Raquel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by Raquel on Mar 17, 2008 12:52:44 GMT -5
Last year my boyfriend & I went to Franklin, NC where we did some "gem grubbin" & brought home quite a bit of Ruby/Sapphire rough stones... some may be worth cutting & cabbing for a nice star. My boyfriend wants to but them in a rock tumbler since neither of us are gem cutters (yet... LOL). I decided to buy him a vibratory tumbler for his birthday... but beyond that I have no idea what type of medium to buy (same as for a conventional tumbler??).
Any advice or information would be appreciated. Anyone else worked with North Carolina rough gems? I know most are industrial quality, so I'm wondering what to do with all of them?
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Mar 17, 2008 15:41:04 GMT -5
Hi Raquel. I cant really help with the vibe tumbler, I have regular ones. I do think the grit is different for the vibe though. There are lots of people here who use vibes and I'm sure they'll be along soon.
Anywho... I just wanted to welcome you to the board. I'm sure you're gonna love it here. ;D
~~Mitzi~~
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Mar 17, 2008 17:51:10 GMT -5
You've already bought the tumbler? If not, I'd suggest starting with a roller. They're a lot quieter, cheaper, and easier to handle... just set it and forget it! First determine exactly what kind of minerals you're tumbling, you want them all about the same hardness. Ruby and sapphire are both corundum, which is a 9... and that's very hard. Probably better to start with something like agate or amethyst.
Vibratory tumblers use the same grit as rotary, silicon carbide, but what they don't do well is rounding and shaping. Most will put their stones through a couple weeks or a month in a rotary and then finish them in a vibratory. Hope this helps a bit.
SirRoxalot
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 18, 2008 3:32:39 GMT -5
Hi Raqel,
I have a Lot "O" vibe BUT always do the first stage in the roller tumbler as most people do.
Vibes are VERY agressive and the need constant attention in the first stage to keep them mobile Im told + the fact they have difficultie in rubbing the corners off and smothind as Sirrocksalot says above ,
From 2 nd stage 220grit they cut the running time down dramaticaly (10 days to a gloss finish) but need a close ck every few hours to keep the rocks mobile with a few squirts of water
have a good day
jack
Yorkshire UK
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Raquel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by Raquel on Mar 18, 2008 23:28:38 GMT -5
Thanks all.... I agreed with the vibratory tumbler idea because I though it would remove less stone but still bring up some 'polish' details.... in essence, in an attempt to see if there are any *star* possibilities. I may, of course, be wayyyyy off ~ LOL
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 19, 2008 9:38:03 GMT -5
You are correct. Vibe tumblers maintain most of the shape you start with. That is a good thing if you don't want the tumbled pebble look.
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