rocksroll
off to a rocking start
A rock is a rock when all is said and done
Member since February 2023
Posts: 5
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Post by rocksroll on Feb 14, 2023 13:02:40 GMT -5
Just joined you Today been tumbling for over 15 yrats now. I live in South Derbyshire England. Our only rock of any imoptance was tons of coal. All the pits are now closed. The only other rock of note is that there is tons of Alabaster. Never tried it but can it be tumbled or is it just to soft. If it can has anyone tried it and what frits to use and the tumbling time. Such a nice pattened stone. Hope someone can help me. Thanks
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 14, 2023 14:36:45 GMT -5
Welcome from Arizona USA Alabaster can be carved with riffler files, sandpaper, and a lot of the things used for wood, with proper respirator of course. It's harder than the soapstone I used to carve but still a lot softer than steel. It may also tumble with likes, but the stages would probably be quite short and maybe start at 220 or finer.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 14, 2023 15:21:36 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota, USA!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 14, 2023 20:06:14 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 14, 2023 22:24:34 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
Alabaster is gypsum, so it is pretty soft. Great for carving, but not that great for tumbling.
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rocksroll
off to a rocking start
A rock is a rock when all is said and done
Member since February 2023
Posts: 5
|
Post by rocksroll on Feb 15, 2023 15:54:19 GMT -5
Thank you for the welcome. Iwill give the Alabasterf a try, nothing to lose only a drum full of plaster. Did quite a bit of work at two of the British Gypsum works many years ago. It is very abrasive and it wore the steel ducts away and we spent ages going round patching all the holes up. Only thing I never got to go down the mine. The site at Fauld has a large area cordend off. It is where the American base there blew up in the area they stored the amunition under ground. It is said that there are still quite a lot of old American vehicles still down there. But it is all sealed off. All you can ow see is the huge crater the explosion left. Just started a batch of granite, it polishes up really nice. My grandaughter has chosen a piece to make a necklace, she has got a long wait, I am afraid. Only started them off today. A friend of mine, got a National Geographics rock tumbler for Christmas he keeps ringing me every day, he has no patience. He has just finished a batch of stones in two weeks, he says they have not polished very well. It has only got a one pound barrel and the speed is far to fast. Can't see it lasting very long. he is the sort of person that you can't give him any advice, as he just goes on in his own sweet way, ending up with a complete mess. So far he has turned two lots of stone to sludge, he did them on the fastest speed. They had a MOHN of 5. He will never learn. I can't see him doing this hobby for very long. He goes through one a year after wht he gets for Christmas. Will put some pictures on when I finish this batch of stones.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 15, 2023 18:13:14 GMT -5
Welcome from the former Colony of Virginia.
I think your friend might be in the wrong hobby.
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Post by Pat on Feb 15, 2023 23:39:50 GMT -5
Your friend has a lot more patience than I do! When my first effort wasn’t done by dinner, I decided tumbling rocks was not for me.
Glad I have the tumbler though. I use it to clean and debur metal findings and finished jewelry. I use stainless steel shot and a small drop of Dawn liquid detergent. Fill the barrel with water almost to the top of the shot.
Good luck, and welcome from California.
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