rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 16, 2024 11:28:44 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 16, 2024 11:32:21 GMT -5
Striving for perfection is never a bad thing. Even if you don't always achieve it, it's a honorable goal to have.  Good luck on your tumble! |
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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 Mar 16, 2024 11:33:17 GMT -5
Looks great!
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 16, 2024 11:42:33 GMT -5
I’m the only variable at this point! 😋 I hope I do these beauts justice! Thank you for your kind words 🥰 I will check in a week and post updates with pics.
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Post by Starguy on Mar 16, 2024 11:54:27 GMT -5
Congrats on the new tumbler. Lortones are solid.
Perfect stones are possible but pretty rare. It seems like there is always a crack or pit somewhere. I’ve learned to live with imperfect stones. Some flaws improve the rocks or at least let you know it really is a rock.
The one thing I can’t stand are those shallow angle cracks just under the surface. They are very visible too. Luckily a few more weeks in the barrel usually makes them go away.
Looking forward to seeing your quartz finished. I think Hogg mine rose quartz can exhibit asterism. The pieces in the photo look like they could star.
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 16, 2024 12:03:30 GMT -5
Congrats on the new tumbler. Lortones are solid. Perfect stones are possible but pretty rare. It seems like there is always a crack or pit somewhere. I’ve learned to live with imperfect stones. Some flaws improve the rocks or at least let you know it really is a rock. The one thing I can’t stand are those shallow angle cracks just under the surface. They are very visible too. Luckily a few more weeks in the barrel usually makes them go away. Looking forward to seeing your quartz finished. I think Hogg mine rose quartz can exhibit asterism. The pieces in the photo look like they could star. 💯 why I REALLY want a sphere maker, from my understanding it has to be cut along the c axis (spherical) to see it. I’m hoping tumbler round might be enough to see it? 🤷♀️ Thats quite a star you have of your own! 😍 |
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Post by Starguy on Mar 16, 2024 12:19:36 GMT -5
It’s possible to see stars in rough material but it takes some experience. Tumbler round will be enough to show stars but they will be irregularly shaped. Rose quartz can show stars when backlit sometimes. Your rose quartz looks super solid and clear. I’ve got lots of stars but that is one of my favorites. Rose quartz stars can be pretty unique. I have a sphere of rose quartz from Madagascar. It is absolutely covered with stars. Some of them are 12 rayed.
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 16, 2024 17:50:09 GMT -5
Even if they aren't perfect, that material is going to look great when you are done.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,818 
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Post by Mark K on Mar 16, 2024 18:36:28 GMT -5
Striving for perfection is good. It is not going to happen very often, but it does occasionally peek out of the rock from time to time. The thing is, if you don't have the rough with the potential, you will not get perfection. I have a personal thing with not wanting to fool with stuff that is not to my standards. Everyone else seems to like the stuff fine, but I don't feel it is good enough. This causes me to discard thousands of chunks of good material in favor of the really great stuff. I know my expectations are not realistic, but it still goes on.
Don't end up like me, overly concerned with perfect.
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 16, 2024 19:21:40 GMT -5
You can make a sphere with a hole bit, a drill, and patience. Just keep rolling the stone against the hole bit and it will sphere. I think you could start from 120/220 grit too. Rumors that 60/90 needs larger barrels / more force to grind efficiently. Also if you're striving for perfection, grinding with a finer grit might help in the long run by entirely avoiding deep scratches/bruises. Yup that’s exactly why I got some ^_^ and play with the idea of making a 3 head. If I’d buy one it’d be the HP one. The range is pretty awesome on it. They are pricey however. |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 16, 2024 19:33:10 GMT -5
Well, let me elaborate a little bit on perfect. I feel like these rocks didn’t come into existence, exist all this time just to have stoo-ped hoo-man (me) come along and fook em up. So I feel bad my first batch still has small fractures or things I could have gotten rid of if I had treated them with more respect/patience. Now these citrines and rose quartz’s, they are so juicy and gemmy with no internal fractures, I HAVE to do my best for them to reach max potential. Cause if they come out messed up it’s all on me and that will make me feel bad.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 17, 2024 0:16:13 GMT -5
Well, let me elaborate a little bit on perfect. I feel like these rocks didn’t come into existence, exist all this time just to have stoo-ped hoo-man (me) come along and fook em up. So I feel bad my first batch still has small fractures or things I could have gotten rid of if I had treated them with more respect/patience. Now these citrines and rose quartz’s, they are so juicy and gemmy with no internal fractures, I HAVE to do my best for them to reach max potential. Cause if they come out messed up it’s all on me and that will make me feel bad. I don't tumble, but I know from reading a gazillion tumbling posts from the experts on this board that there is a method to be followed, including making sure you have enough smalls, cushioning or ceramics in the barrel in the correct amount to prevent a lot of that from happening, or at least drastically reducing it. The most important thing I've learned is that you need a LOT of patience (which is why I don't tumble) to do it right. If you have to leave them in extra weeks in a stage to get them to the point that they are flawless enough to proceed to the next stage, then that's what you have to do. Don't be afraid to ask if you're unsure if you should move them on or if you need any other help. I won't be able to answer your questions, but I sure can be here to root you on! BTW, you can re-tumble your last batch to improve them if you wanted to. Just a thought. |
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titaniumkid
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 499
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Post by titaniumkid on Mar 17, 2024 0:17:01 GMT -5
Very lovely rocks and I'm excited to see your updates  I don't think you'll make a mess of it. |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 17, 2024 8:14:26 GMT -5
Striving for perfection is good. It is not going to happen very often, but it does occasionally peek out of the rock from time to time. The thing is, if you don't have the rough with the potential, you will not get perfection. I have a personal thing with not wanting to fool with stuff that is not to my standards. Everyone else seems to like the stuff fine, but I don't feel it is good enough. This causes me to discard thousands of chunks of good material in favor of the really great stuff. I know my expectations are not realistic, but it still goes on. Don't end up like me, overly concerned with perfect. You are absolutely right! Easier said than done I’m sure. I want to do the rocks justice but also need to show some grace to myself. I sure do wanna keep the fun in it and not feel under the gun so to speak. I’m sure in my case the rock IS fine and it’s more projection about myself than the rock maybe. I’ve seen rocks for sale that absolutely on par with my first rumbling results. I will try to keep your words in the back of my head! |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 17, 2024 8:30:04 GMT -5
I don't tumble, but I know from reading a gazillion tumbling posts from the experts on this board that there is a method to be followed, including making sure you have enough smalls, cushioning or ceramics in the barrel in the correct amount to prevent a lot of that from happening, or at least drastically reducing it. The most important thing I've learned is that you need a LOT of patience (which is why I don't tumble) to do it right. If you have to leave them in extra weeks in a stage to get them to the point that they are flawless enough to proceed to the next stage, then that's what you have to do. Don't be afraid to ask if you're unsure if you should move them on or if you need any other help. I won't be able to answer your questions, but I sure can be here to root you on! BTW, you can re-tumble your last batch to improve them if you wanted to. Just a thought. Absolutely correct! I believe I’m over the learning curve hump and now is just abt dialing it in. I do have patience in abundance for tedious things, it was my excitement to push them through and see the shine. Also I only had the one tumbler so either they all went through or they all stayed behind for another grind and I did course grind until until I was worried abt grinding them away. Anywho, lessons have been learned and I followed Rob’s advice for 80% full for more grinding action and more cushion ie less fracturing for the 1st stage. The citrine was all pretty small so that was another reason throwing the rose quartz in there made sense.🤞🤞🤞 What do you do with your rocks? Jewelry? Cabochons? |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 17, 2024 8:31:28 GMT -5
Very lovely rocks and I'm excited to see your updates I don't think you'll make a mess of it. Thank you! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 17, 2024 10:02:16 GMT -5
I don't tumble, but I know from reading a gazillion tumbling posts from the experts on this board that there is a method to be followed, including making sure you have enough smalls, cushioning or ceramics in the barrel in the correct amount to prevent a lot of that from happening, or at least drastically reducing it. The most important thing I've learned is that you need a LOT of patience (which is why I don't tumble) to do it right. If you have to leave them in extra weeks in a stage to get them to the point that they are flawless enough to proceed to the next stage, then that's what you have to do. Don't be afraid to ask if you're unsure if you should move them on or if you need any other help. I won't be able to answer your questions, but I sure can be here to root you on! BTW, you can re-tumble your last batch to improve them if you wanted to. Just a thought. Absolutely correct! I believe I’m over the learning curve hump and now is just abt dialing it in. I do have patience in abundance for tedious things, it was my excitement to push them through and see the shine. Also I only had the one tumbler so either they all went through or they all stayed behind for another grind and I did course grind until until I was worried abt grinding them away. Anywho, lessons have been learned and I followed Rob’s advice for 80% full for more grinding action and more cushion ie less fracturing for the 1st stage. The citrine was all pretty small so that was another reason throwing the rose quartz in there made sense.🤞🤞🤞 What do you do with your rocks? Jewelry? Cabochons? There will always be some rocks that are just duds, even if they look perfectly fine before you start tumbling them. Small internal fractures that you don't see blow up once some of the stress is released on them, etc. Best thing to do with them is to set them free in your rock garden or something so they don't mess up the rest of the batch. Rob is a great instructor and has helped so many people getting started with tumbling. If I ever got an itch to start tumbling, I'd probably start with him, too. I do cabbing, some freeform carving, wire wrapping and silversmithing. Haven't done much of anything in the last year due to some personal issues I am dealing with. Time to get back in the saddle and start being productive! |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 17, 2024 18:26:35 GMT -5
I do cabbing, some freeform carving, wire wrapping and silversmithing. Haven't done much of anything in the last year due to some personal issues I am dealing with. Time to get back in the saddle and start being productive! Very cool! Any tips on making a good heart shaped rock? 🏇🏼 Giddyup! |
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Mar 17, 2024 18:57:17 GMT -5
I’ve always told people Loretones are the Honda Civics of tumblers: built to last.
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Mar 17, 2024 19:20:24 GMT -5
A good pair of large Tile Nibblers (or trim saw or any grinding machine) can help to cob the pieces with bruises and fractures before processing further.
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I don't think you'll make a mess of it. 
