geoconnie
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2022
Posts: 3
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Post by geoconnie on Aug 10, 2022 17:31:39 GMT -5
I am a new member to this site. I am a retired Geologist who just moved to the coast. I have tumbled many rocks in my years of work, however, I am hoping that someone can give me the process/steps/grit needed to polish quahog shells. I lost quite a bit of fluorite the last time I experimented! Would rather not destroy my raw material! Thanks for any tips.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 10, 2022 18:48:58 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona! I don't tumble so I can't help you out, but our tumbling experts will be around to give you their advice soon.
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Post by vegasjames on Aug 10, 2022 19:12:00 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
Never put shells in the tumbler, but being as soft as they are I would think you would not use any grit. I have put soft stones in the tumbler such as selenite and I just let them tumble with themselves and they smooth over in a couple of days. Size of the barrel can alter time as larger barrels are faster than small barrels.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Aug 10, 2022 19:21:08 GMT -5
Welcome from Long Island. I can throw some clam shells in my vib tomorrow. It’s on 220 stage. I don’t think I’d want to put them in a rough tumble, sooo soft . I’ll grab a few shells and see what happens.
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 766
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Post by lordsorril on Aug 10, 2022 20:14:05 GMT -5
I messed around with shells from my area a little bit (New England), rotary to clean-no grit-just residual sand in the barrel, and then dry polish vibed them in an effort not to shatter. The clam shells I find in my area become too thin before they smooth out the growth rings. Clam Shells Cleaning - RotaryClam Shells Dry Polish - VibeI think the type of shell you have is going to make/break your efforts. Some people have good luck hand-polishing shells from other parts of the United States.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Aug 11, 2022 12:48:08 GMT -5
I had good luck tumbling shells in a 3 pound tumbler. Only tried once but was happy with the results. Filled it up about halfway with only shells. Started the process with 120/220 grit and ran it the same way as I would run rocks but only 4 or 5 days per Stage.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,539
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Post by rockbrain on Aug 12, 2022 14:46:26 GMT -5
I copied this from an earlier post. If you search for polishing wampum you'll get more hits.
larrywyland3 Guest
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Jun 9, 2008 at 4:00am QuotelikePost OptionsPost by larrywyland3 on Jun 9, 2008 at 4:00am I do cohog shells aka wampum. The cohog is real hard; almost jasper like. The 60/90 really works them down fast, so I usually do them in the 500 for about 4 or 5 days. Then the AO for a week. The AO is at 50,000 thousand so I am not to worried that work them down. Cohog is probably on of the hardest thickes shells. So I think your wise to be checking the tumbler regularly. Let us know how long you keep them in polish. If I had 1000 grit I might try going 500,1000 then polish. I'll have to keep that in mind when I buy more grits.
If you do any grinding or hand polishing keep in mind that a lot of shell dust is highly toxic. Wear a good respirator.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Aug 13, 2022 5:11:43 GMT -5
Not for nothing, hard shell slams are not jasper hard, they are clam shells. Not sure what or where the guy in the article gets his clams, but I’ve never seen or heard of any like that.
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Post by Peruano on Aug 13, 2022 6:28:55 GMT -5
Not all shells are soft, but most are. I don't know about cohog shells. I have tumbled (vibed only) fragments of large conchs or whelks successfully. They generate a slurry quickly and need to be monitored to insure that the slurry does not thicken up to inhibit movement. Zam works really well in accomplishing a quick final polish. A hasty search found this photo.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Aug 13, 2022 7:59:50 GMT -5
Quahog is a colloquial name for hard clams. It’s got a thick shell , but it’s kinda soft.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Aug 16, 2022 6:22:28 GMT -5
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