Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 2, 2005 18:01:03 GMT -5
Happy New Year all. I got my... my sons (his present ;D) first batch started on Christmas. It was a mixed batch of Az petrified, gold tiger eye and banded amethyst. I just moved eveything to the second stage (level?) of grit today.
I was amazed on how much rock you lose. I noticed especially on the petrified deep crevices and pits also some deep cracks.
Should rocks like these be discarded, or broken to smaller peices or ran through stage one again? I cleaned them up good and kept them in.
Also is the adding of soap necessary? I didn't have any on hand and my son was really eager to get them going.
I'm going to place an order tommorow for more rock and grit. Any recos on something with vibrant banding or colorings. The kids loved the tigereye.
Bill
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 2, 2005 18:07:12 GMT -5
my suggestion, if this is your (and your sons) first batch is to run'em, get some plastic pellets to pump up the load at the final stages...see how much they are interested and go from there.
KD
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Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 2, 2005 18:58:46 GMT -5
As for keeping their interest, we check them daily. But they're more interested in the end result so far (5 year old twins). As for me, I'm really enjoying it so far. I just started a second batch, and now I'm out of rock.
I also see why you guys have several tumblers. I can see a second one ordered very shortly.
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Jan 2, 2005 19:11:17 GMT -5
Watch out!
We stated with a C/C twin 3 lbs. barrel. Soon picked up a Thumbler's twin 3 lbs. barrel Then a UV-10 Vibe tumbler Along came a Lortone twin 6lb barrels.
We then added a 8" Lortone trim saw.
The car is now out of the garage. There are buckets of rocks ALL over the place. We are now considering ordering grit by the 50 lb box. I have been drawing plans for a home made tumbler that will turn a cool dozen 12 lb barrels. The next thing added will be a grinder (don't know where that will go, since the garage is too cold for a water line).
We do the rocks together as a family and I have to tell you the kids are right next to us. What a great family hobby! The rockhounding trips are a blast.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 2, 2005 19:39:53 GMT -5
that is SO cool ;D, glad you guys are finding rocks as a family and sharing the joy,
KD
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 2, 2005 19:42:42 GMT -5
my thoughts are that you've moved to stage 2 too fast - you say you started them christmas day? my 1st stage takes forever - months. what kind of tumbler are you using.
kim
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Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 2, 2005 20:22:24 GMT -5
The car is now out of the garage. There are buckets of rocks ALL over the place. I miss having a garage I have to clean out a room under my back porch. Until then we have the tumble in the basement bathroom.
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Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 2, 2005 20:32:24 GMT -5
my thoughts are that you've moved to stage 2 too fast - you say you started them christmas day? my 1st stage takes forever - months. what kind of tumbler are you using. kim The tumbler is a Lortone 33B. The tiger eye and the amethyst were fine, from what I could see, some tiny pits. The petrified had noticable blemishes. I did learn alot so far. Seeing the diference from stage one I now know to seperate better, and to have alot of rock to pick from. I only ordered 3lbs total so the choices were slim. I've decided to order a minimum of 5 lbs per type. I'm also going to hit some landscaping suppliers. I just finished reading the first 20 pages of the board here, and have a load of notes taken.
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Post by Cher on Jan 2, 2005 20:37:15 GMT -5
It's really best to look at them dry in a nice bright light, if they have blemishes or pitting, put them back in the first stage 60/90. They aren't going to go away in the following stages.
Cher
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 2, 2005 20:38:57 GMT -5
hope you check some of the photos too, they are a real testimonial.
KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 2, 2005 20:45:21 GMT -5
I would suggest staying in phase one as long as need be. Grind down anything you see as a blemish. And 1 week is barely long enough for my vibe, don't think it's enough for a rotary. Patience, my dear, that's the key. And the hard part cookie
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Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 2, 2005 21:29:55 GMT -5
Should blemishes be ground out before or during stage 1 ?
Is a dremel good for grinding out blemishes? If so what kind of bit?
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Post by Cher on Jan 2, 2005 21:32:37 GMT -5
Yes, the coarse grit is the one you use for getting out the blemishes. Dremels work great for that, I do it all the time. I have some 40 grit burrs that I got off of eBay that I use. If I feel a stone is "ready" but it has a slight blemish, I take the blemish out with my dremel. Use a light touch and dip the stone in water. Wear a bib too! ;D
Cher
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 2, 2005 21:49:09 GMT -5
bill even if you did move too fast you can always go back to stage 1 and redo it all again. twin helpers - aren't you lucky!
kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 2, 2005 21:51:01 GMT -5
i havent been doing any tumbling latly bill but i have seen rock go up to 5 weeks in 60/90 till i liked what they looked like ---not all rocks take that long but if there are still rough spots in them put them back in 60/90 for another week and then check again--i have found most rock 7moh and over take more then 1 week in 60/90 to realy be satisfide at the end,, because if it dosent look the way your hoping for after 60/90 it wont get much better in the next stages so when you look at the rock from your 60/90 run thats pretty much what there gonna look like after polish except they will get alittle smoother and shine,,but any pits and cracks will still be there
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 2, 2005 23:08:49 GMT -5
I try to dremel with the same grit bit I would be tumbling at, like 80 grit in coarse, so it doesn't have to "catch up".
cookie
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Bill
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2004
Posts: 9
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Post by Bill on Jan 3, 2005 9:43:59 GMT -5
I try to dremel with the same grit bit I would be tumbling at, like 80 grit in coarse, so it doesn't have to "catch up". cookie So you grind just prior to starting stage 2? No need to do additional tumbling in stage 1?
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 4, 2005 1:45:37 GMT -5
i would think dremel grind it before stage 1 or during stage 1 kim
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