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Post by HankRocks on Dec 26, 2020 18:55:12 GMT -5
I suppose you could say it was "pretty good"!! As long as "pretty good" is the same as outstanding then yes.
Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 26, 2020 13:31:04 GMT -5
and if if I ever pass this way again... Dylan The title "Genius" is thrown out all to frequently these days, in the case of Bob Dylan that title is most appropriate!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 26, 2020 7:30:54 GMT -5
Oh, holy Moses, I almost missed it! Happy 72nd Merry Clayton. This song would not be the same without her: She should have officially become a member of the Stones And... this is my anthem for 2020... Gimme Shelter (In Place). 😷This song has one of the best listener comments in YouTube; "I don't listen to this song often
But when I do
So do my neighbors"
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 24, 2020 17:10:24 GMT -5
I suppose the soap may have sudsed up and somehow minimized grinding? that does not seem logical but it could be. Never added soap or Borax to a SiC run so no first hand experience. Or maybe in a soaped run, the grit does not suspend as well due to the decreased surface tension?
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 24, 2020 16:56:45 GMT -5
I suppose the soap may have sudsed up and somehow minimized grinding? that does not seem logical but it could be. Never added soap or Borax to a SiC run so no first hand experience.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 24, 2020 16:02:20 GMT -5
It seems you have answered your own question. I try and get the oil off of any cut rocks before tumbling. A few drops here and there are probably not an issue.
Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 21, 2020 15:21:26 GMT -5
Thanks All! Well After Running A Batch in the tumbler I polished them and yes they were Matt. I then went to MR. Cab King and made a couple Cabochons and they were Matt also. so I am currently doing this. It takes a month in the rotary to shape them I use 30 grit for my 1st stage usually 4-6 weeks then I went to 220G with borax for 5 days, Then 500G with borax for 6 days, The .3 micron polish w/ borax for 7 days if that don't do it Ill hafta make a sacrifice to the rock GOD'S. Over the summer I have tried Cerium Oxide, French Cerium Oxide, Chrome Oxide, Tin Oxide, Aluminum Oxide, IN THE FINAL POLISH STAGE...... Ive thrown about everything at it there is except WITCH HAZEL Ive even contacted MERLIN and the Great And Powerful Ozz and Ive run out of options. Ill post my results in a few diays after the 7 days in the .3 micron polish Thanks ~Duke I don't see any Paprika or Curry Powder in the cabinet!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 20, 2020 19:41:28 GMT -5
Awesome. That is a whole bunch of slabs. I am surprised all the flats polished so good with that many in there. I know in the vibe it is a pain to get it right so they do not just suck up against each other. Chuck I think extra time in pre-polish(10 days in rotary) probably helped. It would seem that they are a bit less likely to stick together in the Rotary(maybe?). Every time I opened the Vib there were slabs stuck together, one group had 4. A good friend of mine said that there is some polishing going on with slabs stuck together, the micro polish particles are still working. Whatever the case I am very pleased with the results. Another factor, by weight the slabs never make up more than 50% of the load, even less in polish as I add about 3 pounds of previously polished smalls to make up the difference between the 15 pound Rotary and the 18 pound Vibe. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 20, 2020 19:24:04 GMT -5
Stairway To Gilligan's Island Someone is turning over in their grave, just sure who!!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 20, 2020 11:07:52 GMT -5
Those came out beautiful Hank. I really like the colors with the druzy centers. I'm always afraid to tumble slabs. I always think they're going to chip or crack in half. I really like the black skin agate. I managed to get a hold of quite a bit of this material from the local shop back during the summer. I've been slowly using warm days to cut it on the tile saw. I have a few pieces tumbling right now. Can't wait to see them For the Thumler's Model B, I usually put 40 to 50 slabs in the 2.5" to 4" range. I will lose about 2 maybe 3 that break. They go into the Pendant/shape cutting pile. Sometimes I run 5 or 6 slabs with preforms. I always use smalls such as pre-form trimmings, etc. I think the cushioning helps. An old rockhound sold me some polished thin slabs, less than 1/16" that were in the 4 to 5 inch range. He did lose a few but they came out great. They are almost too thin to use. He didn't tell me how he managed to tumble them. Before tumbling any slabs I usually touch grind the corner edges on both sides and remove any nibs left from cutting. A lot of the BlackSkin agate has a resemblance to Montana in the pattern and color.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 20, 2020 9:33:13 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous Hank! What're your plans for these? I just made a light box a few weeks ago. I just have to figure out the lighting I should be using with it. I'm pretty sure I don't have the right lights just yet, but I do love it! No definite plans yet. Maybe a few for Night-Lights, maybe a framed display of 3 or 4 of the same rock. It would be nice it the framed display was an LED Lightbox to show off the pattern. That or sell some of the larger ones as is with a nice little stand.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 19, 2020 21:06:49 GMT -5
Just pulled these out of Polish this morning and a 9 hour soap run today. About 50 slabs in the batch with about 7 or 8 pounds of mostly pea gravel size rocks and a few scraps. Brazilian Agate - largest is about 4 inches in length IMG_2329 by Findrocks, on Flickr More Brazilian - largest is about 4 inches length and width. IMG_2330 by Findrocks, on Flickr Blackskin Agate - When I cut the first slab from this agate several months ago it struck me as a nice landscape scene, "storm over the darkened hills". Large piece is 6 inches by 1.5 inches. This is one I did not want to cut up for pendants. There are 6 or 7 more slabs to polish. IMG_2333 by Findrocks, on Flickr Have been watching my wife with one of her crafts using a light box, took about 6 months for the light to go in my head that it could be used to photograph slabs!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 19, 2020 18:47:29 GMT -5
Drummond Island Rocks Are 3 and 4 two sides of the same rock? or 2 different. and what are they? There's a lot going on as it appears it could not figure out what it wanted to be!! I have a load of slabs in soap right now, hope to get some pictures posted in a day or two. Henry Good catch. 3&4 are the same rock. Mexican crazy lace. Pretty darn amazing rock. That is a rare one in that the pictures are more impressive then in person. Usually it is opposite but the camera picked up details I did not know were there. One rock makes it an even more impressive piece, so much going on. I particularly like the red "Super-Nova" or "spider web" on the one side.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 19, 2020 17:04:43 GMT -5
What a messy job, did sacrifice half a box of old rags and the shirt I was wearing to the task. Think I will have a beer(maybe two) to celebrate!!
My timing is off, it's going to take longer to gravity filter the old oily sludge with the garage temp at 50, would have been faster during the Summer months with the garage temp in the 90's. Hope to capture 6 to 7 gallons before it's finished.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 19, 2020 16:56:43 GMT -5
Drummond Island Rocks Are 3 and 4 two sides of the same rock? or 2 different. and what are they? There's a lot going on as it appears it could not figure out what it wanted to be!! I have a load of slabs in soap right now, hope to get some pictures posted in a day or two. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 16, 2020 15:52:39 GMT -5
They are all great, but you know my favorite. That Singleton Ranch Bouquet is off the chart!!
If I didn't know better I would think somebody is trying to motivate me to get some of my Singleton Ranch material slabbed. I suppose it's not going to cut itself!!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 14, 2020 21:29:59 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for all your kind comments! Some thoughts on the materials and cabs... The azurite in barite is sooooo soft, but it does have a bit of a polish on it. You can shape it easily with the 600 wheel and maybe even the 1200. The amethyst sage cab is very thin. I thought about making a doublet with it when I bought the slab a couple of years back, but decided to tackle it straight up. I guess it worked out. I do love that snowy scene. The Bot was almost a disappointment. It's only centered on the front. The red center veers off severely to the left on the back. I love to cab the Singleton ranch stuff, but every time I do I realize I'm reducing my own stash that will probably never be replaced. Sad situation. And the new stuff off the 06 Ranch is wonderful, but lacks some of the colorful displays of Singleton material. If the 06 stays open long enough for Covid to be gone, I'll be there, though. Plumes are still plumes. I should get some more cabs posted tonight or tomorrow. Craig I have not heard about the 06 Ranch, have you seen agate from there? Also waiting on Covid before venturing out too much. Have some larger flat nodules of Singleton material found on the last couple hours of the day I spent on what Teri called Telephone(telegraph?) hill. They show some promise. The slope off to the east of where we parked produced these larger nodules. Need to get them glued and cut. I think that after 3 years they should be just about be ready!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 14, 2020 14:05:45 GMT -5
Thanks! Those stones are finished, and I didn't expect more than a nice satin finish. I tend to collect a lot of things like that, lol. Those and my Vernon Wonderstone are some of my favorites. So soft and buttery! I've recently picked up a couple of vibratory tumblers, and am interested to see how they do in those. I also collect a lot of banded calcite that tumbles quite nicely, but again never achieves a super polish. But I just picked up some muriatic acid and am going to have fun giving that a go! Interesting Sue. I've not even heard of using Muriatic Acid for any sorts of polishing. I can't imagine how it would be used. I guess there is no end to learning. You are ahead of me in the tumbling hobby for sure. I wish you the best of luck using it! Thank you for mentioning. Muratic will put a waxy, semi-polish on calcite. Most of the big hunks of massive, non crystalline Calcite you see at Shows has been treated in Muratic, even thought some Vendors will deny it. WARNING!! Muratic and Calcite create really nasty toxic fumes, so be very careful while using it. Should be outdoors with a covered container, and be sure to be down-wind when opening container. Thick rubber gloves are also a good idea. Be careful!!
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 14, 2020 6:45:33 GMT -5
Nice batch.
Everytime I see a nice great piece of the Singleton Ranch material I get a sad feeling knowing that collecting is now closed there. I really need to get cutting on the material I brought back from there.
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Post by HankRocks on Dec 13, 2020 16:40:41 GMT -5
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