p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 11, 2018 7:19:08 GMT -5
Hi all, I've been collecting rocks since I was a kid and always wanted to tumble them but never made the time until now. I have a small collection of rocks from a recent trip to Utah and a Thumbler's Tumbler Model B. I have read a few articles on how to get started from RockTumbler.com and understand the 4-step process but do have a few questions. The rocks I collected are not enough to fill that size tumber and I've been guessing at the grit/polish I would need for my size tumbler. Since this is my first post I'm guessing there's a restriction on posting images but here's a link to what I recently collected in Utah: Utah Rocks Obviously the sandstone in that picture can't be tumbled but there are a few pieces of agate in there. I was thinking that this kit may be what I need but was hoping I could get some advice here. Amazon link
I'd like to get a lot more "rough" to add to this so I don't waste a bunch of tumbling media. I'm too impatient to collect it as there aren't many areas where I live to pick any up so I was hoping someone could direct me to a source for purchasing some? Anyway, Glad to have found this forum and hope to produce some beautiful stones! Jeff
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 11, 2018 7:47:04 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH You should be filling your tumbler to 3/4 full at all times. If you do not have enough rocks you could always use pea gravel from a hardware store. The amount of grit and polish do not change because the barrel should always by 3/4 full. In other words do not run it 1/2 full and cut down the amount of grit or polish. Ceramic media can also be used as filler but I only recommend that after stage one. Stage one will just eat away at the expensive ceramics. There are a whole lot of tips and tricks to be learned here if you just start reading through older posts or use the search bar. As far as buying grit goes the grit packs never have enough stage one grit. There are websites for ordering bulk grits at lower prices but you will need to determine how serious you are about tumbling before ordering. I will add links to two great sites for purchasing grit and any other tumbling needs. The number one misconception in most rock tumbling instructions is the time involved. Most instructions say one week per stage. In reality stage one will be anywhere from 2-16 weeks depending on how rough the rocks are to start with. A beach rock that has been worn from the waves will obviously be much easier to make smooth VS a gnarly rock with several sharp edges or deep pitted areas. The 4-step process is also often modified to six steps. step one - coarse grit 60/90 or 46/70 step two - medium grit 120/220 or straight 220 step three - fine grit 500 or 600 grit step four - pre-polish 1200 grit step five polish - many available but aluminum oxide .3 micron is one of the most common used here and a great starter polish. step six - burinsh. This is a final wash with the rocks in the tumbler using borax or soap flakes to clean and can increase the shine also The folks selling rock tumblers want to tell you it can be done way faster then it really can because they want to sell more rock tumblers. rockshedkingsley northChuck
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Post by MsAli on Oct 11, 2018 7:51:06 GMT -5
Good morning Jeff and welcome It looks like you have some nice material to start with If you look at the top of the page there is a link to Amazon with grit packs. You'll go through more coarse than anything else. Also there is the Rock Shed or Kinsley North. Both can provide you with grit packs and rocks There are members here who also sell that have very nice material. If you havent already check out the Rock tumbling photos to see an example of some of the best for inspiration and really good advice. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/board/23/rock-tumbling-photos
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Post by Pat on Oct 11, 2018 8:52:43 GMT -5
Don't know about tumbling, but RTH has experts. Welcome and good luck!
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Post by manofglass on Oct 11, 2018 9:01:57 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 11, 2018 9:04:56 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 11, 2018 9:24:10 GMT -5
Thanks all for the welcome. I kind of knew that it took a lot of time to get good polished stone but I just figured I'd turn the tumbler on and set a calendar notice then forget it till it was ready to check. I am hoping that some of the stuff that I've found turns out well enough to keep me interested but I won't know until I actually get my first batch.
I'm guessing that I'll start to develop a sense of what would make a good rough for tumbling after a few batches but up until now I've just collected my rock based on what I thought looked good as it lay. I'm sure seeing a good tumbling rock is akin to a photographer knowing a good composition.
I'm also into metal casting so I was hoping to combine the two hobbies.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Oct 11, 2018 9:49:58 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from southern Arizona. Take some time to go through the postings in the various categories. There is a wealth of information that will help you. I’m also new to tumbling, still working on my first batches trying to get enough material for the second step. There are great folks on the forum that a extremely helpful. Have a little patience getting started, but most of all have fun.
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Post by aDave on Oct 11, 2018 11:25:47 GMT -5
Thanks all for the welcome. I kind of knew that it took a lot of time to get good polished stone but I just figured I'd turn the tumbler on and set a calendar notice then forget it till it was ready to check. I am hoping that some of the stuff that I've found turns out well enough to keep me interested but I won't know until I actually get my first batch. I'm guessing that I'll start to develop a sense of what would make a good rough for tumbling after a few batches but up until now I've just collected my rock based on what I thought looked good as it lay. I'm sure seeing a good tumbling rock is akin to a photographer knowing a good composition. I'm also into metal casting so I was hoping to combine the two hobbies. Welcome to the forum. You've gotten some good input thus far, so that will keep me from typing too much. If funds are not too much of an issue, I'd just look to a place like the Rock Shed (you have the link) to get some additional rough and grit. Prices for grit there are good, and the ability to by rough makes it a one-stop shop. In terms of tumbling success for the beginner, look for agates and jaspers around 7 or so on the Mohs scale. I would highly recommend not going any lower than 6, as softer material is tougher to get good results. Like Chuck Drummond Island Rocks mentioned, head over to the tumbling side of the forum and start going through old posts. There's a myriad of them to go through, and you can ask specific questions there. Good luck.
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mgrets
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2011
Posts: 321
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Post by mgrets on Oct 13, 2018 20:48:27 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Ohio!
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Post by vegasjames on Oct 14, 2018 4:03:58 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH.
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Post by TheRock on Oct 14, 2018 15:39:19 GMT -5
p40whk To RTH Forum from ~Duke ~ in S/W Michigan
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 14, 2018 16:37:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the help all,
I just placed an order with Rock shed for a mix of rough stone and a grit pack to get my first batch started. Tried to keep all the stone around the same mohs scale so I can mix it without worrying about softer material. Since I have a 15# tumbler I wasn't sure just how much rock in weight would fill it 2/3 full so I should have some of the rock below left over for a second batch.
2 Lb Prairie Agate 2 Lb Green Red Jasper 2 Lbs SD Petrifed Wood 2 Lbs RoseQtz 2 Lbs Sodalite 1 Lb Banded Amethyst 1 Lb Tiger Eye 1 Lb Bahia Agate SM Rotary Grit Pack w/1 lb Plastic Pellets
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Post by TheRock on Oct 14, 2018 17:35:15 GMT -5
p40whk Leave the plastic pellets in the Bag. What kind of tumbler do you have, and what size grit you starting with?
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 15, 2018 11:59:04 GMT -5
p40whk Leave the plastic pellets in the Bag. What kind of tumbler do you have, and what size grit you starting with? Duke, I have a Thumbler Model B which is way to big for me just starting out. I originally bought it to make black powder as I used to be heavy into to shooting professional fireworks but that hobby got too time consuming and expensive. I really wish I had a two barrel system but since it's what I have, it's what I'll use to see if I want to get more involved. The Model B I think is a 15 pound tumbler so I would need enough rough to fill that 2/3 full thus the large order from the Rock Shed. As far as the size grit I planned to use, well, since I'm new I had planned to use the grit in the grit pack and start with coarse (60-90 grit), then medium (120-220 grit), then fine grit (500 pre polish) and then a polish however I still want to pick up some .3 micron Final polish to use after this step. I already have a box of Borax for a burnish After reading through the tumbling threads I've pretty much resigned myself to running the course stage as long as it take to get the desired shape and smoothness prior to moving to the next stages. checking and pulling out the rocks that smooth up faster than others until I have everything ready to move to the next stage. I should probably buy more course grit to refresh the batch as I do this but didn't think of that before I ordered. I had thought that the plastic pellets were for cushioning and to take up space from the rocks being smaller in the final stages, should I not do this or is ceramic better?
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 15, 2018 12:00:59 GMT -5
mgrets, I'm from the Cincinnati area.
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Post by TheRock on Oct 15, 2018 18:45:17 GMT -5
p40whk Leave the plastic pellets in the Bag. What kind of tumbler do you have, and what size grit you starting with? Duke, I have a Thumbler Model B which is way to big for me just starting out. I originally bought it to make black powder as I used to be heavy into to shooting professional fireworks but that hobby got too time consuming and expensive. I really wish I had a two barrel system but since it's what I have, it's what I'll use to see if I want to get more involved. The Model B I think is a 15 pound tumbler so I would need enough rough to fill that 2/3 full thus the large order from the Rock Shed. As far as the size grit I planned to use, well, since I'm new I had planned to use the grit in the grit pack and start with coarse (60-90 grit), then medium (120-220 grit), then fine grit (500 pre polish) and then a polish however I still want to pick up some .3 micron Final polish to use after this step. I already have a box of Borax for a burnish After reading through the tumbling threads I've pretty much resigned myself to running the course stage as long as it take to get the desired shape and smoothness prior to moving to the next stages. checking and pulling out the rocks that smooth up faster than others until I have everything ready to move to the next stage. I should probably buy more course grit to refresh the batch as I do this but didn't think of that before I ordered. I had thought that the plastic pellets were for cushioning and to take up space from the rocks being smaller in the final stages, should I not do this or is ceramic better? Your on the Right Track The Thumbler B is just about all I use I have 4 of them, and love them. After I get the Shape of the Rock and they are smoothed They need to eventually go to vibe from 220 to the finish Stages as far as being to big? Just add more rock or filler stones. Sounds like yer heading in the right direction!
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Post by TheRock on Oct 15, 2018 19:53:58 GMT -5
Oh One More thing I purchase 75% of my equipment From Shawn Kuhnel at The Rock Shed He has good prices and is very dependable.
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