lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jul 17, 2019 19:31:32 GMT -5
Hello! I just purchased a fairly large amount (for me) of various jaspers. I must have mis-interpreted what I was getting myself into as I received large pieces of stone- from softball sized all the way to double that size. I don't have a saw and only have a few lortone 33b's Any help is appreciiated!
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jul 17, 2019 19:42:44 GMT -5
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Post by aDave on Jul 17, 2019 20:16:57 GMT -5
Without a saw, you may be relegated to either using a sledge or possibly a mallet and chisel. I know Drummond Island Rocks does alot of hammering to break his stuff down. I've tagged him, so maybe he'll jump in.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jul 17, 2019 21:36:14 GMT -5
I may as well add this to the convo in case this the direction I end up taking-
What’s a good small tile saw that’s easy to use?
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Post by taylor on Jul 17, 2019 21:47:12 GMT -5
We used a hammer and chisel with decent results for a long time. It takes some practice to learn where to strike the rocks so it doesn't take too much muscle.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Jul 17, 2019 21:53:13 GMT -5
We used a hammer and chisel with decent results for a long time. It takes some practice to learn where to strike the rocks so it doesn't take too much muscle. This doesn’t create fractures or issues once they start tumbling?
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Post by taylor on Jul 17, 2019 22:29:02 GMT -5
It can if you just blindly pound on the rock. If you look for fractures already in the stone, then you use the chisel to break along existing fractures, then it doesn't. In your second picture the chunk on the left side second from the top. If you tap that piece in the notch between the blue and the brown it is likely to separate right down the color line. Pieces will be solid, but if you wanted to have both colors on one finished piece you are out of luck.
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Post by manofglass on Jul 18, 2019 9:24:06 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Jul 18, 2019 9:54:19 GMT -5
Invest in a saw : )
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doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
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Post by doublet83 on Jul 18, 2019 12:55:12 GMT -5
Nice looking polychrome jasper. I've purchased that material in similar sizes as yours, and I find it tends to be rather fracture free. That's a good thing but it will make it hard to break down with a hammer. And you are right, it will create fractures that will show up after tumbling. There's not really an easy solution to tumbling those. A saw is a lot of work even if you had one, and the shapes it creates don't look very organic.
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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 Jul 19, 2019 7:33:18 GMT -5
Lance Mountain -
If I were you I would ask around and see if anyone in your local rock club has a good size rock saw. Tell him you will go in half on the cost of his next saw blade if he will cut these up for you.
You could also use a 3 lb. hammer and good wedge to split them setting them on top of a steel rod sitting on a strong base like an anvil. The rod under the rock will help direct the force of the hammer blow downward through the rock so you will get a better chance of a split rock, not a shattered one. Again, a lot depends on the type of rock being split. I found this tip in the Modern Rock Tumbling book and it seems to work reasonably well. Wear long sleeves, work gloves, safety glasses, work boots, etc. to keep from getting hit and cut by flying rock shards.
A good tip if splitting rock is to take a large plastic bowel, cut a round hole in the bottom of it, turn it over, put the rock under the bowel, put the wedge thru the hole which is now in the top of the bowel, and when you hit the rock with the wedge it will fracture and the broken pieces will be contained under the large bowel instead of flying out to who knows where. Good luck. Let us know how you make up. I wish you were my next door neighbor. We could have a smashing good time getting some great tumbled rocks! It looks like you have some potential beauties in your piles.
P.S. I like your bird house picture.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 19, 2019 11:59:41 GMT -5
Heck I would tumble a few of those, just the way they are! Put them in a gunny sack and drop them onto a cement floor, they will break!
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Jul 19, 2019 13:21:32 GMT -5
Whatever you do don't do this... I posted this last October... "Well I'll hijack further with this story. Two years ago shortly after I started tumbling I had a brainwave...I can use my 5 inch bench vice to break rocks and fitted one vice jaw with a chisel edge...it worked Ok but when the rock broke pieces flew all over the basement so I used a cardboard box to contain the shrapnel and save the light bulbs. Turning the vice and waiting for the mini explosion was part nerve wracking and part anticipation waiting to lift the box and examine rock parts. It worked OK but bigger and bigger rocks needed more clamping pressure and a 2 foot extension on the vice handle did the job and worked good until the final rock that exploded with not the usual sound. I lifted the box to see the rock still in one piece and the vice in 2 pieces! End of experiment! The vice had a lifetime warranty so when I took it back they told me they'd never seen one break in half...I didn't tell them how it broke (I was too embarassed) and they never asked but I got it replaced. The new vice has yet to feel a rock in it's jaws... 100% true story "
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Post by MsAli on Jul 19, 2019 13:24:20 GMT -5
Whatever you do don't do this... I posted this last October... Well I'll hijack further with this story. Two years ago shortly after I started tumbling I had a brainwave...I can use my 5 inch bench vice to break rocks and fitted one vice jaw with a chisel edge...it worked Ok but when the rock broke pieces flew all over the basement so I used a cardboard box to contain the shrapnel and save the light bulbs. Turning the vice and waiting for the mini explosion was part nerve wracking and part anticipation waiting to lift the box and examine rock parts. It worked OK but bigger and bigger rocks needed more clamping pressure and a 2 foot extension on the vice handle did the job and worked good until the final rock that exploded with not the usual sound. I lifted the box to see the rock still in one piece and the vice in 2 pieces! End of experiment! The vice had a lifetime warranty so when I took it back they told me they'd never seen one break in half...I didn't tell them how it broke (I was too embarassed) and they never asked but I got it replaced. The new vice has yet to feel a rock in it's jaws... 100% true story still cracks me up!
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Post by rmf on Jul 19, 2019 14:59:37 GMT -5
lancemountain Really nice pile of jaspers. It would be a shame to just crack them up. I am a cabber from way back I only got into tumbling as a last resort(Gratification is way too slow). I hate to see cab quality rough just cracked up. Yet I have done it. As has previously been stated, sawing will help you bring out some nice patterns. It also creates a problem, flat spots. They are harder to get a good polish on in a rotary not impossible just not as easy. Cracking is easiest with a rock crusher. If you line near Chattanooga TN then I can help you with that. If not I have found the next best thing is a 3# or 4# crack hammer and a piece of railroad track laid on its side. Use a face shield, leather gloves, and a long sleeve shirt. For the rocks I see above don't mess with a chisel unless you see a crack. They are hard and the hammer will do a better job.
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