NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Mar 13, 2019 19:27:50 GMT -5
<<< SUMMARY >>
It sounds like smashing the rocks with sledge(s) of various sizes, and using the Agates / Jaspers, etc, is very common here.
It also seems common to use Ceramic (mixed) media too.
Note: This is being done for all other STAGES besides 1, currently. Ceramics, that is.
Q) So, since this is just STAGE 1, and our goal is to reduce / shape the rocks we want to move on.
- And the smalls will never move on. - Do you think the Home Depot (Quikrete special $4.50 / 50 lbs.) or equivalent yard rock, etc, should be OK to use?
It is probably going to be a softer rock than Moh's 7.
Q) Is there an advantage to using 7 hardness smalls?
- Sorry, think this might be a dumb question. But throwing it out there anyway.
Thanks to all that chimed in here. I feel better about not smashing my hand, plus I really think I have great leads on how to save both time and money!!
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Post by aDave on Mar 13, 2019 20:29:18 GMT -5
Never have looked at that, but I'm going to assume that all gravel is not created equal. Hardness, or lack thereof, could be an issue depending on the makeup of the gravel. You might have to do a fair amount of sorting. That's why some of the quartz aquarium gravel might be a good option.
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Post by MsAli on Mar 13, 2019 20:42:30 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Mar 13, 2019 20:44:05 GMT -5
Never have looked at that, but I'm going to assume that all gravel is not created equal. Hardness, or lack thereof, could be an issue depending on the makeup of the gravel. You might have to do a fair amount of sorting. That's why some of the quartz aquarium gravel might be a good option. When I had a giant fish tank this is what I used. It is rated for aquarium use and I didnt have to sort it much. It should work pretty good for tumbling but I havent tried it for that (yet)
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Mar 14, 2019 12:21:51 GMT -5
Running two 15 lb. rotary and one 18 lb. vibratory tumblers I use ceramic and assorted bits of trimmed rough for smalls.
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Post by arghvark on Mar 20, 2019 21:19:43 GMT -5
In the vibe, ceramics. I was usin a mixture of sizes, but now using exclusively the 3/8". Seems to be working well, and I dislike having to sort the tiny out of the rocks.
In the rotary, I have been using small low grade agate that densely litters the ground at one of the sites I go to regularly. Getting tired of picking them up though. Made a wire mesh sieve, but used a mesh that was too large, need to adapt it.
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Post by arghvark on Mar 23, 2019 10:47:02 GMT -5
Q) Is there an advantage to using 7 hardness smalls? I think so. I use those agate smalls even when I'm doing obsidian in stage 1. Seems to accelerate the grind. Added benefit, significantly reduces the obsidian "concrete" that sets up in the barrel about 36 seconds after it is stopped! Also: Based on jamesp 's posts about clay, been using actual potter's clay a friend of mine gave me, as a thickener. Love it. Slurry efficiency seems to be much less dependent on viscosity, and have virtually no obsidian "quickrete". Different shaped particles mixed together, preventing those obsidian "microflakes" from packing together? *shrug* At any rate, love it!)
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Mar 24, 2019 10:41:06 GMT -5
Q) Is there an advantage to using 7 hardness smalls? I think so. I use those agate smalls even when I'm doing obsidian in stage 1. Seems to accelerate the grind. Added benefit, significantly reduces the obsidian "concrete" that sets up in the barrel about 36 seconds after it is stopped! Also: Based on jamesp 's posts about clay, been using actual potter's clay a friend of mine gave me, as a thickener. Love it. Slurry efficiency seems to be much less dependent on viscosity, and have virtually no obsidian "quickrete". Different shaped particles mixed together, preventing those obsidian "microflakes" from packing together? *shrug* At any rate, love it!) Thanks for your input ArghV! I had a sense that aDave was hinting something like this (hardness of small effecting the tumble), and was looking for input from someone with experience to chime in! I don't have enough time tumbling to have any conclusions of my own. I will have to research jamesp's posts again to find the mention of clay. I haven't read them all too carefully. Thank you!
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Post by aDave on Mar 24, 2019 12:11:57 GMT -5
NevadaBill, my only concern about different types of gravel is that some of the "run of the mill" pea gravel is too soft and will disappear when being tumbled. That would defeat the purpose from using it in the first place. A quartz based, or similar, product would not cause that issue.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Mar 24, 2019 16:16:37 GMT -5
NevadaBill , my only concern about different types of gravel is that some of the "run of the mill" pea gravel is too soft and will disappear when being tumbled. That would defeat the purpose from using it in the first place. A quartz based, or similar, product would not cause that issue. Thanks Dave. I bought a bunch of pea gravel looking stuff. I didn't get the aquarium one. It won't be as hard, as you mention. And it won't hold up well. Maybe it won't shape the rocks as well. It was only a few bucks and we will find out soon enough though. I am going to try my experiment with the new stuff some time this week. Thanks for chipping in.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Nov 19, 2020 18:38:21 GMT -5
Best smalls ever is pea garnet from India. Perfect size, naturally abrasive, and they polish beautifully, producing a useful end product. Drawbacks are it’s not the easiest to find, nor the cheapest, and it takes a lot of work nipping the cracked bits out so it doesn’t hurt your polish. I’d buy a hundred pounds tomorrow if I could, love the stuff.
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Post by Bob on Nov 22, 2020 0:29:39 GMT -5
It's cheap on eBay. I buy about 100 lbs at a time. I like the quartz gravel around .5" best.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Nov 22, 2020 9:00:20 GMT -5
Big rocks + big hammer = small chips.
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Post by uwharrierhyolite on Nov 22, 2020 16:06:22 GMT -5
Learn flint knapping , you’ll save a lot of material and get whatever size your desire
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 23, 2020 9:23:21 GMT -5
NevadaBill - I hadn't run across this thread before and I know it was written awhile ago, but I have to say, your original post in this thread is one of the funniest things I've read in awhile! It had me in stitches! LOL
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Post by manofglass on Nov 23, 2020 9:53:46 GMT -5
Family farm and home stores Is where I buy pea gravel 3 bags will last a couple years
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 23, 2020 10:34:50 GMT -5
I just head to our local river...Lots of smalls there...
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Post by Starguy on Nov 23, 2020 11:09:37 GMT -5
a) I think a lot of us have smashed up big rocks. You can introduce a lot of cracks to your rocks by this method. I also have a chip of agate stuck in my ring finger. It flew through the glove and stuck near the bone. The doctor said to leave it if it isn’t bothering me.
b) Buying smalls is a great way. If you buy in bulk, (25 lbs or more) you can usually get a significant discount over the per pound price. By smalls, I usually look for 50+ pieces per pound.
I just ordered 25 pounds of small Lake Superior agates from Kingsley North. This will be my second box. I have found them to be good quality with very few quartzies.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Nov 24, 2020 13:33:22 GMT -5
Good day, Odd, my 10 lbs of mixed ceramic media just arrived yesterday. Untimely for me in that I just spent over 50 bucks on the stuff this week and today I see a bunch of other great suggestions in the more recent replies to this old thread above. I threw out the softer pea gravel a while ago and discount common river rock as being too soft. As aDave mentioned in his wise post above, typical pea gravels and common river gravels would not be hard enough to stand up to the Jasper and Agates I'd usually be tumbling. I am not lucky and do not believe I have a river bed anywhere near me with tons of jasper/agate smalls in them that I can scoop up.
Maybe the next trip to Lavic, I can just bring extra buckets and scoop up as much junk Jasper as I can, and just use that. There are mountains of ugly useless brown Jasper over there. Hmm.
I really like Bob idea to puchase bulk quartz small from Ebay. Bob, is it possible that you could send me a PM with a link in it?
While I like mixed ceramics in the last two stages of pre-polish and polish, I do not like dumping expensive ceramics in to the 6/12 gallon barrels along with Stage 1 candidates. But that is exactly what I find myself doing today. I just don't feel like spending 3-4 hours in the cold smashing rocks with a sledgehammer this week. I should have, but I am feeling pretty lazy, and my main goal is to just keep these tumblers rolling right now.
3 weeks in, 100% of my tumbling is still Stage 1 currently.
Thanks all for chiming in with suggestions! I missed these recent replies, and wish that I hadn't now.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Nov 24, 2020 13:53:03 GMT -5
If anybody is looking for smalls on ebay I use agate rough lbs in the search box. Also check US only in item location.
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