docholiday
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2007
Posts: 9
|
Post by docholiday on May 11, 2007 14:00:00 GMT -5
Well phase one of my first tumble is now done after 5 days. I tumbled Emerald rough, Garnett Rough and I believe Aqua Marine rough all together and am just curious after running with Coarse 50/60 grit what I should expect to see. The stones appear to be cleaner but there are still rough edges and corners also the meralds still have matrix on some of them. Should I shape them with a dremel before continuing or should I just repeat phase one.
thanks for your help it is greatly appreciated.
Doc
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on May 11, 2007 14:26:53 GMT -5
A few things, this cabochon forum is generally more about cabochons cut on wheels, but no harm there, just not really the proper forum.
You chose some HARD stuff for your first tumble, not only hardness hard, but difficult to get good results tumbling, so keep that in mind.
And phase one is almost NEVER done in a week, your grit will break down, so it needs to be re-charged every 7-10 days, but most rough- even of the common tumble fodder (agates and jaspers) typically needs at least 2-3 weeks before phase one is actually done.
What you describe is totally in line with what we'd expect after a short week rolling in course grit, but it's also a ways away from what we'd consider done with the first phase.
Emerald and aquamarine are beryls and most likely harder than your garnets, so keep an eye on the garnets and remove them once they start to look like they've been smoothed over, or else the other stones will just eat them away.
Cleaning out matrix or smoothing rough spots with a dremel (you'll need diamond implements) can help shorten the duration needed, but you for sure should re-charge/repeat phase one, probably a couple of times, with those stones I'd expect some of them will need 4-6 weeks.
Probably not what you wanted to hear.....
|
|
docholiday
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2007
Posts: 9
|
Post by docholiday on May 11, 2007 14:43:29 GMT -5
No no problem at all exactly what I wanted to hear. I am totaly new to this and it seems really cool hard to be patiewnt but what do I have to lose I am just trying to make some cool jewelry for my wife and her friends ect. I re-charged the media and it is spinning again He He will go until next friday then pull out the garnets.
I will post pics of progress next time. What is a good range of hardness to mix I looked up gemstone harness and got a chart that had numbers and it said 7.5-8 for emeralds and 9 for rubies. After theese I have rubies and citrine,peridot,amethyst and two others not sure what they are I will post in the ID forum, what range should I tumble together.
Thank you very much for your help
Doc
|
|
