dreamrocks
freely admits to licking rocks
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 888
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Post by dreamrocks on Dec 7, 2018 13:19:44 GMT -5
I have what's suppose to be gemmy aqua but this looks more like beryl. I will be very surprised if I get a quarter pound of gem out of 2 pounds. I have 3 pounds of colored topaz more facet to work with mostly clear and white some blue a few look on the green side. #1 There are a few more topaz crystals in this mix a few aqua #2 Crystal clear & blue #3 is what I want to tumble and make cabs and or facet with. ? How long should this tumble a week a month on first tumble. Also is it faster and better to grind smooth all the rough edges. I have a tumble vibe 5, what kind of mistake is it to add any crystals to the tumble rough. I don't think I have enough crystals to fill a bowel of the topaz I do with the aqua I have enough of maine stuff to make a bowel.
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Post by pauls on Dec 7, 2018 13:56:18 GMT -5
How long should you tumble the first stage?
That depends, are you tumbling them to have nice rounded tumbled stones with no pits to keep as tumbled stones, or are you happy to have a few blemishes, or is the reason you are tumbling them so you can see inside them to judge their suitabilty for faceting? If it's just for nice rounded tumbled stones then I would grind off the rough edges, especially on the hard Topaz, If you are happy to have tumbled stones with a few blemishes or are doing it to open a window so you can see inside them for faceting then not so long and skip grinding the edges off. crystals are OK the edges will come of those just like the broken edges.
How long you do it is up to you, you need to put them in first stage and check every couple of days to see if they are right, take them out when you are happy with them.
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dreamrocks
freely admits to licking rocks
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 888
|
Post by dreamrocks on Dec 7, 2018 16:00:26 GMT -5
Thank you. That sounds pretty easy far as the rough edges I may go ahead and smooth them up some they may sell faster to some club members to get rid of what I don't need. I don't think I will get to fussy with all of it mostly just want to pick out the facet, good stuff. The aqua is Brazilian and the topaz is Nigerian or Tanzania some of the aqua has some really deep blue and hoping to make so nice cabs with. I might get lucky and find something cool like cats eye or doubt it but star cab.
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