maximus
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by maximus on Jan 16, 2024 7:53:19 GMT -5
 ![]() Hi All, I have a beach nearby to me which has an abundance of Calcite and it looks really lovely so would like to tumble it to a decent polish, I know that is likely a hard tumble as its so soft. I have put some calcite through my rotary tumbler for about 3 days and it did smooth it nicely in a small 1.5lb tub, I then did it in a finer grit and so far so good, on the time I was due to polish I google it and found dry corn cob is best to polish and it must be dry. So I have been polishing this for about a week now in a nearly full 1.5lb barrel of dry corn cob with about 8 small pieces of calcite in it and 2 teaspoons of Cerium Oxide polish, I am not really seeing any kind of shine on the Calcite. Does anybody have experience of Calcite and can advise on any tips or things where I could have gone wrong. I have attached a picture of what the Calcite looked like after my SC grit tumbling stages (stones are still wet, hence the shine). Thank you Max |
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maximus
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by maximus on Jan 16, 2024 8:02:51 GMT -5
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maximus
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by maximus on Jan 25, 2024 9:42:02 GMT -5
Just bumping the topic Incase anybody has any Calcite experience
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maximus
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by maximus on Jan 25, 2024 9:42:58 GMT -5
I have had these in the vibratory tumbler with corn cob media and Cerium oxide for a week and hasn't really done a thing.
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 25, 2024 12:10:28 GMT -5
They look very nice when wet. I am yet to get my green calcite tumble to shine so I really can't help, but waiting for others to chime in.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 25, 2024 12:45:18 GMT -5
I've never tumbled calcite either, so I'm not much help there.
Keep poking around YouTube and use the search bar and peruse the forum. There are often answers buried there somewhere.
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Post by Mel on Jan 25, 2024 23:32:02 GMT -5
Now, I've never done calcite in a tumbler. However, I asked a question recently about polishing Dulcotte agates, which are actually agate swirled with calcite, and the suggestion I got was to try a bit of oxalic acid during the polish stage.
It's a plant derived acid used to lighten or remove stains from wood. If there's any kind of community forum for your area for woodworking, reach out and see if someone has a half a cup they'll part with. It's not expensive but why buy more than you need if you don't have to. 0xalic acid is sold by Home Depot, Amazon, just about any hardware or woodworking store. Heck, Walmart might even carry it if you *have* to buy some.
If you try it out, please come share your results with some photos.
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Post by rmf on Jan 26, 2024 19:58:22 GMT -5
I have polished both Green and yellow calcite with muritic acid.
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maximus
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 21
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Post by maximus on Jan 28, 2024 4:56:33 GMT -5
I have polished both Green and yellow calcite with muritic acid. Hey rmf, So do you tumble them for a few stages then at polish stage you leave in muritic acid? |
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Post by rmf on Jan 28, 2024 19:05:26 GMT -5
maximus No, no tumbling required unless you want them rounded like beach stones. the muritic acid rounds and polishes both but the original shape is maintained in a way that is similar to the difference between stones rough tumbled in a vib vs a rotary tumbler.
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Looking forward to my Friday Night Barrel Clean out!
Member since August 2022
Posts: 493
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Post by hplcman on Jan 29, 2024 14:41:55 GMT -5
maximus No, no tumbling required unless you want them rounded like beach stones. the muritic acid rounds and polishes both but the original shape is maintained in a way that is similar to the difference between stones rough tumbled in a vib vs a rotary tumbler. Muriatic acid = hydrochloric acid |
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 29, 2024 15:37:34 GMT -5
Is there any extra cleanup steps required after you tumble the calcite with acid? Just give the tumbles and the bowls a thorough rinse?
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