|
Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 19, 2005 9:40:05 GMT -5
I was looking into getting a load of amethysts to tumble for making jewellry for my daughter. I'm very new at this, was wondering if anyone had any help/tips to dish out? Grit type? time frame? results? Is this recommended for newbies? I also saw a nice batch of Montana Agate Slices for sale - are these also Newbie-friendly? Thanks
|
|
llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
|
Post by llanago on Jan 19, 2005 10:07:01 GMT -5
Can't help with the Amethyst, never done any, but done tons of agates of all kinds. I would say agates are newby friendly. They are a nice, hard stone and easy to polish. They DO take a long time in 60/90 though, unless you are able to trim them. You will start most rocks in 60/90, 80, or 46/70 grits - the coarse grits. Your softer stones you might want to start in 100 or 120. As far as how long, as long as it takes to get them shaped and smoothed to your liking. Then a week in the other grits. Although mine sometimes run 7, 10, 14, 25, etc. days because I am either too busy or too tired to mess with them. Of course, when I first started tumbling, it was hard to wait 7 days, so they were always recharged on schedule. I LOVE AGATES!! llana
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 19, 2005 10:28:53 GMT -5
Do I have to add more grit in the coarse cycle (every week?) Can I let them tumble for 2 weeks on whatever was added at the start of the cycle?
And... should there be tiny little bits of rock added or can I just tumble 1/2" pieces or whatever size pieces I have - do I need little bitty pieces as "filler grit"?
|
|
Jon
starting to shine!
Member since January 2005
Posts: 43
|
Post by Jon on Jan 21, 2005 17:55:18 GMT -5
Remember these definitions:
jasper: an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
agate: an impure form of quartz consisting of banded chalcedony; used as a gemstone and for making mortar and pestles
chalcedony: A translucent to transparent milky or grayish quartz with distinctive microscopic crystals arranged in slender fibers in parallel bands
And of course amethyst (and citrine and ametrine and smokey) are all types of quartz also.
So, tumbling amethyst should require very little difference from the way you would tumble agate or jasper.
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jan 21, 2005 19:33:11 GMT -5
i've had some good results with amethyst, i think it is a very good newbie stone, although like most quartz, be ready for a lot of internal fracturing. some of my first stones were amethyst and have been do-overs for a number of weeks and end up quite worthwhile. they make very nice jewelry if you can get some fracture free stones.
in fact, i have a load in polish now that i got from Kingsley that i cut up some of the larger pieces and some of these are going to be very nice when finished.
you can let them run 2 weeks without recharging with new grit, it just may take longer to shape than if you recharge with fresh every 7-10 days.
the proportion of sizes of your stones is extremely important for a good load. i am assuming you have a 3 pound barrel rotary tumbler, there should be not all one size or shape, balance the load, not all large, not all small but a combination. i try to put in some round filler to balance my flats, about 50% 1/2 to 5/8 inch to 25% 3/4-1-1/2" and 25% smaller than 1/2 inch. you can tell if you have the right proportion as it will go to slurry quite quickly. when your balance is off it will stay watery and the grit won't breakdown.
my opinion here, not gospel,
KD
and if you have a vibe, disregard all of the above!
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 21, 2005 21:43:17 GMT -5
well since you are on the subject of amethyst, i'd like to know is there a certain kind you can buy that is not fractured like if you want to cab it?
kim
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jan 22, 2005 13:33:44 GMT -5
I have done small pieces of amethyst I just bought some larger pieces of amethyst to tumble. I didn't have very many problems with my smaller pieces of amethyst, I think only one or two broke in half with the tumbling, but they might have already been fractured and the tumbling just completed the fracture, I did wind up with some sand size pieces that had come off and they polished up very well and I plan on using that on something. Tami
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Jan 23, 2005 15:55:10 GMT -5
I'm pretty new to this also bt I have some Amethyst running now (in a mix)- one thing I learned is the cleaner (less fractured) the stone to start- the less likely to "chip" in the barrel- I did some small points years ago that I had picked up at a show- They were small (1/2") but nearly fracture free and they came out beautiful (and this was in a rolling stones kids machine) Patience was the key - and if you have a shop nearby- it is worth a little extra money to hand pick your stuff!
|
|