Post by scottyh on Mar 6, 2008 18:39:39 GMT -5
Hi all I have been lurking for a while,
I have been into tumbling for a 2 or 3 years now. I use all home built gear and have a 45 lb tumbler running all the time with my rough on the go all the time and 3-4 15 lb barrels with the fine grind and polish stages as needed. I tend to use 36 grit in the big barrel and check every one to two days with a wash up once a fortnight and remove and move on pieces as needed. Most of my rough is sourced locally from Birdlings flat on Banks Peninsula (all agate) or from the Canterbury foothills (mainly agate but some petrified wood as well). I tumble pieces up to slightly large than a softball. Also slab and pieces from about 10 cm in size up at the local clubrooms will post pics next time I remember to get a camera out during a wash up. My current project is the building of a vibrolap (800 mm diam). When I get that done will be able to catch up on some of the larger pieces of agate I have laying around.
To keep things interesting I have included this link to the website one of the members of our local club (http://www.birdlingsmuseum.741.com/).. Vince has been a dedicated tumbler and collector for many years and has a fantastic collection. Apart from the photos of some wonderfully polished material (you really need to go and see it). There is an interesting section about the recovery of a 68 kg (153 lb) agate nodule found in the Canterbury. Unfortunately the biggest nodule I have found at the site was a mere 22 kg (49 lb), however there is always next time.
Cheers
ScottyH
I have been into tumbling for a 2 or 3 years now. I use all home built gear and have a 45 lb tumbler running all the time with my rough on the go all the time and 3-4 15 lb barrels with the fine grind and polish stages as needed. I tend to use 36 grit in the big barrel and check every one to two days with a wash up once a fortnight and remove and move on pieces as needed. Most of my rough is sourced locally from Birdlings flat on Banks Peninsula (all agate) or from the Canterbury foothills (mainly agate but some petrified wood as well). I tumble pieces up to slightly large than a softball. Also slab and pieces from about 10 cm in size up at the local clubrooms will post pics next time I remember to get a camera out during a wash up. My current project is the building of a vibrolap (800 mm diam). When I get that done will be able to catch up on some of the larger pieces of agate I have laying around.
To keep things interesting I have included this link to the website one of the members of our local club (http://www.birdlingsmuseum.741.com/).. Vince has been a dedicated tumbler and collector for many years and has a fantastic collection. Apart from the photos of some wonderfully polished material (you really need to go and see it). There is an interesting section about the recovery of a 68 kg (153 lb) agate nodule found in the Canterbury. Unfortunately the biggest nodule I have found at the site was a mere 22 kg (49 lb), however there is always next time.
Cheers
ScottyH
