Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on May 17, 2005 20:04:56 GMT -5
I am on day 2 of tumbling in my new lortone tumbler. Had to stop and see what they looked like. I know patience......I am tumbling some amethyst, emeralds and some of the rocks that came in my kit, not sure what they are.
I have this grey bubbly stuff so I guess I am doing it right. Some of the stones are starting to round except the emeralds, not doing much of anything yet.
According to the lortone instructions, I am supposed to let it run in coarse for 5 days but I think it is going to take longer than that especially for the emeralds.
I found some Borax today. Should I use the Borax in between each cycle? And how much should I use?
I know I am such a newbie at all this but I am getting pretty excited at seeing the rocks change. I think I may be hooked.......I am going to have to start looking around for some more rocks to buy.
tonya
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Post by Cher on May 17, 2005 20:36:42 GMT -5
Hi Tonya,
Questions like this will get answered quicker if you post them on the general forum. This forum is for "tips" that othes have found that make things go easier and such.
But to answer your question. Grey bubbly stuff is called slurry. It's what you want and should not be watery but then they've only been tumbling for 2 days, it takes longer than that.
Most of the time the coarse stages lasts from 1 week to ? months ... depending on what your doing. It's not all going to be ready at one time. Best thing is to let 'er run for a week then check it over really good. Move whatever you think is ready to the side and add more rough to the barrel to keep it at optimum fullness. Keep doing this until you have enough to run the second stage.
Emeralds take forever ... browse through the general forum there's lots on emeralds there, also in members pics.
I do a borax wash between each different grit. Hot water, a couple tablespoons of borax and let it run for at least 2 hours.
You should consider getting plastic pellets in the stages after coarse. Helps keep the stones from banging into each other and fracturing. Get enough to have enough to use in each stage ... do not use the same ones all the way through. After each stage and wash, put them in a baggy or container marked for the grit they were used in.
Hope this answers your questions. Remember to post your questions on the General forum ok. *smile*
Cher
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on May 17, 2005 20:57:05 GMT -5
Ok, thanks, pretty new around here and wasnt sure where to post my questions.
Thanks
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Post by Cher on May 17, 2005 21:01:22 GMT -5
You're very welcome Tonya and Welcome to the forum! Take a minute and introduce yourself in the Visitors and Members forum too.
Cher
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Post by R L Short on May 17, 2005 23:29:34 GMT -5
I need instructions on tumbling sapphires, and where can I get a tumbler that is small enough to handle only and ounce or two of sapphires....
washington state
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Post by Tweetiepy on May 18, 2005 9:07:16 GMT -5
R L Short: try Toys'R us for the 1# kiddy tumbler or they also sell the tumblers as coin cleaners and they have smaller size barrels like 1 1/2#
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Post by Alice on May 20, 2005 2:21:54 GMT -5
I had emeralds in coarse for 6 weeks before I was happy with the shape (recharging the grit every 5 - 7 days).
Emeralds are 8 on the MOH scale.
From the sounds of it, all your other rocks range from 6 - 7, that's why they're not taking as long as the emeralds.
Borax... yes you should burnish with Borax, or mild soap like Ivory between stages. Especially before polish.
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wayne
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2005
Posts: 3
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Post by wayne on May 20, 2005 9:02:40 GMT -5
the emeralds will take more time. i tumble all of my stones(except for very soft) for 30 days in the first step. the grit will break down and when you open your tumbler after 30 days. pick out the ones that are ready for the next step. go straight to stage 3 bypassing stage 2. this will save you some efort.
have fun
enjoy your new hobby
wayne
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on May 20, 2005 9:28:17 GMT -5
Thanks, I figured the emeralds would take longer. Some of them are starting to look pretty good though. I was just anxious to get started and need to put something in with the amethyst. I had bought amethyst, emeralds and rubies off ebay and knew the rubies were too hard to put in with them cause they were a nine and the amethyst were a 7. Next time I will know enough to buy enough amethyst to fill the barrel.
I think I am going to get pretty addicted to this hobby.
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