azdrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
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Post by azdrock on Nov 1, 2017 5:01:33 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
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Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,422
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Post by Wooferhound on Nov 1, 2017 6:05:38 GMT -5
Something soft, like pencil lead, in the tumbler.
Photo Tip- Hold the camera Very Still when snapping pictures.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 1, 2017 7:02:56 GMT -5
You have a piece of metal or a very metallic rock in your batch. All it takes is a coin or a wedding ring(bad day). A stainless steel bolt or screw. Or the end of a bolt or screw holding your barrel together that is sticking out on the inside of the barrel. Or your tumbler barrel has raw metal exposed.
I get those same marks when gently washing finished tumbles in a stainless steel pan. Must use plastic to avoid the silver streaks ! Take one of your tumbles and rub it gently across stainless or aluminum cookware. You'll see. Those marks look like aluminum. A rerun in AO 14,000 polish will remove them.
Metal rotary barrels can do that. No problem if you finish your tumbles in a vibe. Unless you transfer the metallic object or rock into the vibe.
Welcome to the forum azdrock.
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azdrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 5
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Post by azdrock on Nov 1, 2017 7:32:16 GMT -5
Thank you I will check out the inside of my barrels and bowls. I'm using one large rotary tumbler that I use for rough. Then I have 4 vibratory tumblers that I use for each type of grit to reduce contamination. I do notice I get a lot of marks at the beginning and as I work to the later steps it goes away. From what your saying it's probably because I'm more careful with nicer equipment on the later steps. Also I am not very good at identifying rocks so I try to polish anything my daughter gives me. But I try to remove gritty soft and metallic rocks as I go. Any tips on identifying those metallic culprits would be wonderful.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 1, 2017 8:15:32 GMT -5
Thank you I will check out the inside of my barrels and bowls. I'm using one large rotary tumbler that I use for rough. Then I have 4 vibratory tumblers that I use for each type of grit to reduce contamination. I do notice I get a lot of marks at the beginning and as I work to the later steps it goes away. From what your saying it's probably because I'm more careful with nicer equipment on the later steps. Also I am not very good at identifying rocks so I try to polish anything my daughter gives me. But I try to remove gritty soft and metallic rocks as I go. Any tips on identifying those metallic culprits would be wonderful. Metal marks are harmless in early stages. Black rocks. Silver/metallic of course. meteorites (please do not tumble) If daughter is finding them you need to find out where. Take suspect rock and rub it across the back of a porcelain bath tile. Look for silver streak. i.e. streak test Black rotary tumbling slurry is common with metallic materials. Metallic smell unpleasant. Gas build up.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 1, 2017 8:53:13 GMT -5
Easy fix... Don't use a medal strainer(if your using one),use plastic... The medal strainers leave silver scratches on rocks!! I found out the hard way also! Went to plastic,never had that problem again.... Thumbs up
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 1, 2017 9:33:45 GMT -5
Easy fix... Don't use a medal strainer(if your using one),use plastic... The medal strainers leave silver scratches on rocks!! I found out the hard way also! Went to plastic,never had that problem again.... Thumbs up Yep, metal strainer does the same thing.
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azdrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 5
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Post by azdrock on Nov 1, 2017 10:12:32 GMT -5
Wow I've been fighting with this for months thinking it was happening inside the barrel and didn't even occur to me I was cleaning on aluminum screens. Thanks a lot guys. While we're at it I'm in phoenix do any of you know some places in phoenix to find good stuff.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 1, 2017 10:31:07 GMT -5
Found this article,it might be worth a try.....
https://www.reddit.com/r/rockhounds/comments/2rbrul/anyone_know_about_any_good_rockhounding_areas/
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Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 1, 2017 10:54:04 GMT -5
Easy fix... Don't use a medal strainer(if your using one),use plastic... The medal strainers leave silver scratches on rocks!! I found out the hard way also! Went to plastic,never had that problem again.... Thumbs up Yep, metal strainer does the same thing.
jamesp , you're talking the aluminum colander? Like this?
I used to use one of them a long time ago. Hey, it's a "Mirro Aluminum Colander Strainer With Handles Vintage Kitchenware." Leave it in the kitchen, and use it for noodles or washing vegetables, ha. I picked up a white plastic colander at my local Albertsons for five or six bucks a few years ago. I even picked up a second one, and donated it to my club for a raffle prize. It sits perfectly in the top of a 5 gallon bucket.
When you are out collecting rocks, if you put them in your pockets (after you have already filled your rock bag, obviously ), they will get the metallic marks if you have any KEYS in your pocket with them as well. Ask me how I know, lol. I still do it anyway, though!
ETA - brand name is Kamenstein, it is a hard white plastic.
I couldn't find any new ones being sold with that brand name, but Ecko makes a similar one. Garage, estate, and yard sales, thrift store or swap meet your best bet.
Did run across this online garage sale link while looking for a photo. link Only $3, but it is in Peoria, IL (not AZ, sadly...).
Good luck, I'm sure you will find one somewhere! And welcome to the forum! Jean
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 1, 2017 10:57:31 GMT -5
Wow I've been fighting with this for months thinking it was happening inside the barrel and didn't even occur to me I was cleaning on aluminum screens. Thanks a lot guys. While we're at it I'm in phoenix do any of you know some places in phoenix to find good stuff. Thought that looked like aluminum. About the softer metal available. Aluminum can jump through the air and leave streaks on your tumbles ha. Rock heaven Phoenix ? Should have been charged for the advise, very jealous of your location. Rock poor Georgia here. In Arizona back when, read about finding apache tears from a rock hunting book of Arizona. amazed that the apache tears are laying on the ground surrounding those ancient volcano pinnacles radially from pinnacle. Black balls of glass laying there for mega years. Bags of them.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 1, 2017 10:59:04 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 1, 2017 11:16:59 GMT -5
Very helpful when the "breeze" (euphemism, lol) picks up in the desert. Keeps me from being blown away!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 1, 2017 11:21:12 GMT -5
In Arizona back when, read about finding apache tears from a rock hunting book of Arizona. amazed that the apache tears are laying on the ground surrounding those ancient volcano pinnacles radially from pinnacle. Black balls of glass laying there for mega years. Bags of them.
We've picked up Apache tears, just laying on the ground north of the Vulcan Mine near Wickenberg, AZ. Yes, read about it in an AZ Gem hunting trails book.
I've done nothing with them, wanna try them James? I could send you some onyx, too (in addition to the obsidian I already have scheduled for a trip to the south.)
Just say the word, I even know where they are located on my patio!
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 1, 2017 14:43:25 GMT -5
I have a huge aluminum colander,from an old cafe/restaurant.. I wash my thundereggs in it,works great for that purpose...
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nileriver
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Member since December 2016
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Post by nileriver on Nov 1, 2017 14:58:34 GMT -5
I'm not doubting that rubbing against metallic things outside of the tumbler can cause those type of streaks. But I use a plastic strainer, and I still see those streaks. My experience leads me to believe that, at least in my case, it is happening inside the tumbler. But, I'm using Lortone 3A & 33B, so I don't think there is any metal contact from the equipment. As some have hypothesized, maybe some metal in some of the rocks? Also, the grayish color of the streaks made me think about the SiC. Who knows? I used to do all stages rotary, but I bought a vibe a while back, and my last two or three batches I have finished in the vibe after the initial coarse grind in the rotaries. I was seeing the streaks after each of the coarser runs, ie: coarse, fine, and pre-polish, whether all rotary or moving to the vibe after first step. I am using SiC for all of these first three stages. Anyway, I worried a little, but didn't know what else to do but just move the rocks along to the next stage. At the end of the final polish stage (I've used both AO and CeO), none of the rocks had those streaks anymore. So, it seems to be, at least for me, a non-issue. In looking at your photos, all your rocks seem to be in the stage or stages before final polish. My suggestion is "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead", and see if those streaks are not gone at the end of the final, polish stage. It has worked for me. (Of course you'll also want to prevent any metal contact outside (or inside) the barrels that you can)
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azdrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 5
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Post by azdrock on Nov 1, 2017 21:34:17 GMT -5
Lol I guess I am a little spoiled with the availability of good specimens at my disposal. The problem is there so far away most of the good places are like Safford wickenburg or sunset crater. It almost seems like everything close to phoenix is either shale or quartz. One good option I did find which I am going this weekend is saddle mountain hoping to find some awesome fire agates.
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azdrock
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 5
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Post by azdrock on Nov 1, 2017 21:36:04 GMT -5
Also I have heard of a place just before town of superior that has awesome black obsidian does anyone have a location for this.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 3, 2017 11:43:34 GMT -5
In Arizona back when, read about finding apache tears from a rock hunting book of Arizona. amazed that the apache tears are laying on the ground surrounding those ancient volcano pinnacles radially from pinnacle. Black balls of glass laying there for mega years. Bags of them.
We've picked up Apache tears, just laying on the ground north of the Vulcan Mine near Wickenberg, AZ. Yes, read about it in an AZ Gem hunting trails book.
I've done nothing with them, wanna try them James? I could send you some onyx, too (in addition to the obsidian I already have scheduled for a trip to the south.)
Just say the word, I even know where they are located on my patio!
I may attempt to build a 'soft' vibe Jean. May get a request. Got stuff to trade. Rocks, young love toys, wooden nickels, you name it.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 3, 2017 11:50:59 GMT -5
I've done nothing with them, wanna try them James? I could send you some onyx, too (in addition to the obsidian I already have scheduled for a trip to the south.)
Just say the word, I even know where they are located on my patio!
I may attempt to build a 'soft' vibe Jean. May get a request. Got stuff to trade. Rocks, young love toys, wooden nickels, you name it.
James, I'll go take a look and get some stuff boxed up for you today, will probably send on Monday.
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