georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 26, 2017 11:30:46 GMT -5
Wait. I think I got some of that same degraded aquamarine. What was the actual step that got them polished? Mine are well rounded but the polish is just not getting there. I was about to throw them out. That's what this thread is about. Read back some and there are some good suggestions. I haven't revisited tumbling these yet cuz all of my tumblers are full.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:17:42 GMT -5
I know it, this is my 2nd batch of obsidian, I tried the first one a few time, and learned that ceramics are a huuuuge must! I lost over half of the first batch, but have some beautiful pieces that I was able to add to the 2nd.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:14:01 GMT -5
I laughed out loud at the garage floor story. My wife was trying to sleep. She was annoyed. Until I read the story to her. 😂😂😂
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:09:45 GMT -5
Keep us updated Georgeb138. I am interested in the results of your Aquamarine rotary tumble when it comes out of the final burnish. I actually think they will polish better in a regular tumbler that has plenty of small ceramic cushioning. The vibratory tumblers seem to be a little harsh on heavily fractured stones. (... a much debated issue follows... You make your own decision... It will probably be a good one) I use the same ceramics throughout the whole process. As long as you take the time to wash them in soapy water between grit changes. I put them in a Tupperware container (with a lid) and a squirt of Dawn. Then I shake-rattle-n-roll them until clean... seems to be no problem with that. If you are doing a burnish run before AND after the pre-polish stage... that should clean the ceramics just fine - just make sure you wash it off well with fresh clean water. The larger ceramics are good for making up lost volume (after the 80 grit chews away at the rocks for a week or three), while the small ceramics are really good at cushioning. Vibratory tumblers get sort of choked-up when to many small ceramics are used (especially the new 2mm ceramic beads! However, the 2mm ceramics will work very well in a rotary tumbler). I have been using small ceramic that I have purchased, but recently I have been using "home made" ceramic. My family and friends are saving all of their broken ceramic dish ware. I break it up by putting it into a 5 gallon bucket with a hammer and other heavy metal 🤘🏻objects then I shake the crap out of it. Then I tumble with some rough grit, and sort the small from the large pieces. Really good results on some apache tears and mahogany obsidian so far. First polish week ends Friday. Pretty excited to see how it goes on those as well.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 17:28:42 GMT -5
Always impressed with the responses in this group. Lots of knowledge being shared freely. I very much appreciate all of your input. I dont have a vibratory tumbler. I am going to add a bunch of ceramic, burnish for 12 hours, prepolish for a week or better, burnish again, add clean ceramic and a week or 2 of polish. We will see what happens.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 20, 2017 15:56:23 GMT -5
I think I can see a couple with broken edges, hook those out before running them again. Aquamarine will scratch Aquamarine. Some of the smaller ones do have some sharper edges. Thanks for the tip.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 19, 2017 17:18:57 GMT -5
Isn't Aquamarine a clear blue mineral... Not to pry... Guess I could specify, this was sold to me as green aquamarine. It does have some clear qualities to it. This obviously isn't gem quality, probably why I got such a good deal on it. it looked more like this when it was rough. Hardness level is right on. 7.5 or better.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 19, 2017 17:14:20 GMT -5
Isn't Aquamarine a clear blue mineral... Not to pry... Guess I could specify, this was sold to me as green aquamarine. It does have some clear qualities to it. This obviously isn't gem quality, probably why I got such a good deal on it. it looked more like this when it was rough.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 19, 2017 16:51:04 GMT -5
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 19, 2017 16:44:46 GMT -5
At the time I was burnishing with soap for a few hours, I have moved to a minimum 12 hours of borax between stages. Could that be the whole problem? How would you proceed? These have been sitting for a month or so.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 19, 2017 16:36:52 GMT -5
Any advice would be appreciated, I have tumbled this over and over and only get a light luster. I was thinking maybe I just didn't have enough ceramic media, but I figured I would ask before I waste more valuable tumbler time. My wife is about ready to hand polish them. They are very smooth to the touch.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 11, 2017 18:41:22 GMT -5
Or tumbling the wrong kind of ceramic Did a nice job of eating the barrel Walt Please elaborate on this too! I have been breaking up ceramic dish ware recently. Plates, bowls and coffee cups. I tumbler them by themselves for a day or 2 to round the edges before adding them to my stones. Am I in danger of tearing up my barrels when I do this?
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 11, 2017 18:30:09 GMT -5
Please elaborate. I have ruined stones that are "too soft". But the tumbler would only be ruined by ignoring maintenance, overloading or over tightening the belt on the pulleys as far as I know.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 8, 2017 16:43:11 GMT -5
Excellent
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 24, 2017 16:55:20 GMT -5
Thanks everybody! Much appreciated! Thank you George for presenting it. Was very interesting and we lesser members got a bit more knowledge from a couple of our sage members. So what you going to do? return it or roll it? If it were mine, I would tumble it like gemfeller suggested. I'm Curious George.. grin..
Probably going to tumble the rougher stuff and try to clean the rough off of the stuff that looks gem quality and see about selling it. I don't have a Lap setup(yet) or I would try cutting a gem.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 23, 2017 23:04:35 GMT -5
Thanks everybody! Much appreciated!
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 22, 2017 22:38:38 GMT -5
oolite not your Iolite George. I was thinking that too and that's why I said would tear it up, probably crumble the oolite but wouldn't faze your Iolite. I was assuming the oolite was a mis-type, lol.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 22, 2017 22:09:14 GMT -5
Iolite is a 7-7.5 on mohs from what I've seen. I would think the iolite would tear up the jasper etc.. Then I wonder why warning not to mix them, That hard then nothing would be torn up, Just reread the post..oolite was what he was referring to !!
I think what he is saying is that agates Jasper's and pet wood are all softer and the iolite would damage them. They shouldn't be able harm the iolite because it is harder than the others. I'm not an expert(obviously) but that's what makes sense to me in that situation.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 22, 2017 21:57:26 GMT -5
I have tumbled Oolite,it turned out great! Don't tumble it with agate,jasper and (or) petwood though... Why Mike Does the harder rocks chew it up?
Iolite is a 7-7.5 on mohs from what I've seen. I would think the iolite would tear up the jasper etc..
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Jul 21, 2017 23:51:28 GMT -5
Got some Iolite by mistake(eBay, go figure) considering keeping it, but want to know what I would be getting into before contacting the seller. Does anyone have any advice on tumbling Iolite? I know some minerals can be tricky(learning that with some mahogany obsidian currently) anything I should be aware of with the Iolite? All input is very much appreciated.
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