oregonrockdude
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by oregonrockdude on Aug 12, 2008 22:32:44 GMT -5
Not new to rockhunting and collecting, but I am new to rock tumbling. Just purchased my first tumbler and getting ready to do my first batch. I collected a pound of Oregon Sunstone this summer, but am thinking I'll try a couple barrels of beach agate or something like that before I move up to the sunstone. Any thoughts or suggestions?
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 12, 2008 23:39:27 GMT -5
I'm not a tumbler but want to say a warm hello to you. I am sure you will receive great advice to your question.
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Aug 13, 2008 18:10:36 GMT -5
Hey Welcome to the board. This is my area. I do a lot of tumbling, since I don't have any other equipment yet. There is a lot of good information on the tips board. You can access that in the following link. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tipsOne thing that has helped me is to stay away from the general recommendation of 7days per step...that you will find out soon enough does not work...You really need to do most of the work in the first step. The shaping step is your most important step and is what determines what the rocks are going to look like when done. I've never done sunstones, but you may want to try tumbling some stuff that is not that expensive for your first two tumbles until you get the hang of it. Good luck again, ozzy
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oregonrockdude
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by oregonrockdude on Aug 14, 2008 22:28:16 GMT -5
Thanks! I do believe I'll try a couple loads of beach agate or something like that before I go for the sunstones.
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rockdude
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 187
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Post by rockdude on Aug 17, 2008 5:40:26 GMT -5
I'm not as much into tumbling , so I'll let other give advice on that. New here myself, hey we could be related! lol
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chadman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 106
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Post by chadman on Sept 4, 2008 0:05:54 GMT -5
Thanks! I do believe I'll try a couple loads of beach agate or something like that before I go for the sunstones. I have found that you need lots of tumble mass. You should use a mix of various sized material. Grinding the shape with 60/90 mix is the longest step and takes lots of material on hand to fill one barrel for the next stages. Some stones will be ready for the next step before others. I evaluate each stone as I sort them after cleaning based on the following criteria: Does it need more grinding (if no, it goes in another bucket), will grinding it further hurt it or take away from it's beauty? (If yes it goes in the same "another bucket") and finally is the rock worth going any further? (if no, it misses the "another bucket" into the fish pond rock pile). It is important to leave no holes or cracks in rocks that can trap and release grit into the next stage. You can fill small holes with jewelers epoxy or gel type super glue. A good jewelers epoxy will polish nicely I do 60/90 grit, then 220 grit then 400 grit. For hard materials like green beach agate and pet wood I will do a 600 grit and then a 1000 grit (or pre-polish/alumina) and then ceruim oxide final polish.
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