Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum where we share a love of rocks and a sense of community as enduring as the stones we polish.
The RTH Forum of www.RockTumbling.com is an Amazon Associate site and we earn money from
qualifying purchases you make after clicking on our links such as this
Rock Tumbling Supplies on Amazon
link for instance, or any of our various product ads and banners. By clicking our links every time you begin your Amazon shopping
experience, you are generating a bit of revenue for the forum which helps us cover our expenses. Thank you for your support!
If you cannot see Amazon ad banners directly below this text, please whitelist this site in your ad blocker(s). The ads below have been hand-selected for relevant content, and your patronage directly benefits this forum community, thanks!
This rock failed stage 3 pre-polish. It was actually my favorite rock in the batch. Before tumbling, I cut off problem areas with my lapidary saw from CabKing, then I shaped it a little with the grind wheels. It went through stage one 3 times until it was smooth and flawless. It made it through stage two in great shape. After 8 days in stage 3 : pre-polish, I pull out the rock and I am totally disappointed. In the video below, you will see why......
I think the green areas are mossy areas, and that is possibly the reason for this issue.
Post by ctxtumblebug on Nov 19, 2023 20:43:49 GMT -5
Sorry to see that happen. This happens to my rocks more than I like to admit. Plastic pellets as tumbling media might help to keep this from happening.
I have similar issues with some material, especially tepee canyon agate and some local Black Hills jaspers. Want to blame micro fractures. Some finish great, others hit a certain stage, usually pre or polish, and come out looking like they jumped off a cliff.
I have more than enough beach rocks ending up like that. Some veins are really soft and they hold up ok in step 1 and even step 2. Some just reveal the pre-existing cracks that were hidden quite deep at a later stage. I just avoid tumbling these types of rocks. I don't have extra attachments to my self collects, especially when they don't behave...
I have similar issues with some material, especially tepee canyon agate and some local Black Hills jaspers. Want to blame micro fractures. Some finish great, others hit a certain stage, usually pre or polish, and come out looking like they jumped off a cliff.
I have experienced a few crazy rocks as well that went into the final stage a 10 out of 10 and came out looking like a 1 out of 10 stars.
Post by velodromed on Nov 21, 2023 15:04:05 GMT -5
I’m curious what kind of rock is that exactly? Local find or one that you bought? I’m asking because it looks familiar, like ones I’ve found around here.
Last Edit: Nov 21, 2023 15:04:23 GMT -5 by velodromed
I’m curious what kind of rock is that exactly? Local find or one that you bought? I’m asking because it looks familiar, like ones I’ve found around here.
This was found in the shallow water of the Colorado River in Bastrop County.
Unfortunately that rock was never going to make it. The quartz veins are healed fractures, that never really heal well enough. It is a shame because it would have looked amazing! You could try to stabilize it if you so desire.
I can't tell if thats some Gneiss Schist, or that Schist is Gneiss. All I know is don't take it for Granite
This space is for temporary chat only and all posts drop off automatically and are not saved.
Members with real questions or comments that need an actual response, please post on the main forum - not here! Casual PG-13 posts only, no politics or religion please!
RickB: The new guy buoys the drinks
Jul 22, 2024 18:31:08 GMT -5
*
amygdule: Good Morning July 23, 2024 Water temp 55.9°F
Jul 23, 2024 9:37:49 GMT -5
Wooferhound: Which side is the Dark Side
Jul 25, 2024 13:10:19 GMT -5
carbidelamp: Hi All, I just joined, and am looking forward to being a member. I recently purchased my first slab saw from Highland Park Lapidary, and am just now cutting my first rock (Kona Dolomite). I am a life-long rock collector.
Jul 25, 2024 13:31:14 GMT -5
1dave: "You and me 'till the wheels come off!"- Jackie Robinson's wife, Rachael
Jul 25, 2024 19:36:32 GMT -5
bigjohn: Kara- I just picked up a new HTD14 Drop Saw from HP lapidary. Regarding the pump filtering method you used, I'm curious if the mesh straining sack you picked up from Amazon worked out for you or not?
Jul 26, 2024 9:40:29 GMT -5
*
bigjohn: RocknRob - Ditto here brother! Ordered the same saw and it arrives today but pump is on backorder. Glad I found this post.
Jul 26, 2024 9:49:03 GMT -5
RickB: You're down here in the bilges with the wharf rats. You will get more mileage above on the upper decks.
Jul 26, 2024 9:57:09 GMT -5
*
rocknrob: I would say slurry would be a more appropriate term
Jul 26, 2024 15:05:30 GMT -5
amygdule: If you have Scurvy, you should lick some Rocks...
Jul 26, 2024 16:16:01 GMT -5
rocknrob: If you ever want to see a bunch of disappointed kids, try selling them rocks to lick instead of ice cream on a hot summer day.
Jul 26, 2024 18:07:47 GMT -5
rocknrob: That's the stuff, my choice of these 4 would be the oregon strawberry but only because Udderly Chocolate isn't there.
Jul 26, 2024 19:33:11 GMT -5
Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum where we share a love of rocks and a sense of community as enduring as the stones we polish.
The RTH Forum of www.RockTumbling.com is an Amazon Associate site and we earn money from
qualifying purchases you make after clicking on our links such as this
Rock Tumbling Supplies on Amazon
link for instance, or any of our various product ads and banners. By clicking our links every time you begin your Amazon shopping
experience, you are generating a bit of revenue for the forum which helps us cover our expenses. Thank you for your support!