Thanks. Lol, Ya know? You could buy your own on the secret.....
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Post by youp50 on Oct 1, 2017 13:47:37 GMT -5
Tablet kickingmybuttagain.
I do not believe I will be buying that stuff. Last time I did they have me some poison to empty my colon, after much suffering I was treated to a grave violation of my person. All-in the name of medical science, don't you know.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2017 14:37:53 GMT -5
Tablet kickingmybuttagain. I do not believe I will be buying that stuff. Last time I did they have me some poison to empty my colon, after much suffering I was treated to a grave violation of my person. All-in the name of medical science, don't you know. Haha! Sometimes ya gotta embrace the suck! 👍
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illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
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Post by illusionist on Oct 2, 2017 11:58:36 GMT -5
Beautiful!
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melf77
having dreams about rocks
Member since July 2017
Posts: 70
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Post by melf77 on Oct 4, 2017 14:26:45 GMT -5
I am kicking myself in the butt for not picking some of this material up when they had it.
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Post by Psycho on Oct 8, 2017 8:44:41 GMT -5
Nice shine, a very light beautiful material
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