Joy
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 69
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Post by Joy on Sept 26, 2005 0:09:51 GMT -5
I haven't tumbled any rocks yet; actually, I haven't bought a tumbler yet! I started buying gemstone beads on e-Bay and got hooked on gemstones. I particularly like banded fluorite and other transparent stones.
As soon as I decide between a rotary and vibratory tumbler (Lortone 33B and Mini Sonic MT-4 or MT10...any suggestions?), I'd like to purchase some fluorite as well as jasper and agate and get busy. I know fluorite is only 4 on the Moh hardness scale while jasper & agate are 7-8...Anybody have any tips on working with fluorite?
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Post by xenaswolf on Sept 26, 2005 2:23:00 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. You might check in the lapidary tips section to find out more about different stones. Also post your questions about the different tumblers in the general board..you'll get more replies there I'm sure  |
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 26, 2005 10:57:14 GMT -5
Flourite is soft so work it alone- also cusion it (with plastic craft pellets or something similiar) as Flourite has a nasty habit of fracturing along a plane (it breaks off leaving a flat surface) I would save the Flourite tumbling until you get a couple of batches under your belt! Welcome
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Post by rockds on Sept 26, 2005 11:41:06 GMT -5
Welcome joe, what stefan said - good luck and ask if you don't know, the people here are a great help.
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Joy
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 69
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Post by Joy on Sept 26, 2005 18:14:08 GMT -5
Thanks to all of you for such quick replies! This is an awesome board and 'beginners' like me can learn sooo much. I found out the University I just retired from has a craft center and offers an introductory 2 hour class on beginning lapidary tumbling on Oct 30; I'm going to take it and then decide on a tumbler...a rotary to start with.
Again...THANK YOU joy
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Post by LCARS on Sept 27, 2005 2:42:58 GMT -5
Joy, Welcome to the site! It seems like only a week ago that I was being welcomed as a new member here... Wait a second! It WAS just a week ago! LOL!!  Anyways... Get yourself a black light. and I mean a REAL black light! The fluorescent tube kind, not the screw in bulb kind. You need to get at least a 12-15w tube & fixture. Then turn off all the lights & shine the black light directly over a pile of your fluorites. You will probably notice some of them will be glowing bluish & if you're lucky, even some red & yellow bits or streaks. Not all of the samples I have seen do this. It depends on the impurities that were present when it formed & where it came from. That IS after all why it's called fluorite, becuase it fluoresces under ultraviolet radiation. Mostly UVB & UVC spectrums. Black light bulbs only give off a little bit of UVA radiation & will not work on most fluorescent minerals. UVB is generated by a black light tube & UVC... Well, you don't really want to mess with that. Post some pics of the ones that do glow! Also, check out my forum post in "Member Photos" on "Fluorescent Agate"  |
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Dr DG
fully equipped rock polisher
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,849
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Post by Dr DG on Sept 27, 2005 16:39:31 GMT -5
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Post by LCARS on Sept 28, 2005 2:10:36 GMT -5
Thanks webmaster Fish! I was thinking maybe I should have posted the link but you know with my luck on these things it would have figured out a way to crash the system somehow  |
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fatrichie
has rocks in the head
Member since July 2004
Posts: 651
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Post by fatrichie on Sept 30, 2005 0:08:20 GMT -5
Welcome Joy, you'll learn a lot here. Don't be shy, jump right in and start enjoying this great hobby!!
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Post by Cher on Sept 30, 2005 9:03:34 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum Joy. Can't help you on the tumbler to buy as I'm predjudiced toward the Lortones *smile* (it's all I have). I'm sure you'll learn plenty about the vibes and stuff tho, there's lots here who use them.
Cher
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