HarryB41
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2004
Posts: 605
|
Post by HarryB41 on Dec 12, 2004 10:00:43 GMT -5
Well, it sure was hard to clean the barrel for the fine grit! The stones look gray now, not rust brown. I am trying an experiment, since I don't have enough pellets "uncontaminated" by coarse grit. I am putting some leftover sodalite in with the hematite. Since sodalite is even softer than hematite, this should actually round the sodalite a bit and get me started on my next load (which I plan to be the leftover sodalite). It is amazing how dense that stuff is...most of the volume in the barrel is sodalite, but most of the weight is hematite! btw, it is awfully cloudy here in NE Ohio. Maybe someday I will get to take some more pictures in the sun? If the sun ever shows up again... I am not an expert by any means but......., won't the hematite stain or discolor the sodalite? I am pretty sure I read somewhere on here that it does ruin any other stone placed in with it. Please forgive me if I am wrong, but I am not the brightest bulb on the tree. ;D Harry
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 12, 2004 10:33:40 GMT -5
Well, if so, then I guess I will find out what hematite stained sodalite looks like. The hematite slurry color is almost purple, it might be interesting. I thought that the rough grit tumble the sodalite will still have to got through would take care of any discoloration...guess I will find out!
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 19, 2004 9:14:53 GMT -5
Well, started my polish cycle. Had to clean out a lot of "paint", but not NEARLY as bad as with the coarse grit. Odd thing is that the hematite rounded the sodalite considerably. With the polishing, I might not even have to do any more with the sodalite...there were just a few "dotted" scratches left anyway. Maybe I will get a "twofer" in this load? BTW, the sodalite did not seem discolored at all, at least to my untrained eye.
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 25, 2004 7:39:28 GMT -5
Well, the polish slurry looked a bit funny, but the stones look beautiful. Even the sodalite looks fantastic...maybe the hematite made big U grooves instead of little V pnes? I'll know more when it dries, but for now I am taking a "tumbling vacation"...I'm buried in snow here in the Cleveland area and have a big Christmas week ahead. And I can't go out in back to empty my tub, which is now full. Maybe you'll see me on the Life, Universe and Everything forum I helped force our administrator to create :-) Till let you know more when the rocks dry (and likely look worse :-) ).
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 26, 2004 10:57:12 GMT -5
Well, as before, the sodalite could have polished better. Hematite looked a silvery grey and polished better. If the sun ever comes out with decent weather in Cleveland area ever again, I'll try to get some pictures up for you.
|
|
HarryB41
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2004
Posts: 605
|
Post by HarryB41 on Dec 26, 2004 13:50:58 GMT -5
Well, as before, the sodalite could have polished better. Hematite looked a silvery grey and polished better. If the sun ever comes out with decent weather in Cleveland area ever again, I'll try to get some pictures up for you. I can not wait to see the photos. Sunny day eh? could be a long wait. lol I am also in Cleveland and I will tell you this.... I hate winter and we just got the beating of a liftime this past week here. I am on the border of Lakewood and Cleveland... Clifton Blvd ring a bell? Harry
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 27, 2004 13:19:46 GMT -5
I hear you. I had to STAY OVERNIGHT at work...the next day I got out of the parking lot at 1:30 AM (I work second shift) and got my car into the garage and myself into bed at 6:30 AM!. But my 83 year old aunt walked a block uphill to catch the 6 AM bus to get to work, falling several times!
|
|
Mazanec
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 355
|
Post by Mazanec on Dec 29, 2004 6:17:48 GMT -5
It is warming pretty fast. Maybe I'll be snow free sooner than I thought (I can hope...).
|
|