Post by reeniebeany on Jan 24, 2020 20:52:25 GMT -5
So most of the beginning instructions are for processing one batch of rocks through all 4 stages.
Since I am using the teensy NSI that was a gift, it doesn't hold very many rocks.
Rather than clean and change out the grit after one batch, I ran a batch, took them out, put in a fresh batch with more grit and topped up the water.
When that batch was done, I repeated with a third batch, topping up grit.
I ran each batch for a week.
I resorted my little piles and just started stage two with my first load and plan to repeat the process with 3 batches before moving to grit stage 3.
Is there any reason NOT to do it this way?
All three bunches seem to have similar levels of finish.
Not really apples to apples because I tried to sort them by rock similarity.
I don't really care if they are rounded, I just want them to look as cool dry as they do wet.
(Yeah, I used to paint rocks with clear fingernail polish, this should be better.)
Which brings me to the related question - is there any way to polish the sparkly faceted ones for the same wet look?
They look great wet, but clouded and dull when dry. They are irregular crystalline, some geode like, so I am pretty sure I don't want to tumble them in a rotary.
Which brings me to my third question.
I have some rocks that are already dang smooth, they are just not shiny when they are dry.
Do they need the coarse grit stage?
Mother nature seems to have done that first stage already.
This kind are mostly river rock types.
Man! it is exciting to see them even after the first grit stage.
Some of them are way cooler than I expected them to be.
Reeniebeany
Since I am using the teensy NSI that was a gift, it doesn't hold very many rocks.
Rather than clean and change out the grit after one batch, I ran a batch, took them out, put in a fresh batch with more grit and topped up the water.
When that batch was done, I repeated with a third batch, topping up grit.
I ran each batch for a week.
I resorted my little piles and just started stage two with my first load and plan to repeat the process with 3 batches before moving to grit stage 3.
Is there any reason NOT to do it this way?
All three bunches seem to have similar levels of finish.
Not really apples to apples because I tried to sort them by rock similarity.
I don't really care if they are rounded, I just want them to look as cool dry as they do wet.
(Yeah, I used to paint rocks with clear fingernail polish, this should be better.)
Which brings me to the related question - is there any way to polish the sparkly faceted ones for the same wet look?
They look great wet, but clouded and dull when dry. They are irregular crystalline, some geode like, so I am pretty sure I don't want to tumble them in a rotary.
Which brings me to my third question.
I have some rocks that are already dang smooth, they are just not shiny when they are dry.
Do they need the coarse grit stage?
Mother nature seems to have done that first stage already.
This kind are mostly river rock types.
Man! it is exciting to see them even after the first grit stage.
Some of them are way cooler than I expected them to be.
Reeniebeany