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Post by pebblesky on Sept 18, 2022 0:13:14 GMT -5
So far my lessons learned are:
1. No need to use ceramic pellets for stage 1. Small rocks are better fillers and have a chance to become beautiful small rocks.
2. Do not overload the barrel. For my 3lb barrel, I should leave at least 1 inch space at the top, otherwise there will not be enough free movements, and the rock will tumble slower. If the rotary tumbler becomes *too* quiet, it probably is not effectively tumbling.
3. Trash in trash out. Now I fully get it after running several weeks of stage 1. If a rock doesn't please me when wet, it probably won't be more of my interest after being tumbled. If a rock is too defected, it will eat the tumble time from many other nice rocks, given that I only have one small rotary tumbler to run. I still won't put my favorite rocks into my first batch, but those big and boring rocks should be removed from my barrel ASAP.
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 19:54:15 GMT -5
Here comes my happy Saturday again.  Still something old, something new in stage 1. |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 19:56:48 GMT -5
Some before and after Before: Sep 17 - 3 weeks of step 1  After: Sep 24 - 4 weeks of step 1. I also knocked corners of several rocks off since the corners show deep fracture. but the translucent banded rock at 5 o'clock broke into two parts by itself.  |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 20:35:13 GMT -5
Before (Sep 17 - after 2 weeks of step 1)  After (Sep 14 - after 3 weeks of step 1)  It's fun to see Bahia agates reveal their colorful internal structure, but I don't like deep holes. I will probably prepare some of them (maybe through dremel - not sure how tat would work) before I put them back to the tumblers. |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 20:44:20 GMT -5
Some close-ups: This Mexican lace agate has been in the tumbler since I started this thread:   The red areas tend to undercut, and the yellow areas are where fractures happen. I should dremel the yellow areas out from the beginning (if only I knew how to do it...) |
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 24, 2022 20:50:42 GMT -5
Lookin' good PS!  I liked your "lessons learned" post on the 17th!  |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 20:51:19 GMT -5
This agate tumbled fine. Maybe due to the crystal area being a bit brittle, the end shape is more like a rectangular prism instead of an oval. before tumble  3 weeks in step 1  |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 20:52:38 GMT -5
 There is a hole at the back that gets deeper and bigger though. Need to think about it. Maybe a cut through the hole (once I have access to that Lapidary shop)? |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 24, 2022 23:26:24 GMT -5
Recently got some Montana Moss Agate in the tumbling boxes from catmandewe These pieces are either some trim saw ends or remaining part in a slab, and they look very apealing! So I throw some into the tumbler.  Look beautiful with light at back side.  I would probably need to tumble once more, otherwise the pieces look too "slabbish".  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Sept 25, 2022 9:26:25 GMT -5
Yep - now you're in trouble. Pretty little Montana pieces like that are always fun. So next you will be wanting to shape them in that lapidary shop.
That's how we all started. Just having fun with a few nice little rocks... .
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Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2022 12:31:50 GMT -5
Those are looking great pebblesky! Love the agates. |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 25, 2022 23:01:19 GMT -5
Yep - now you're in trouble. Pretty little Montana pieces like that are always fun. So next you will be wanting to shape them in that lapidary shop.
That's how we all started. Just having fun with a few nice little rocks... .
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:11:01 GMT -5
Some updated pictures: Last week I decided to start a new batch with old rocks so here they are.  Untitled on Flickr |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:25:11 GMT -5
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:27:46 GMT -5
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:32:07 GMT -5
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:45:48 GMT -5
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:47:46 GMT -5
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:49:38 GMT -5
I like the look of this green moss agate:   But it is not ready for the next step yet. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 2, 2022 16:51:38 GMT -5
These are the rocks that "graudate" from step 1:  UntitledMy eyes didn't catch these fractures but hopefully they could be erased by the next step. |
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