jlcochran42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2020
Posts: 29
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Post by jlcochran42 on Jan 9, 2021 0:06:47 GMT -5
I have these emeralds that I want to smooth out, but I don't know how to tumble these. Any suggestions? I'm afraid if I tumble them I will lose a majority of the gem.
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Post by stephan on Jan 9, 2021 0:17:04 GMT -5
Welcome from NorCal. I’m not a tumbler, so I can’t help you there, but my instinct says they are pretty small. If it’s possible, Stone here will have the answer, though.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 9, 2021 1:18:28 GMT -5
Just some thoughts. The stones appear to have excellent color and emeralds are known to generally be rather heavily included. They're usually something of a challenge to facet without the danger of breaking them due to fractures/inclusions. I think that unless they're unusually fracture-free tumbling might break small emeralds into tiny emeralds, not to mention the normal rounding that results in loss of weight in tumbling.
Lots of jewelry these days features rough gemstones. Many people like them set that way, especially the "crystal" people. I don't know what you plan to do with the tumbled stones but I think you might check out other options first. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
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Post by lordsorril on Jan 9, 2021 5:50:53 GMT -5
I've tumbled a lot of rough emeralds--I 100% agree with gemfeller.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 9, 2021 9:20:49 GMT -5
I have no experience...just a wondering mind. Wouldn't it kind of depend on whether it's in a rotary or vibratory...or whether wet or dry tumble process is used?
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Post by rmf on Jan 9, 2021 10:08:50 GMT -5
Although I agree with those above. If I were to tumble them I would use a small vib tumbler like the Mini-sonic tumbler. I would start with pea gravel and 220 grit to minimize grinding loss and breakage. Polish with Al2O3.
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
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Post by stewdogg on Jan 9, 2021 12:57:41 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 9, 2021 13:23:11 GMT -5
That just dawned on me and I was just coming back into the thread to post the same thing about Jugglerguy! LOL
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Post by greig on Jan 9, 2021 14:12:04 GMT -5
Just my two cents. Emerald is 7.5 - 8 Mohs. Maybe put a couple into a tumbler with agate (Mohs 7) and see what happens, rather than sacrifice your who stash?
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jlcochran42
starting to shine!
Member since July 2020
Posts: 29
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Post by jlcochran42 on Jan 9, 2021 22:07:25 GMT -5
Thanks for all your responses. I wonder how much loss there would be if I was to run them in a rotary tumbler for a few days with a less coarse grit (220 grit) as was suggested. Then move them to a vibratory with a softer media. I like the idea of using pet bedding as media.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 10, 2021 12:28:18 GMT -5
I have no experience with emeralds, so I can’t really help out here.
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