blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 28, 2023 19:06:05 GMT -5
Rhodonite 5.5-6
Unakite 6-7
Can these be tumbled in 500 together. I will polish separate but both have a half barrel that needs another round in 500.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 28, 2023 20:07:14 GMT -5
I am not totally sure, but they are pretty close, they might be all right. I have a small batch of softer stones, lapis, serpentine, and unakite that I have been putting off tumbling together.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 28, 2023 20:51:00 GMT -5
I am not totally sure, but they are pretty close, they might be all right. I have a small batch of softer stones, lapis, serpentine, and unakite that I have been putting off tumbling together. Wow. Scary, I would think the serpentine would run with something like calcite. But I don't know how this mohs scale really works. I'm hoping the smoothness of the unakite will help the rodonite shape more and not bruise it. |
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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 Nov 28, 2023 20:53:28 GMT -5
I'd run them separately.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 29, 2023 9:18:46 GMT -5
I'd follow dillonf's advice.
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 29, 2023 10:40:38 GMT -5
Blackgirlrocks, remember that even if you do them separately the proper amount of media will help prevent bruising. Never run the media short and have extra on hand.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 29, 2023 19:42:49 GMT -5
Blackgirlrocks, remember that even if you do them separately the proper amount of media will help prevent bruising. Never run the media short and have extra on hand. Yes, I decided to give it a go. I grabbed 10lbs from the rock shed on clearance so im just experimenting on tumbling softer stones. The Unakite is a repolish so I won't be purchasing anymore and my next hardest stone is a 7. If this fails I'll add back the finished Unakite already out of 500 with plenty of media and hope it doesn't overtumble it. |
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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 Nov 29, 2023 20:24:03 GMT -5
My advice with softer stones in general would be: - generally do them by themselves until you know what works together
- By the time you get to 500 grit you want 35%-50% filler media (ceramic/plastic). A lot of folks use pea gravel - I'm not sure if that works with softer stones as I've never used it?
- With softer stones in the rotary shoot for having the barrel ~75% full. You may need to extend run time if the barrel is more full.
- My experience is that you will get a better shine with a vibe, unless the material undercuts then you are better off in a rotary with the barrel ~80% full and a 2week run time. Though some folks let it run longer- I haven't, but I think it's a good idea.
- Use Aluminum Oxide grit for 500grit and finer. I'd also add a pre-polish/1000 grit stage. I've had some good results polishing with Tripoli in a vibe, but you have to let it run for at least 4-5 days which is a long time in the vibe.
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 30, 2023 11:38:32 GMT -5
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 30, 2023 11:41:21 GMT -5
My advice with softer stones in general would be: - generally do them by themselves until you know what works together
- By the time you get to 500 grit you want 35%-50% filler media (ceramic/plastic). A lot of folks use pea gravel - I'm not sure if that works with softer stones as I've never used it?
- With softer stones in the rotary shoot for having the barrel ~75% full. You may need to extend run time if the barrel is more full.
- My experience is that you will get a better shine with a vibe, unless the material undercuts then you are better off in a rotary with the barrel ~80% full and a 2week run time. Though some folks let it run longer- I haven't, but I think it's a good idea.
- Use Aluminum Oxide grit for 500grit and finer. I'd also add a pre-polish/1000 grit stage. I've had some good results polishing with Tripoli in a vibe, but you have to let it run for at least 4-5 days which is a long time in the vibe.
I'm pretty much doing it your way I'm about 75-80% full. Half rocks, half polished quartz gravel. I'm listening for movement to know if I need more media. I was thinking of going for 5-7 days. Then I'll be returning them to their respective batches to continue on to 1000AO. Then I'll use AO polish in rotary. Not lucky enough to have a vibe or cerium oxide. |
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Nov 30, 2023 11:43:42 GMT -5
Beautiful. That's the shine I'm looking for. |
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 30, 2023 12:42:43 GMT -5
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 30, 2023 13:32:43 GMT -5
This cab is made from material collected from near Tesuque, NM(Santa Fe) in the high hills and is volcanic blast blowout of surrounding rock. The unakite material was found in the surrounding hilly area near the vacation lease house.
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Post by velodromed on Nov 30, 2023 15:06:48 GMT -5
blackgirlrocksIs the rhodonite the black and pink kind? (Asking for my wife lol)
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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 Nov 30, 2023 20:00:07 GMT -5
My advice with softer stones in general would be: - generally do them by themselves until you know what works together
- By the time you get to 500 grit you want 35%-50% filler media (ceramic/plastic). A lot of folks use pea gravel - I'm not sure if that works with softer stones as I've never used it?
- With softer stones in the rotary shoot for having the barrel ~75% full. You may need to extend run time if the barrel is more full.
- My experience is that you will get a better shine with a vibe, unless the material undercuts then you are better off in a rotary with the barrel ~80% full and a 2week run time. Though some folks let it run longer- I haven't, but I think it's a good idea.
- Use Aluminum Oxide grit for 500grit and finer. I'd also add a pre-polish/1000 grit stage. I've had some good results polishing with Tripoli in a vibe, but you have to let it run for at least 4-5 days which is a long time in the vibe.
I'm pretty much doing it your way I'm about 75-80% full. Half rocks, half polished quartz gravel. I'm listening for movement to know if I need more media. I was thinking of going for 5-7 days. Then I'll be returning them to their respective batches to continue on to 1000AO. Then I'll use AO polish in rotary. Not lucky enough to have a vibe or cerium oxide. What is the hardness of the polished quartz gravel? |
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Post by Bob on Dec 1, 2023 18:07:06 GMT -5
I've had good luck with running those materials together. Rhodonite drives me nuts at times and I've tried different things and no matter what, only about half of the rocks seem to come out great.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Dec 2, 2023 14:14:08 GMT -5
I have run Rhodonite with Jaspers and Agates (accidentally) and it lost a lot of mass, but held together and took a wonderful shine. Unakite should be fine for the 500 stage, and probably would work well for the rest of the tumble.
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Dec 2, 2023 23:47:32 GMT -5
velodromed I would say yes. I've seen so many pictures online that look different though. 
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Dec 2, 2023 23:57:09 GMT -5
I'm pretty much doing it your way I'm about 75-80% full. Half rocks, half polished quartz. dillonf What is the hardness of the polished quartz gravel? I have no clue. It's from a bag of fish tank gravel. |
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blackgirlrocks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2023
Posts: 49
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Post by blackgirlrocks on Dec 3, 2023 0:03:25 GMT -5
dillonf The lighting is bad but its polished. It may not be a real rock at all. 
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