next load to tumble Fire agate`s

Don

Their`s no trick to it, Don, I wont comment on tumbling on this site as their are enough experts. Start wish 220 grit for the course run and ( The old Viking - North ) viba-sonic tumbler is the machine i`m using. they seem to work better then most table top lapidary equipment found today.

I like the Industrial equipment.

i use Garnets & 220 grit alone in the tumble and check the stones early day,

The photo`s i posted are a long way from there turn in the tumble,

90% of them need to go through the grinding wheels to the point their at the finish stage.

Fire agate carving is a past time of mine for over 35 years, and their are many short cuts in working this material and having some nice piece`s come out of the tumble.

one short cut i`l share is take a five foot 1x4 vise it up in the middle ( Need i say work out side the house ( Wife ) and epoxy the rough stone`s every 4" and use a siding grinder with water running over the stone`s to cool them, ....................Never !!!! use a hammer to remove the white agate on Deer Creek material..................i use a stack of 8 cheap diamond blades with a .020 fender washer spacer stack blades on arbor. this is the best grinding WHEEL. for fire agate working......... Prep all stone on the back fire side of the stone - un-less this is the side to work..... best to check all material close up....some of the better stone`s are from the back fire side......

And the fire layers are more forgiving.

back to the flex cable work every stone to the finish point. using a knife cut the stone off the 1x4 and using a 220 wheel clean up the glued side of stone.



working flex cable and grind each stone leaving a clear cap agate over the Brown Laminate. and where the glue was work the back side to clean up sharp edges. i use 120 grit diamond burrs and 220 diamond.

Jack Cole