blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 5, 2023 13:00:21 GMT -5
I ordered a mixed batch so I only had three pieces. A bird pooped on this one so I ran it alone in fish tank gravel in a nat geo for three days before it died. I liked the look and feel of the bumps and decided to send it to 120/220 grit. After looking at the other two pieces I'm wondering if I should have ran in it 60/90 to make it smooth. I didn't want to lose the bubble look, but I don't see any other bumpy agates that look like this. It has a nice shine (I think). Will it still look like this if I tumble out the bumps.
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Just getting into this....
Member since August 2022
Posts: 414
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Post by hplcman on Nov 5, 2023 13:05:01 GMT -5
I don’t think a week in 60/90 will totally smooth out the shape. I have found these to be quite hard, often taking weeks to totally round off. If anything a week in 60/90 may accentuate some of those ‘bubbles’ by revealing some of the other layers underneath.
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 280
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Post by geoff59 on Nov 5, 2023 19:52:09 GMT -5
Yeah, if I had that rock in a drum, I would plan on step 1 with new grit and water every week or so, likely for 1-2 months.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 5, 2023 22:30:32 GMT -5
Yeah, if I had that rock in a drum, I would plan on step 1 with new grit and water every week or so, likely for 1-2 months. 2 months, wow. Will I loss the druzy river in the middle too?
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Post by Starguy on Nov 6, 2023 7:40:17 GMT -5
I agree with @hplcman. I think the look of the bumps will improve. The druzy part may go away or change though. It’s always tough to decide when to move on to the next stage. That’s a really cool rock. Looking forward to seeing it finished.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 896
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 6, 2023 8:45:06 GMT -5
I do believe it is crazy lace. I agree with @hplcman, it is a hard rock and will take some time to grind down, and the bumps might reveal something even more intriguing. Keep checking it's progress during the clean-outs. It's a real beauty of a rock.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 6, 2023 10:16:00 GMT -5
I do believe it is crazy lace. I agree with @hplcman, it is a hard rock and will take some time to grind down, and the bumps might reveal something even more intriguing. Keep checking it's progress during the clean-outs. It's a real beauty of a rock. Thank you. I'll be adding it to my fancy jasper I'm starting today. Hopefully I'll be able to check every five days. Or is that too much?
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 896
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 6, 2023 10:40:07 GMT -5
I do believe it is crazy lace. I agree with @hplcman, it is a hard rock and will take some time to grind down, and the bumps might reveal something even more intriguing. Keep checking it's progress during the clean-outs. It's a real beauty of a rock. Thank you. I'll be adding it to my fancy jasper I'm starting today. Hopefully I'll be able to check every five days. Or is that too much? No, not too much especially if you want it to be a certain way. Make sure to clean off the lid and the upper part of the barrel before resealing it.
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TuesdayMae
off to a rocking start
I quit drinking and bought a rock tumbler! It's only been 146 days. Please share any helpful tips✌️
Member since November 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by TuesdayMae on Nov 6, 2023 14:34:44 GMT -5
Thank you. I'll be adding it to my fancy jasper I'm starting today. Hopefully I'll be able to check every five days. Or is that too much? No, not too much especially if you want it to be a certain way. Make sure to clean off the lid and the upper part of the barrel before resealing it.
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TuesdayMae
off to a rocking start
I quit drinking and bought a rock tumbler! It's only been 146 days. Please share any helpful tips✌️
Member since November 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by TuesdayMae on Nov 6, 2023 14:36:15 GMT -5
Yeah, if I had that rock in a drum, I would plan on step 1 with new grit and water every week or so, likely for 1-2 months.
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TuesdayMae
off to a rocking start
I quit drinking and bought a rock tumbler! It's only been 146 days. Please share any helpful tips✌️
Member since November 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by TuesdayMae on Nov 6, 2023 14:40:44 GMT -5
Hey sorry to just jump in your conversation. My I ask a question? Is it okay to mix plastic and ceramics together in a rotary tumbler? I'm a beginner and starting the #2 stage. Thank you🙂
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Post by rmf on Nov 6, 2023 18:23:19 GMT -5
Yeah, if I had that rock in a drum, I would plan on step 1 with new grit and water every week or so, likely for 1-2 months. 2 months, wow. Will I loss the druzy river in the middle too? If you want to keep the "druzy river" Fill it with epoxy and tumble it. Once you are done tumbling dissolve the epoxy (or CA) out
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 6, 2023 22:34:11 GMT -5
Hey sorry to just jump in your conversation. My I ask a question? Is it okay to mix plastic and ceramics together in a rotary tumbler? I'm a beginner and starting the #2 stage. Thank you🙂 I've seen meminer on YouTube use both but its usually for stage 4 for added cushion. You can use it any stage going forward just don't move the plastic to stage 3 after stage 2. Use fresh plastic media. The ceramics can move forward as long as they aren't chipped or contaminated. Once I had a piece of grit lodged in my ceramic. But that was stage one. Not recommended for ceramics. Stick around a pro might have more info.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 6, 2023 22:37:36 GMT -5
2 months, wow. Will I loss the druzy river in the middle too? If you want to keep the "druzy river" Fill it with epoxy and tumble it. Once you are done tumbling dissolve the epoxy (or CA) out I thought epoxy was permanent. How do I dissolve it?
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Just getting into this....
Member since August 2022
Posts: 414
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Post by hplcman on Nov 7, 2023 11:57:37 GMT -5
If you want to keep the "druzy river" Fill it with epoxy and tumble it. Once you are done tumbling dissolve the epoxy (or CA) out I thought epoxy was permanent. How do I dissolve it? I think the easiest way to dissolve epoxy it would be to use a solvent called acetone, which is the same solvent commonly used in nail polish remover. You can get pure(ish) acetone at hardware stores, often sold in the same place as paint thinners and stuff like that. If you go this route, please use the acetone with butyl gloves, outside and away from any sparks or open flames. It's not horrible as far as solvents go, but it is quite flammable and you don't want to breath in a lot of those fumes. I don't think acetone would damage the rock, but maybe a more experienced person on here can address that?
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 7, 2023 12:50:41 GMT -5
I thought epoxy was permanent. How do I dissolve it? I think the easiest way to dissolve epoxy it would be to use a solvent called acetone, which is the same solvent commonly used in nail polish remover. You can get pure(ish) acetone at hardware stores, often sold in the same place as paint thinners and stuff like that. If you go this route, please use the acetone with butyl gloves, outside and away from any sparks or open flames. It's not horrible as far as solvents go, but it is quite flammable and you don't want to breath in a lot of those fumes. I don't think acetone would damage the rock, but maybe a more experienced person on here can address that? Thanks. I'll hold off until I get more information. I just ordered clearance rocks from The Rock Shed so I can keep busy.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 7, 2023 22:47:17 GMT -5
With some more grinding, those "bumps" could very potentially turn into "eyes" once the layers in the bumps are exposed. Gorgeous specimen by the way!
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 48
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 8, 2023 7:03:40 GMT -5
With some more grinding, those "bumps" could very potentially turn into "eyes" once the layers in the bumps are exposed. Gorgeous specimen by the way! I think so too. I love everything about without knowing anything about it which is scary. The windows are so clear they look like they aren't even there in the picture.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 8, 2023 10:43:48 GMT -5
With some more grinding, those "bumps" could very potentially turn into "eyes" once the layers in the bumps are exposed. Gorgeous specimen by the way! I think so too. I love everything about without knowing anything about it which is scary. The windows are so clear they look like they aren't even there in the picture. I've worked a lot of Teepee Canyon Agates...which have fortifications and oftentimes "druzy" areas of quartz in the center of the fortification banding...somewhat similar to a lot of Crazy Lace (such as yours). When I say "worked", I mean cabbed. I've noticed quite often, when I'm working the quartz area, it'll "flake" off - for lack of a better word. I'm still trying to figure out what causes it...whether it's a weak molecular bond in that area, or if I'm doing something wrong in the process. I've done a ton of them...and am still no closer to figuring it out! LOL I've got my fingers crossed your clear quarts area doesn't do that. Of course if it doesn't, that means I know "I'm" the culprit with my own stuff! LOL
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Post by rmf on Nov 8, 2023 14:10:42 GMT -5
blackgirlrocks Those above said it. Acetone is your friend. Use only in well ventilated area and away from flame. I use a crock type container with a locking lid, ( originally used for a canister set) I found in a thrift store. It has a silicone gasket and does a great job.
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