python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 18, 2024 22:57:28 GMT -5
Just finished my first run of rocks. They're nothing special, just some random rocks that my wife and I have collected here and there mixed with mostly landscaping rocks that I bought from Home Depot. I want to run a couple of test runs before moving on to good rocks. This is the machine that I used. I bought it from Amazon.  I ran all of the stages in that machine. I followed Rob's (Michigan Rocks) instructions and left it on the lowest speed for all stages. Some of them didn't take a shine which I attribute to them not being the type of rock that can be polished. Here are a few pics of them:    Here are a few of my favorites from the batch:  All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the results. I am in the process of setting up some other tumblers. I purchased two of the Harbor Freight new model twin barrel tumblers and just finished doing some modifications on them. And I also just received my MT-4 Mini Sonic today. My plan is to use the Amazon tumbler for the first stage and once they're ready, move them to the slower Harbor Freight tumblers and the MT-4. If anyone is interested in more photos, let me know and I'll post them. Thanks! |
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Post by pebblesky on Jul 18, 2024 23:31:13 GMT -5
These look pretty nice! Some of them are quite charming. Rob should have mentioned buying the final polish grit somewhere else, since 1200 grit is not fine enough for final polish, but since these rocks might have mixed hardness and some are grainy, a proper final polish might still not achieve super shiny result on some of them.
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 18, 2024 23:38:01 GMT -5
He did.
I forgot to mention that I didn't use the supplied grit. I bought grit from The Rock Shed.
I used 60/90 SiC, 120/220 Sic, 500 AO, and the polishing grit which I believe is 8000 AO.
The pics don't show how well they turned out. I will try to post some better pics tomorrow with better lighting.
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 18, 2024 23:48:14 GMT -5
Here is a pic of one of them with a little better lighting:  |
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 19, 2024 0:01:15 GMT -5
Here is one that didn't pick up much shine at all. There are only a few that didn't. I think that it is the type of rock. It looks like a sedimentary type rock. But I could be wrong as I'm new and learning.  |
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Post by pebblesky on Jul 19, 2024 1:30:01 GMT -5
It seems you did a really great job in tumbling these! Time to experiment on some different materials.
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Post by chris1956 on Jul 19, 2024 7:03:33 GMT -5
Here is a pic of one of them with a little better lighting: This one looks like quartzite which can be difficult to polish. Nice. |
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 19, 2024 8:42:29 GMT -5
Thanks!
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 19, 2024 15:35:08 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 21, 2024 21:53:27 GMT -5
Way to go python! Congrats on getting through the first batch...and congrats on starting to learn which rocks will or won't likely take a polish!  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2024 22:58:00 GMT -5
Those are looking great! Thanks for sharing!
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Jul 22, 2024 22:51:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments 👍
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 19:06:43 GMT -5
python Nice job on the tumbling and the photos and thanks for sharing. I have found that even the rocks that don't take a shine are improved by their newfound smoothness and their lack of greying patina and have an appeal of their own.
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Sept 12, 2024 20:14:13 GMT -5
python Nice job on the tumbling and the photos and thanks for sharing. I have found that even the rocks that don't take a shine are improved by their newfound smoothness and their lack of greying patina and have an appeal of their own. Thanks! I agree. I like the ones that don't pick up a polish as well. It's fun to see them get shaped and smoothed. I was just looking at the pics and noticed all of the imperfections on them from not tumbling long enough. I was so excited and impatient on that first batch that I think I only ran it through stage 1 twice. I am much more selective now when removing from stage 1 😂. Trying to get the best from each rock becomes very addicting very quickly. |
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 20:41:52 GMT -5
Trying to get the best from each rock becomes very addicting very quickly. That it does, indeed ! I still use the Harbor Freight 3LBx2 tumbler for stage one for a week and re-run stones that seem to need more time with the next batch and then they go into the RayTech10 vibratory for usually 2-3 days for each the rest of the stages ... with burnishing with Dawn and Borax between stages. With the vibe, things move along much more quickly and results can be seen in a couple of weeks that use to take a month or more. Reading here and asking questions and watching the RobVideos is VERY helpful! |
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