tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Heya!
Aug 2, 2008 19:19:30 GMT -5
Post by tombodc on Aug 2, 2008 19:19:30 GMT -5
I have only read a few posts and just had to register. I hope to learn lots, lol. So far my tumbler experience is just a single run in a $30 hobby kit. I went to Emerald Hollow mines with my kids a few weeks ago and thought I would try and tumble them. I decided to learn a little first so I don't ruin them so I used the rock in the kit. They are "ok" but not like some I have seen on here... We have sapphires and emeralds we are aching to polish but are afraid to ruin them... We are told that we also have some Garnet and Rubies and a few other rocks that weren't ID'd as anything specific. After reading a bit on here I went ahead and ordered the Lortone 3-barrel tumbler. I am going to use the "hobby tumbler" for the rough grit until it finally gives up the ghost... One thing I did realize is that even though I bought the smaller barrels (1.5#) I will still have to run a couple of loads in the hobby tumbler to fill one of the Lortone barrels to an appropriate level. I plan to do a lot more reading here to learn more about how to tumble correctly but for now I am just following the hobby tumbler instructions (which didn't mention not pouring the residue down the drain).
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Heya!
Aug 3, 2008 3:25:01 GMT -5
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Aug 3, 2008 3:25:01 GMT -5
Hi Welcome to the board DONT pour the residue down the drain that = a BLOCKED drain QUICK Looks like you will have a lot of good pictures to show us later on Get some Jasper and Agate (Local beach Stuff ) and have a go with them to build up a system of polishing The bigger drum is helpfull I use a 5 1/2 to 6 lb barel Lortone (like yours ? ) is a good one as it is hexagonal and the lid is a screw off type so you can check easy also it always seals and the rings dont wear out like the Thumbler does (The weight of the rocks rolling makes a big differencein a 6lb barel compared to a 1 1/2 lb or 3 lb barrel) Dont forget to wash between cycles and also a good Borax Burnish before the final Polish gets a polish on befor the final polish which turns into a high shine gloss Be clinicaly clean as well one spec of 80 Grit in the final polish = a disapointing dull finish. AND most of all (myself included ) be paitient it took millions of years to form these wonderfull stones a few extra days in the tumbler wont matter ? Im sure others will answer and give you some good advice as I and others also got some good advice from James see link Tony (Stoner) got pinned below forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22055Have a good day and many happy hours tumbling !! ; ;D Jack Yorkshire UK |
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Heya!
Aug 3, 2008 4:52:40 GMT -5
Post by connrock on Aug 3, 2008 4:52:40 GMT -5
Hi,
Sorry to say that emeralds,rubies and sapphires are a BIG no-no for a beginner and for most of us here!
Rubies and sapphires are harder then the grit we use and it takes forever to go through the entire cycle.
Some here have done it successfully but it took them a long time.
The emerald rough will more then likely crack a lot and only be a disappointment for you.
As John suggested,the best is to try a GOOD jasper or agate.There are sooooooooooooooooooo many out there that you will NEVER get to polish all of the different types.
One thing I would like to mention is that if you put in junk you will end up with junk so be a little careful in choosing your rough.
Good luck and ask away!!
connrock
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Heya!
Aug 3, 2008 20:10:25 GMT -5
Post by catskillrocks on Aug 3, 2008 20:10:25 GMT -5
Welcome to the board! I'm new here too. There is lots of good info here, as you've already found out.
Don
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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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Heya!
Aug 4, 2008 7:52:50 GMT -5
Post by chassroc on Aug 4, 2008 7:52:50 GMT -5
Welcome Tombodc and Catskillrocks(but I wonder how?)
I can only echo what has already been said, tumble agate, jasper and petwood. Go to the Buy and Sell Swap shop for members to purchase some rock at very reasonable prices from DesertDweller(Jamie) or any of the members; you won't be disappointed
csroc
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Heya!
Aug 4, 2008 16:55:57 GMT -5
Post by tombodc on Aug 4, 2008 16:55:57 GMT -5
Ohhhhhh, that kind of bumbs me out, lol...
Jack, thanks for the links. I am reading them now!
Connrock, that is the bummer part... Me and my kids went and got these on Father's day and we are all hoping that we get something cool out of it... I guess I need to take some pics of the rocks we found so I can maybe get some help. I went and bought a book about gems, rocks, and minerals and what it shows as "Garnet" is not what I was told was garnet at the mine...
Catskillrocks, :wave: :cheers: I hope I can read enough before I mess up some of my Father's day rocks, lol.
Chassroc, I had such a good experience with "a vendor" that I ordered some other kinds of rocks straight from them. I am hoping to learn specifically what to do for those rocks when they arrive and try them out...
I hope the Sapphires/Emeralds do ok, they aren't great specimens to begin with but my kids made a huge deal out of them and since I only get to see them for "maybe" 2 weeks a year it would have been cool to show them some cool shiny rocks from our dig...
:cheers:
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