suz4catz
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2019
Posts: 1
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Post by suz4catz on Jul 23, 2019 14:58:54 GMT -5
Hi, my Name is Susan and I make sea glass jewelry and use shells and semiprcious gems in my work. I use a lot of Wampum (quahog pieces) and want to polish them for a nicer look rather than just ocean tumbled. So am looking for help here. I do silver work so am used to rotating tumbler with buckshot. That's all the tumbling I have done. Any help is appreciated! Thank you in advance.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Jul 23, 2019 16:22:23 GMT -5
Welcome from southern Arizona.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 23, 2019 22:15:15 GMT -5
Hi Susan and welcome from Northern Arizona!
I don't tumble, so I'm no help in that regard, but I'm sure some of our experts will chime in and help you out.
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mgrets
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2011
Posts: 321
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Post by mgrets on Jul 24, 2019 14:28:59 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Ohio/SW Florida! The tumblers will chime in soon...
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Post by taylor on Jul 24, 2019 18:02:40 GMT -5
Welcome! I've never tumbled shells, but I have cabbed a little bit of abalone shell. It is waaay softer than most stone and glass. Depending on how much material you want to remove, I wouldn't run any of the coarser grits like 80 or 220. Perhaps start with 400 or 600? Of course, shells are organic and may outgas. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in. If they don't, then experiment and educate us!
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Post by Rockindad on Jul 24, 2019 19:23:50 GMT -5
Welcome from NY. I have not tumbled any shells yet, a good part of my upcoming vacation will be spent on the beach so we'll see what we can find. Use the search function and you will get some hits on Quahog.
Al
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,647
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Post by Tommy on Jul 27, 2019 11:53:42 GMT -5
Welcome suz4catz! We'd love to see some of your work.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,676
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 7, 2019 9:51:37 GMT -5
Welcome from Oregon, I tumble shells and glass, just don't use the rougher grit and check on them often.... Its worth the effort!
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