ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 11, 2023 19:58:53 GMT -5
Well lucky, ha "lucky" for me, I noticed my contest barrels about to explode after only 3 days. I think I posted on this, here - how I get gas build up no matter what I tumble - as a newbie. Well, life got busy and I didn't tumble for a bit but now, back rolling, I thought my barrels were better. Maybe older, necks a little weaker. Something. But no, I guess not. They wouldn't have made it till morning, without exploding. But that does tell me a good deal of grinding has occurred and sure enough, grit was used up! I was running this load a little lower on water than usual, even, so I guess that really made a difference.
Anyway, for all y'all fortunate enough not to have some gas problem - things are looking good, hopefully in your barrels too. I definitely have some pieces that have sections of constantly "shedding" little sandy bits. And I have one chunk that has that pitted almost dinosaur bone look to it. But certainly some pieces that still seem very promising. It seems very, very hard.
And man, the trick rock must be some sort of agate-y type thing. Mine's had a void open up but that should grind away. Definitely black is becoming more blue. It's a really gorgeous rock! The rules say only send back contest rocks, seems like if it's good, it could go back? I want to know what it is.
I did a "dirty recharge" and ... I guess I'm changing barrels every three days for the next 6+ months.
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 13, 2023 12:07:33 GMT -5
I agree it's very hard. I have hardness picks arriving tonight. Not sure what I'm expecting to find. Obviously it's not an 8 but it's crazy how different jaspers and agates can seem so much harder than each other. I guess I'll just be probing for any soft spots. I was grinding one of pieces and it appears to have bark.. looks pretty awesome but unfortunately there is a void running between the bark and wood layers that I keep chasing around the stone with the wheel. At the wheel for hours I kept looking at the clock wondering if I have the patience. But seeing you acknowledge barrel changes every 3 days makes me think I can tough it out on the wheel. these covington barrels, i swear ... i've tried ALL the suggestions too, back in the day - down to distilled water, just everything. i've had ceramics from multiple places (including the rock shed, which is also where i get my grit) so it's just gotta be these barrels - either design or maybe even the plastic itself out-gasses as it wears down? while the motors and frames seem good, i positively will never buy another covington barrel. i have a set of those picks, too - lol, wish i'd've known you wanted some, could have sold you mine! ;-) i never got the hang of them - like am i pressing hard enough? too hard? now i just scratch something unknown against a beer bottle and go off of that. (but then again, i'm looking in the barrels ALL THE TIME.) and you're right - everything varies a lot. i got some "script jasper" once - it was like mud! i have a piece like you describe, too - with a streak of bark running the length of it. i don't have a saw (though i've been shopping - NOTHING IN STOCK ANYWHERE) but from the way i read the rules, you can work them by hand any time during coarse, right? pretty sure that's how jugglerguy interpreted the rules for sam last year. i'm considering a rock rascal complete (because it's in stock, basically. i've not heard much about that brand but beggars can't be choosers, i guess.)
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jan 13, 2023 17:55:22 GMT -5
Diamond saw blade= round wheel impregnated with diamond to grind away the rock lol. I had to cut some of my rough because it would not fit in my barrels! Get to check the first batch tomorrow
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 13, 2023 21:28:35 GMT -5
Yea I think they need to take a second look at the wording in rule 3. "Applicants are permitted to remove (before or after your first tumble) spalls, chips, cracks and any other imperfections on a grinding wheel. After this initial cleanup, the rock must be allowed to go through and complete the tumbling process without any further handwork. No hand polishing or grinding is permitted after the tumbling process begins and after completion" The parenthesis in sentence 3 seems to contradict the wording in the following sentences. It doubles down in bold " No hand polishing or grinding is permitted after the tumbling process begins" yet the parenthesis say otherwise and Sam and Rob seem to suggest you can do work any time before stage 2. And it specifically says "remove . . . on a grinding wheel" so that's all I'm using so far, but I'm guessing it's probably okay to use anything. Good luck with the barrels. I've heard of additives for gas buildup, I think literally gas-x was one and the other was based on controlling the pH, can't recall exactly. from Lori's email response to me about cleaning - initial cutting, shaping was definitely ok too. but she seemed to go more with the interpretation in bold about no grinding after the tumbling process begins ... i'd actually forgotten that it's written out both ways, inty the rules but now i remember thinking "well, which is it?" or "maybe i'm dumb and coarse doesn't really count somehow?" i mean, a lot of people switch to a vibe after coarse - there is kind of a line between coarse and "all the other stages". also, come to think of it "after your first tumble" isn't the clearest either. is that the first time you check on them? any time in coarse? (barrels aren't gassy yet this time. maybe they'll calm down and not be every three days, omg. have some obsidian in coarse too and that takes a bit of looking after, as well. smh.)
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 14, 2023 15:01:13 GMT -5
Nice, hopefully it was just a film of gassy bacteria or something in that case. I just checked them and alas, they're starting to bulge. Will keep an eye on them and see how they "progress" today. Maybe I can push them till the morning and get an extra half day ... I need to try a Lortone barrel but barrels aren't cheap. Sigh.
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 16, 2023 14:10:06 GMT -5
Are you tumbling the trick rock? I just got to my outlier today on the grinding wheel and yea... it behaved very differently from the rest. The black parts are extremely soft. My hands, the machine, drain tray were all completely covered in black by the time I was done with the rock. The blue part seemed closer to a 7. I took some pictures and did a scratch test, the black mineral is a 3. Possibly Jet? i am, so far, tumbling the trick rock. did you see stefan 's "found it" post - he thinks he has two trick rocks! and now that he mentions it, i have another really interesting, brecciatted looking piece too that could very well not be petrified wood. some of my pet wood, too, seems substantially softer than other pieces. if i see a bunch of undercutting as the process goes on, i will pull the trick rocks. i don't want any shedding particles and possibly causing problems (later, like once they're in the vibe.)
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 16, 2023 16:13:19 GMT -5
I confess: on an impulsive whim, I sent away for rock, and I must be one of the last to get in on it. I have 2 trick rocks for sure. Cement and an agate of sorts. It’s red. Haven’t got a clue what exactly it is. As for the contest, I am doubtful I can place even in the top 10, but so what? Let’s have some fun! The only thing better than a trick rock is, 2 trick rocks in every box! That is all, over and out!
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 16, 2023 16:23:27 GMT -5
I confess: on an impulsive whim, I sent away for rock, and I must be one of the last to get in on it. I have 2 trick rocks for sure. Cement and an agate of sorts. It’s red. Haven’t got a clue what exactly it is. As for the contest, I am doubtful I can place even in the top 10, but so what? Let’s have some fun! The only thing better than a trick rock is, 2 trick rocks in every box! That is all, over and out! in searching about tumbling concrete - those folks (not sam, but the other video - i think you were the one who posted it) got a darn good shine, i thought, on their cement - but i did find a reddit post about someone else trying and how their sandy cement ruined their polish! i definitely wouldn't include the cement in with the others in the final stages unless you have time to re-polish! yeah, as far as not being in the top 10, i probably won't even have any to mail back. but it's cool to be tumbling along, the same rough other people are trying, at the same time! =)
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 16, 2023 16:30:11 GMT -5
Here they are. The cement is cement, vs. concrete. I ground an edge for a minute, it’s pretty soft. The agate went in the tumble for a few hours, and the can swelled up like a thumb that’s been squished by a hammer blow. There was a lot of soil embedded in it, organic matter. I suspected it was a 2nd trick. So I stopped the tumble and opened it up, removed “it” and so far since, things are going along without any further apparent gas build up.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jan 16, 2023 17:12:14 GMT -5
Your "cement" is Dolimite with calcite. We get a ton of that around here.
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 278
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 16, 2023 17:51:23 GMT -5
About the ONLY thing we get around here is granite! Dolimite? Looks like semi hardened beach sand. Or….low quality cement.
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