lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Apr 22, 2021 22:38:34 GMT -5
A few pieces from a recent tumble. Found in a pile of crushed rock at work
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 23, 2021 9:06:17 GMT -5
Not trying to be hypercritical, but it looks to me like they have more of a matte finish rather than a high gloss finish...maybe it's just the pictures. I really like the tones in that rock which is top left in the second pic.
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Apr 23, 2021 9:38:47 GMT -5
Not trying to be hypercritical, but it looks to me like they have more of a matte finish rather than a high gloss finish...maybe it's just the pictures. I really like the tones in that rock which is top left in the second pic. They do look better in person but they aren't as polished as I would like. I am using a 4 step grit set from Amazon. 2 weeks each step then 1 day with ivory soap.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,506
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Post by Brian on Apr 23, 2021 10:09:58 GMT -5
That’s some beautiful stuff to be found in crushed rock!
To bring out the shine—and at least some of those rocks should shine up very nicely—a true polish can be used. I’ve only used the Rock Shed’s polish and have zero complaints.
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pizzano
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Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Apr 23, 2021 10:12:57 GMT -5
A little more refinement on the HM lap with a 120 disc and a little more time spent in a pre-polish & polish tumble will most likely turn that sheen into a glass finish.........good start anyway...!
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Apr 23, 2021 12:04:15 GMT -5
This is what I've been using
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Apr 23, 2021 13:00:33 GMT -5
That’s some beautiful stuff to be found in crushed rock! To bring out the shine—and at least some of those rocks should shine up very nicely—a true polish can be used. I’ve only used the Rock Shed’s polish and have zero complaints. We have good gravel in montana. I pick up a couple pockets full a week and scatter it in the alley behind my house for my daughter to find them we run them through the tumbler
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,506
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Post by Brian on Apr 23, 2021 13:16:24 GMT -5
That’s some beautiful stuff to be found in crushed rock! To bring out the shine—and at least some of those rocks should shine up very nicely—a true polish can be used. I’ve only used the Rock Shed’s polish and have zero complaints. We have good gravel in montana. I pick up a couple pockets full a week and scatter it in the alley behind my house for my daughter to find them we run them through the tumbler That’s awesome both for the great gravel and for scattering it for your daughter to find! I love that idea! I may have to sneak a few interesting rocks in the little patches we have around our house and see if the kids notice. Montana agates are one of my favorite rocks. I love how transparent some of them are and the patterns can vary so much. I believe I also spot some nice petrified wood in that batch, too, which is probably my all-time favorite.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,506
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Post by Brian on Apr 23, 2021 13:31:28 GMT -5
This is what I've been using I looked that up on Amazon, and the polish in that set is what most folks here would consider a pre-polish. One of the answers to a questions states: The labels state that stages 1 to 3 are silicon carbide and stage 4 is aluminum oxide. (Based on the pictures, the stage 4 is black, which would make me guess another SiC grit, but it is possible to get black aluminum oxide.) All of the grits I use come from the Rock Shed and I use 60/90 SiC for stage 1, 120/220 SiC for stage 2, 500 AlOx for stage 3, 1000 AlOx as a pre-polish or stage 4, and Rock Shed’s AlOx polish, which had been reported as 14,000 grit by members here. Silicon carbide is a good cutting grit, but not as good for polishing as aluminum oxide, because silicon carbide fractures to form new sharp edges and the aluminum oxide rounds as it tumbles. That is why the early stages are generally SiC and AlOx is used for later stages, including polish. If you use a finer grade polish, those stones will look like like glass. My 6-year old knows the rocks are ready when he can’t tell if they are wet or not.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 23, 2021 15:54:16 GMT -5
Your off to a great start! You have some very good rock there (a bit fractured, but crushed gravel is well... crushed lol) Love The idea of letting your daughter "find" them. Longer in course run will help a lot with the overall shape and removing some of the fractured areas. I run my course grit (60/90) for 2 weeks, then recharge and go for another 2 weeks, then recharge... well you get the idea. Once the rocks are done (what ever your happy with)they move to medium (2 weeks0 fine (2 weeks) pre polish (I do 3 weeks but 2 should be good)and polish (same as pre polish). Then a 24 hr burnish and Binga Banga. Patience in course is the key!
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Post by stephan on Apr 24, 2021 9:28:52 GMT -5
That’s some beautiful stuff to be found in crushed rock! To bring out the shine—and at least some of those rocks should shine up very nicely—a true polish can be used. I’ve only used the Rock Shed’s polish and have zero complaints. We have good gravel in montana. I pick up a couple pockets full a week and scatter it in the alley behind my house for my daughter to find them we run them through the tumbler I’ll say... I thought that looked like Montana agate....
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Sept 21, 2021 23:49:11 GMT -5
Fresh from the tumbler. I'm not sure what it's called but it's pretty common in scoria or however it's spelled. I've seen arrowheads made from it. Rough on the right A little closer. And the finished product.
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Dec 8, 2021 23:02:27 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 8, 2021 23:15:10 GMT -5
You got some great looking pieces out of that tumble! Way to go Lunk!
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brybry
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Post by brybry on Dec 9, 2021 3:18:08 GMT -5
Your gravel is wayyy better than our gravel! I like the banded ones. Very pretty.
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Post by Starguy on Dec 9, 2021 3:24:59 GMT -5
Holy cow lunker. I wish some of those fell in my lap. I live in North Idaho. We should go hounding the Yellowstone. I was told to walk in the river with a broom. When you see white agates, grab ‘em. jasoninsd might be interested too. I don’t know good access points.
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Post by Starguy on Dec 9, 2021 3:33:24 GMT -5
I worked in Camp Crook SD and Ekalaka Mt in 1988. I found some nice agates. I always wanted to look for some Yellowstone River agates.
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Post by Starguy on Dec 9, 2021 3:35:45 GMT -5
Nice
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 425
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Post by lunker on Dec 9, 2021 6:44:51 GMT -5
Holy cow lunker. I wish some of those fell in my lap. I live in North Idaho. We should go hounding the Yellowstone. I was told to walk in the river with a broom. When you see white agates, grab ‘em. jasoninsd might be interested too. I don’t know good access points. I'm in
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Post by knave on Dec 9, 2021 8:45:59 GMT -5
Beauties!!!
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