|
|
Post by chris1956 on Nov 5, 2023 14:03:48 GMT -5
I was thinking about trying some bracelets with small stones epoxied on the bracelets. Maybe pea size or so. I have lots of cuttings from slabs left over. But when I tumble these, they seem to come out very angular (I haven't tried to tumble them for a long time yet). What is the best way to get rounded stones from cuttings? Tumble for a long time? Use smaller ceramic media? Use larger ceramic media? Use small rounded rocks for the media? Something else?
Thanks for any help
Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by rockhoundingwithkids on Nov 5, 2023 16:50:29 GMT -5
I'd start with the pieces as close to the size that you want that you can get and all similar types of material otherwise the harder ones will break down the softer ones much faster.
|
|
|
|
Post by pauls on Nov 5, 2023 16:56:47 GMT -5
Just leave them in there for a longish time will take the edges off.
FWIW I use small stones as media, why waste money grinding something away for no return. My small stuff stays in there for a long time (and a good time) No idea how long really as it just keeps going. It does eventually go through all the stages but not until it is worthy of gracing my higher grits and polish. ie no holes, cracks, or chipped edges.
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
|
Post by rockbrain on Nov 5, 2023 17:24:06 GMT -5
I posted some pics on here a while back, can't find them now. I've added marbles to a tumbler as filler. They lost their roundness and took on a triangular shape. Make me think it might be difficult to end up with round from a different shape when I couldn't even maintain round. There are some folks on here who have made Homemade bead mills. |
|
|
|
Post by pebblesky on Nov 5, 2023 18:36:55 GMT -5
Your best chance would be to preform them with a small saw or a cabber, to make them roughly close the final desired shape. I have the exact same experience as rockbrain on getting the sharp triangular pieces instead of ball-shaped pieces. Cubes will turn into round cubes after long tumbling but very difficult to get to the ball shape. You better cut off the 8 vertices of the cube to get it rounded faster. |
|
|
|
Post by chris1956 on Nov 5, 2023 18:56:56 GMT -5
I'd start with the pieces as close to the size that you want that you can get and all similar types of material otherwise the harder ones will break down the softer ones much faster. Thanks. Most of what I end up cutting is hard. If there are softer ones like Petoskey Stones they usually get returned to nature. Just leave them in there for a longish time will take the edges off. FWIW I use small stones as media, why waste money grinding something away for no return. My small stuff stays in there for a long time (and a good time) No idea how long really as it just keeps going. It does eventually go through all the stages but not until it is worthy of gracing my higher grits and polish. ie no holes, cracks, or chipped edges. Thanks. I have started using the chips as media and seems to be working. I will try leaving them in for longer. I posted some pics on here a while back, can't find them now. I've added marbles to a tumbler as filler. They lost their roundness and took on a triangular shape. Make me think it might be difficult to end up with round from a different shape when I couldn't even maintain round. There are some folks on here who have made Homemade bead mills.Thanks. I remember that post. The picks of the deformed marbles were amazing. Your best chance would be to preform them with a small saw or a cabber, to make them roughly close the final desired shape. I have the exact same experience as rockbrain on getting the sharp triangular pieces instead of ball-shaped pieces. Cubes will turn into round cubes after long tumbling but very difficult to get to the ball shape. You better cut off the 8 vertices of the cube to get it rounded faster. Thanks. May be the only way to get there. |
|
quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
|
Post by quartz on Nov 5, 2023 23:56:24 GMT -5
Might take a look at aquarium gravel at Petco if you have one, small round pieces and lots of polishable quartz super cheap in the bag I got for filler.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
|
Post by khara on Nov 6, 2023 3:33:39 GMT -5
Ya if I had trim saw cuttings of materials I really wanted to use for a project like this, I’d probably knock off the sharp edges with more trim saw cuts to get them as close to square as possible. Maybe then I would go the extra bit of a quick grind to the remaining corners which would be super quick if you have a cabber or flat lap. Then throw them in the tumbler to smooth. They’d still be oddball shape but that might give them a kind of natural look as well. I’d be interested to see your project when done!
|
|
dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
|
Post by dshanpnw on Nov 6, 2023 8:37:16 GMT -5
I love the idea to make a bracelet. The stones I have set aside for the project are like pebbles that need to be rounded a little, not sharp edges like trimmings. Using a trim saw to get as close to the shapes you want and then tumbling them seems the best way. Perhaps make the bracelet with whatever shapes come from those you tumble?
|
|
defacto
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 3
|
Post by defacto on Nov 8, 2023 9:42:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by southernlakehuronguy on Nov 8, 2023 12:15:17 GMT -5
I was thinking about trying some bracelets with small stones epoxied on the bracelets. Maybe pea size or so. I have lots of cuttings from slabs left over. But when I tumble these, they seem to come out very angular (I haven't tried to tumble them for a long time yet). What is the best way to get rounded stones from cuttings? Tumble for a long time? Use smaller ceramic media? Use larger ceramic media? Use small rounded rocks for the media? Something else? Thanks for any help Chris Perhaps you could use jugglerguys' technique...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHHLBUEdNgg |
|
|
|
Post by pebblesky on Nov 8, 2023 12:58:47 GMT -5
defacto: We are talking about tumbling to round, not making perfectly sized and shaped beads. Most beads are factory made.
|
|
defacto
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2023
Posts: 3
|
Post by defacto on Nov 8, 2023 13:53:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by chris1956 on Nov 8, 2023 14:11:10 GMT -5
I was thinking about trying some bracelets with small stones epoxied on the bracelets. Maybe pea size or so. I have lots of cuttings from slabs left over. But when I tumble these, they seem to come out very angular (I haven't tried to tumble them for a long time yet). What is the best way to get rounded stones from cuttings? Tumble for a long time? Use smaller ceramic media? Use larger ceramic media? Use small rounded rocks for the media? Something else? Thanks for any help Chris Perhaps you could use jugglerguys' technique...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHHLBUEdNgg Thanks. Looking for a more natural look. But now you have added one more project to my things to do list.   |
|
