kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 13, 2008 8:21:07 GMT -5
I recently bought a National Geographic Rock Tumbler as I bought a bunch of raw emeralds (As to if they're really emeralds or not I have no idea), it also came with a bunch of semi-precious stones. So I put those in and also put one of the raw emeralds in, I was wondering if the emerald would end up damaging the other gems .
Also, is there a way I can find out if what I bought is really emeralds once I've done tumbling them?
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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 Sept 13, 2008 8:39:01 GMT -5
Hello, Kawakami and welcome aboard!
I'm not amongst the experienced people that do tumble rocks here, but as far as I know emeralds are very difficult to tumble. They are tough and take forever. So it might sound strange but the way to check if they are real emmeralds is to get bored while trying to tumble them. That's not the better start in the hobby, so my advice would be to start a batch of more cooperative rocks - jaspers and agates for example - to give you confidence in the future.
Being tougher than the other stones, one emmerald could also scratch them if you have a mixed batch.
I could get wrong and if it is so, I'm sure the master tumblers here will correct me and give you better advices. Cher, for example, tryed to tumble a batch of emmeralds a while ago. I don't know the final results but I'm sure she could be helpful.
Adrian
PS. Another rock that you might want to avoid in the beginning is obsidian, also tricky to polish.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 13, 2008 11:48:24 GMT -5
Welcome!
From the experience of others on here, emeralds do not do well with other stones. Also, like Adrian said, not a good choice for a first batch. Invest in another tumbler if you plan on tumbling them, otherwise, they'll tie up your only tumbler for many months. Besides, agates and jaspers are more fun to tumble.
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 14, 2008 8:36:10 GMT -5
I'm mainly tumbling the emerald to get most of the black stuff off it. I don't currently plan on tumbling it for that long. Mainly just one tumble run. According to the bag it came with there's currently 8 oz of semi-precious gems (Says Tiger eye, Red agate, Green aventurine, Carnelian, Brazil agate on the bag.) and a raw emerald in there.
Also, any tips for lowering the noise? I've currently got it in a basket filled with soft toys with blankets on top of it.
Well, only a few days left for the first step, hopefully the emerald won't cause too much problems :x
Update: Ok, just to be safe I removed the emerald I put in, also yea, sound lowering, any tips?
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Sept 14, 2008 12:21:14 GMT -5
well as for the souns of the tumbler?  ? well that's why mine is outside.LOL!!!! the noise would drive me crazy if i had mine inside. do you have a garage you can put it in? that would probaly be your best bet to get rid of the noise. |
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 14, 2008 13:59:25 GMT -5
Nope, I live in a flat, I've moved it into a cupboard I have and wrapped it in blankets (It can still spin) to soak up most of the sound, now it sounds like there's a washing machine in the other room.
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 14, 2008 22:47:33 GMT -5
Be careful not to overheat the tumbler motor trying to soften the noise. Also, if your tumbler has a rubber drum and is loaded to 3/4 full it shouldn't be extremely noisey (although I've never run one in the house).
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Post by connrock on Sept 15, 2008 6:55:28 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure that that tumbler has a plastic barrel without a rubber liner.If this is the case I doubt if you will quiet it down nor will the barrel last very long.
The rocks/grit will wear a hole in plastic in no time.
Good luck and WELCOME to our group.
connrock
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Post by akansan on Sept 15, 2008 8:02:56 GMT -5
Connrock hit it on the head - you won't be able to reduce the noise much with that particular tumbler. The tumblers with a rubber barrel are much quieter.
As for mixing the emeralds in with your other rocks, it actually works fairly well in the first stage. The emeralds are harder and help shape the other rocks more quickly (I was one who started with rubies...). But you'll need to keep an eye on the other rocks. If they start looking a little battered, remove the emeralds. s
Welcome!
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 15, 2008 12:20:02 GMT -5
Yea it's a plastic barrel but it has a rubber ring around it, is that what you mean?
Yea, I don't really expect it to last long with all those rocks smashing around, but it was cheapish so I thought it would be good to start off with.
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Sept 15, 2008 13:14:42 GMT -5
kawakami: Just to be clear, here is a photo of a Lortone 3 lb. barrel. Notice that the entire barrel, plus the inner lining of the lid, is made of black rubber:  They are very quiet. I have five running in my basement and can't hear them at the top of the basement steps. |
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Sept 15, 2008 13:18:35 GMT -5
My Lortone is on one of my kitchen counters. At its noisiest it sounds like heavy rain falling. It's actually quite soothing to me.
My vibe is bolted to concrete and on a concrete floor in the garage. THAT sucker is noisy!
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Sept 15, 2008 13:58:41 GMT -5
you can actually pick up a cheapie tumbler from www.harborfreight.com for a starter. they run about $30 or so. i also have a lortone double barrel tumbler and it has lasted me forever with no major problems and that sucker runs non-stop!!!! in the future it would be a good investment to pick up a decent tumbler especially if you plan on doing alot of tumbling. trust me i have a feeling you will!! LOL!!! it's very addicting... |
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 15, 2008 14:09:53 GMT -5
Ah, that's what you meant. And indeed it is quite addicting, and does anyone know where I can buy a decent tumbler that ships to the UK?
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Sept 15, 2008 20:35:55 GMT -5
i'm pretty sure www.eloxite.com ships world wide. try them they have a good variety of tumblers. |
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Post by akansan on Sept 15, 2008 20:57:22 GMT -5
There are a couple of people on the board from the UK (Sparkles for one) that might be able to point you to a supplier over there, but I know that www.therockshed.com ships worldwide, and I think they carry the overseas versions as well. |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Sept 16, 2008 2:45:39 GMT -5
Hi Greetings from Yorkshire
Welome to the board
I Got My Vibe from USA and Shawn at the Rockshed was VERY helpfull
Its a 220Volt motor for us in Europe which they supply
It works a treat
Email me for more info if you wish
john@matco.me.uk
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 16, 2008 3:53:37 GMT -5
Hmm, I'm thinking of getting a Lortone Model 3A from the Rockshed, would you guys recommend it?
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Sept 16, 2008 5:54:15 GMT -5
I would recommend both the 33A and TheRockShed as a place to buy it. The Lortones are reliable, easy to fix, and seem to last a long time with minimal maintenance. Plus you can later expand by getting a 33B (two barrels) and swap accessories between them. TheRockShed is very well known and respected on this forum. Shawn has been very helpful to me as I climb the learning curve.
Go for it!
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kawakami
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 30
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Post by kawakami on Sept 16, 2008 13:01:49 GMT -5
Hmm, think sometime soon then I shall order a 3A and an extra barrel (On for grit, the other for polish). Also, the gem stones I started off with are looking quite good now, nice a shiny.
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? well that's why mine is outside.LOL!!!! the noise would drive me crazy if i had mine inside. do you have a garage you can put it in? that would probaly be your best bet to get rid of the noise.
