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Post by oldrockisnotboring on Sept 7, 2023 13:15:46 GMT -5
Hello! I'm new to tumbling. This is literally my first attempt. I'm using the Nat Geo 3lb. The photos show before and after phase 1 and I'm surprised how much they seem to have shrunk lol. The kits recommended 3-5 days on speed 3. Instead, I did 4 days and alternated between speed 2 at night and speed 3 during the day. They're now back in for phase 2. My family was so fascinated and curious as I cleaned them and showed before and after pics. They seem to think my rocks will disintegrate by the final phase 😄 Welcome any tips, observations, warnings, etc.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Sept 7, 2023 13:25:10 GMT -5
Hi oldrockisnotboring - welcome to the group and lapidary arts!! I have a Nat Geo professional tumbler and got similar rocks. There are some softer ones in there that you'll likely see reduce in size. Normally recommended to tumble like hardness so it always amazes me that they throw different hardnesses in together. In my experience, I've learned that even speed one on the Nat Geo is faster than your more widely used tumblers. Other's may differ in opinion, but I never run mine higher than 1 and I don't put softer, easily bruised rocks in my Nat Geo. Also, depending on what you are tumbling, 3-5 days for stage one is not enough. If you have agates/jaspers you can tumble for months before getting rid of the imperfections - unless you like that look. For me it just adds more ways to introduce prior stage grits into future runs - so if your 60/90 grit is trapped in a crack and gets into your 120/220 then it'll cause scratching and you won't get a good shine. It's really all an experiment and you'll find what works best for you. I've been tumbling almost 2 years now and still find new/different ways to improve my batch. Enjoy! Lots of great info to be had here. Love your user name BTW.
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Sept 7, 2023 16:06:46 GMT -5
Hello from Missouri, I started with the Nat Geo Hobby tumbler Kit and found as @rockweb101 said you should separate the softer stones IE the Aventurine (green stones) Dalmatian stone and the blue Sodalite from the rest of the rocks. Your Aventurine is already severely bruised by the harder rocks in the group. That is what the white marks on the green stones are. I also recommend watching Michigan Rocks and his tutorial video
The Hobby tumbler only has one speed and many will tell you to use the slowest speed possible. but the Hobby tumbler still turns too fast in my opinion like 90 rpm compared to 40 to 60 rpm of others. the first tumbler I got quit after 3 weeks but Nat Geo was good to replace the unit. I also found that you need more grit then what Nat Geo provides step 1 can take up to 3 or more rounds and I found that the step 4 grit/polish is far from Idea and I got some Aluminum Oxide polish to use as a step 5. I have taken the remaining rocks I have from Nat Geo and separated them into three groups
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Post by oldrockisnotboring on Sept 7, 2023 16:32:14 GMT -5
Hi oldrockisnotboring - welcome to the group and lapidary arts!! I have a Nat Geo professional tumbler and got similar rocks. There are some softer ones in there that you'll likely see reduce in size. Normally recommended to tumble like hardness so it always amazes me that they throw different hardnesses in together. In my experience, I've learned that even speed one on the Nat Geo is faster than your more widely used tumblers. Other's may differ in opinion, but I never run mine higher than 1 and I don't put softer, easily bruised rocks in my Nat Geo. Also, depending on what you are tumbling, 3-5 days for stage one is not enough. If you have agates/jaspers you can tumble for months before getting rid of the imperfections - unless you like that look. For me it just adds more ways to introduce prior stage grits into future runs - so if your 60/90 grit is trapped in a crack and gets into your 120/220 then it'll cause scratching and you won't get a good shine. It's really all an experiment and you'll find what works best for you. I've been tumbling almost 2 years now and still find new/different ways to improve my batch. Enjoy! Lots of great info to be had here. Love your user name BTW. Oh man I didn't even look at them closely before beginning phase 2. Could very well be grit in some cracks. Oops. We'll see I guess lol. Next bit I'll be sure to tumble rocks with same hardness next round. Thank you!
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Post by oldrockisnotboring on Sept 7, 2023 16:36:55 GMT -5
Hello from Missouri, I started with the Nat Geo Hobby tumbler Kit and found as @rockweb101 said you should separate the softer stones IE the Aventurine (green stones) Dalmatian stone and the blue Sodalite from the rest of the rocks. Your Aventurine is already severely bruised by the harder rocks in the group. That is what the white marks on the green stones are. I also recommend watching Michigan Rocks  and his tutorial videoÂ
The Hobby tumbler only has one speed and many will tell you to use the slowest speed possible. but the Hobby tumbler still turns too fast in my opinion like 90 rpm compared to 40 to 60 rpm of others. the first tumbler I got quit after 3 weeks but Nat Geo was good to replace the unit. I also found that you need more grit then what Nat Geo provides step 1 can take up to 3 or more rounds and I found that the step 4 grit/polish is far from Idea and I got some Aluminum Oxide polish to use as a step 5. I have taken the remaining rocks I have from Nat Geo and separated them into three groups Love the specific tips! I did read about the polish and plan to buy some before getting to that step, but I never knew about bruising, thanks! I love that observation and added videos to watch. I appreciate you.
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Sept 7, 2023 17:46:44 GMT -5
@oldrockinsnotboring Actually I am only on my second tumble but happy to share what I have learned so far. I also have and recommend "Modern Rock Tumbling" from Here rocktumbler.com/book.shtmlLike I said Happy to share what I have learned so far.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Sept 7, 2023 20:07:41 GMT -5
Welcome! Looks like you got some good advice above! Botswana agate, or South Dakota prairie agate can probably hold up to that nat Geo - they will just take about 2-4 months of coarse grinding before you can move them on in my experience. But, they will take a great shine and are very cool!
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Post by chris1956 on Sept 7, 2023 21:11:17 GMT -5
Welcome from northwest Missouri.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 7, 2023 21:16:30 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 7, 2023 22:26:21 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota!!
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Sept 8, 2023 7:20:40 GMT -5
Hi oldrockisnotboring - welcome to the group and lapidary arts!! I have a Nat Geo professional tumbler and got similar rocks. There are some softer ones in there that you'll likely see reduce in size. Normally recommended to tumble like hardness so it always amazes me that they throw different hardnesses in together. In my experience, I've learned that even speed one on the Nat Geo is faster than your more widely used tumblers. Other's may differ in opinion, but I never run mine higher than 1 and I don't put softer, easily bruised rocks in my Nat Geo. Also, depending on what you are tumbling, 3-5 days for stage one is not enough. If you have agates/jaspers you can tumble for months before getting rid of the imperfections - unless you like that look. For me it just adds more ways to introduce prior stage grits into future runs - so if your 60/90 grit is trapped in a crack and gets into your 120/220 then it'll cause scratching and you won't get a good shine. It's really all an experiment and you'll find what works best for you. I've been tumbling almost 2 years now and still find new/different ways to improve my batch. Enjoy! Lots of great info to be had here. Love your user name BTW. Oh man I didn't even look at them closely before beginning phase 2. Could very well be grit in some cracks. Oops. We'll see I guess lol. Next bit I'll be sure to tumble rocks with same hardness next round. Thank you! Don't fret it! My first batch was moonstone which I completely obliterated! It truly is a learning journey and before long you'll be on a great roll!
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