rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 25, 2008 1:51:39 GMT -5
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Post by texaswoodie on Jun 25, 2008 6:42:41 GMT -5
Petrified wood is indeed special and yes, that's a knot. Love those knots.
Fantastic tumble as always Don.
Curt
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Post by Noosh9057 on Jun 25, 2008 7:31:08 GMT -5
I love Petrified wood. You did a great job.
Roger
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Jun 25, 2008 14:50:37 GMT -5
I still think that pet wood is a special material. And even if it wouldn't be, it surely becomes special once it gets in one of your magic barrels.
adrian
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 25, 2008 17:07:21 GMT -5
Awesome shine Don, and love that woodgrain. Pet wood will always be a favorite with me and like you've said, it becomes even more special when self collected.....Mel
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Post by akansan on Jun 25, 2008 17:20:19 GMT -5
I was thinking along the same lines as Adrian. Pet wood polished by Don is extra special. Gotta say, I love pet wood. There's just something really, really neat about it...even if it is "common".
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Jun 25, 2008 19:52:22 GMT -5
Well...Momma always said...common is as common does...
While it may not be considered "rare",to me, pet wood is special. And look at those beautiful wood grains you brought out.
So Don...if you had to estimate...how much time did you actually spend on this batch with a dremel or any other tool trying to get nice shapes?
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Post by rockrookie on Jun 25, 2008 20:36:19 GMT -5
nice job !! those are amazing !!
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holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
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Post by holdemplyer on Jun 26, 2008 7:44:24 GMT -5
That is a very beautiful batch. your pictures are just one more reason I've developed an obsession with petrified wood. Thanks for sharing your outstanding batch!
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Post by creativeminded on Jun 26, 2008 8:13:11 GMT -5
I love tumbling pet wood, it always turns out so beautiful.
Yours turned out great.
Tami
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Post by rocklicker on Jun 27, 2008 1:12:38 GMT -5
I don't care if it's common, I think it's wonderful. You really got a brilliant shine on those. Nice colors and patterns too.
Steve
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 27, 2008 2:44:09 GMT -5
Hi Don,
You hit the nail on the head with that shine great stuff
You can realy see into that wood especialy with that shine excelent job
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 29, 2008 2:18:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the accolades everyone!!
181lizard, I don't shape rocks with a Dremel, that's done through many weeks of coarse grinding in the barrel (maybe 6-8 weeks of coarse for most of these petwood pieces, longer for some of the big ones). I use a Dremel after a few weeks of coarse grinding to remove stubborn blemishes or pits on the stones, then let the barrel smooth out the Dremel marks over several more weeks. So how long with a Dremel on this batch of wood?... I'd guestimate a total of 1 to 1.5 hours of pretty intensive dremel tool work.
-Don
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Jul 1, 2008 2:09:48 GMT -5
Don, you rock, PM me your addy, I need to send you a different kind of pet wood. I've been waiting for someone who could do this.
Karen
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Post by LCARS on Jul 5, 2008 3:49:23 GMT -5
That is a frickin sweeet pet wood batch!   How come I can never get mine to look that good?  |
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Post by MrP on Jul 6, 2008 17:07:48 GMT -5
WOW what a shine!!!!!!!!.......MrP
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jul 7, 2008 11:16:43 GMT -5
Sweet batch!
What's the source for the rough?
csroc
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Post by Cher on Jul 8, 2008 18:19:45 GMT -5
Beautiful tumble Don.
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Jul 18, 2008 14:38:00 GMT -5
Don - can you share what kind of equipment, and method you used to get the results? It would be nice to try.
Ozzy
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jul 19, 2008 1:32:23 GMT -5
Rockwizz,
Sure, but I don't think I did anything unique or special, just stuck to the golden rule of patience, patience, patience.
I use 6 lb barrels on a Lortone rotary, following the usual rules about 3/4 full, plastic pellets after coarse grind, scrupulous clean-up between stages, separate pellets for separate stages, and one barrel reserved for polish only, etc.
My basic routine is to coarse grind until shaped as I want 'em, which can vary from as little as 2 or 3 weeks for soft materials, to up to 12 weeks for hard agates or larger pieces. Six to 8 weeks is probably typical for average tumble-sized pieces of petrified wood. If you have doubts about whether they are ready to move to fine grind, toss them back into coarse for another week until you have no more doubts!
Then it's 120/220 SiC for 7 days.
500F SiC for 10 days
Then polish for as long as it takes (I check the progress with a 10X loupe). That can be as little as 9 days, or as long as 21 days, occasionally even longer. It's always tricky getting the polish barrel set up just right, so that it tumbles enough to polish the stones, but not so vigorously as to chip the stones.
That's all there is to it! Nothing fancy, just a lot of patience!
-Don
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