RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 13, 2023 20:20:41 GMT -5
So now that I have done a couple of runs in the vibratory using rocks that I have run thru stage one in the tumbler more than once as needed and have also learned what can be accomplished by not precisely following the directions that came with the rotary tumbler, I am now looking at my formerly "finished" stones and noticing little dents and cracks and crevasses and non-shiny spots and feeling that they need to be "tuned up" a tad.
These are all beach, roadside, landscaping and river rocks ... nothing fancy or exotic. They shaped and generally shined up nicely in the rotary using Borax between stages and as burnishing but looking at them now, they could a little nitpickery repair work.
Question is .... I am happy with the shapes and don't need / want perfectly rounded everything ..I would like to get rid of some of the flaws which I see as minor ... is redoing from stage one needed or is stage two (in the Ray-Tech) the place to start ?
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Aug 14, 2023 7:17:12 GMT -5
I'm hoping someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I don't think stage two will do a whole lot of correcting as far as your dents/cracks go. As long as you have these, you'll have 'less than stellar' results. you will have areas on the rock that are super shiny, but typically these indents/cracks etc keep the rock from polishing to it's full potential. I had this issue when I first started out and would be disappointed by the results each time as they'd hold polish etc that really showed once they dried.
If you want to keep the features, but want to try and lessen the 'issues' you could always take a dremel and smooth over those blemishes, or try to open up the crevices so you can clean them out better between stages. just a thought...Good luck!
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 14, 2023 9:11:22 GMT -5
I'm hoping someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I don't think stage two will do a whole lot of correcting as far as your dents/cracks go. As long as you have these, you'll have 'less than stellar' results. you will have areas on the rock that are super shiny, but typically these indents/cracks etc keep the rock from polishing to it's full potential. I had this issue when I first started out and would be disappointed by the results each time as they'd hold polish etc that really showed once they dried. If you want to keep the features, but want to try and lessen the 'issues' you could always take a dremel and smooth over those blemishes, or try to open up the crevices so you can clean them out better between stages. just a thought...Good luck! Thanks for the reply. That's sort of how I was thinking but figured I would ask to be sure. To clarify .... These blemishes I am referring to are more of the "can feel it with the fingernail" or "it slightly interrupts the perfect smoothness of the shine" variety. All of the real pits and holes are in the "start over from scratch" bucket (rapidly filling !!!) Seems that when you first start tumbling just having smoothish and shiny is enough but after a few runs and seeing here what can be obtained the need for perfection sets in !
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Aug 14, 2023 9:12:10 GMT -5
Another question has cropped up .... when redoing these basically "good" stones in stage one rotary ... is it better to throw them in with totally new and rough stones to increase the grinding potential or to keep them with the other "smoothies" ?
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Aug 14, 2023 9:19:40 GMT -5
Another question has cropped up .... when redoing these basically "good" stones in stage one rotary ... is it better to throw them in with totally new and rough stones to increase the grinding potential or to keep them with the other "smoothies" ? This one I DO know! haha....I always throw new rough in with my smoother rocks, but still in stage 1, rocks. This will not hurt either the rough, nor the smoother rocks. My stage 1 barrels are usually needing refilled as i pull those out ready for stage 2. I just grab new rough, fill the barrel and keep going. *Edited to correct - I'm not sure what a smoother is, but I think I was trying to say I throw new IN WITH the smoother rocks lol...
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Aug 14, 2023 9:22:29 GMT -5
I'm hoping someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I don't think stage two will do a whole lot of correcting as far as your dents/cracks go. As long as you have these, you'll have 'less than stellar' results. you will have areas on the rock that are super shiny, but typically these indents/cracks etc keep the rock from polishing to it's full potential. I had this issue when I first started out and would be disappointed by the results each time as they'd hold polish etc that really showed once they dried. If you want to keep the features, but want to try and lessen the 'issues' you could always take a dremel and smooth over those blemishes, or try to open up the crevices so you can clean them out better between stages. just a thought...Good luck! Thanks for the reply. That's sort of how I was thinking but figured I would ask to be sure. To clarify .... These blemishes I am referring to are more of the "can feel it with the fingernail" or "it slightly interrupts the perfect smoothness of the shine" variety. All of the real pits and holes are in the "start over from scratch" bucket (rapidly filling !!!) Seems that when you first start tumbling just having smoothish and shiny is enough but after a few runs and seeing here what can be obtained the need for perfection sets in ! Ahhhh - I misunderstood then. I would use my slant lap (now I'll use my new cabking) to grind those blemishes and then throw them into stage two - I totally get the need for perfection lol. There are some amazing tumblers in here..stage two MIGHT be enough to wear down those small blemishes - although you might need to keep it rolling a little longer...
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