MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Jan 5, 2009 22:51:51 GMT -5
No worries, it's hard to mess up rocks...  It will take some trial and error, as each tumbler is a bit different, each type of rock is a bit different, each type of polish is a bit different, ect....but you won't probably ever "ruin" a batch of rocks , it may just take a bit longer to get the desired results... MikeS |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 6, 2009 4:18:01 GMT -5
Hi Bonnie,
Welcome to the board ,hope you get a lot of help here like the rest of us .
I just read your original question. I just use a pocket knife if it showes blue surface mark it will tumble and polish
2 - just get the rocks rolling.
3 - BE Clinicaly clean when you wash up (Realy This is no joke )
4 - Wash between cycles Borax helps
5 - DONT skip the earlie stages if you want a high gloss shine (your putting down the foundations for a good finish in the earlie stages)
6 - Keep a log / Journal to record your stages what you put in How and why Documentation is a must to a constant high quality finish
7 - some rocks fracture Amythysist for one use a filler Plastic pellets when dealing with such rocks or you will end up with a barrel full of "extra" grit Ive done it ,
and remember again Be CLINICALY clean
Great to hear your starting out on a wonderfull experiance of wonder and awsome discoveries ,
Im often amazed at the beauty of a simple beach stone I find at the coast that reaveals swirls and fern like structures that are just not seen untill they are JUST polished
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 6, 2009 14:15:19 GMT -5
Mike, thank you again for your comments. I have to keep reminding myself that these are "just rocks" and I can't ruin them.  I've been keeping notes on this first time through the process and I'm sure someday I'll look back and call myself a "worry wart". |
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 6, 2009 14:19:58 GMT -5
Jack, thank you for the welcome! Your post is full of great advice and as with the other posts on here, I've printed it out for reference. Hart, in his book, speaks repeatedly of the necessity for keeping everything clean and your grits separate, so that has been drummed into my mind even before I started my first batch. I'm now on day 3 of my first ever tumbled rocks and I'm so excited about this coming Sunday when I get to open the barrel and see what has happened! I'm going to try to be sure to take photos so that I can post them here and let everyone take a look at my first effort.
Bonnie
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 6, 2009 14:27:19 GMT -5
Now about that wet/dry saw ... I've convinced my husband that he really needs one of those so that I can have a ceramic backwash along my kitchen counters ... see how well that worked?? ;D I also touted the fact that not only could he use it for cutting tile, I could use it for cutting rocks! A dual purpose saw!! With that obstacle leaped, I searched online at HD for that saw, however, the only model they had was a 4" handheld model. The one talked about on here was nowhere to be found on the site. My husband is going to try to run by HD this week after work (we're in the boonies and the closest HD to us is over an hour away) In the event he cannot find it in-store, or they no longer sell it, what do you all think about this one? He's bought tools from this company in the past and has had good experiences with them. Does it appear it would do the job at cutting rocks as well? www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_33353_33353Thank you again for your advice and input. Bonnie |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 6, 2009 16:50:56 GMT -5
I found a never-used Workforce 7" tile saw with an extra blade for $75 on Craig's list. Try searching there...
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Post by akansan on Jan 6, 2009 22:52:28 GMT -5
Welcome! In theory, the saw you pointed out would work. What makes the Workforce saw so nice is the stock blade - you can use it for months without having to replace it. A lot of the other saws that are out there need a new blade pretty quickly, adding another $15-$48 (depending on the blade) pretty quickly to the cost. The saw is only available in the actual Home Depot stores - they stopped carrying it online a couple years ago. |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 7, 2009 5:19:48 GMT -5
Hi
Get a proper dimond rock saw Blade as well, you will find its the old story "you get what you pay for"
Tile saw blades have not the high quality and durability of a rock saw blade
We are looking forward to those pictures also, (with memories of our first batches)
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Jan 7, 2009 8:02:40 GMT -5
HF's got two 7" saws online and similar to HD's WF
and the # 40315 is on sale for $59.99 (was$79.99)
Dr Joe
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 7, 2009 12:47:49 GMT -5
ejs, thank you for the tip on checking CL's. I did go over there and could not find any good deals on a saw, but I did find some good deals on lots of other stuff.. ;D That's the problem with browsing CL's, well that and the fact that I'm easily distracted.  |
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 7, 2009 12:50:49 GMT -5
ankansan, thank you for the welcome! Thank you too for the advice on the blade and the need to replace. My husband did question whether or not the blade would need frequent replacement if cutting rock and I did not have an answer for that. So that gives me another factor to consider in when buying a saw.
My husband is planning to try to get by HD this week, so I'm waiting to see if he can find it in-store before I purchase anything else.
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 7, 2009 12:55:35 GMT -5
Jack, I'll pass on the info about the diamond blade to my husband. I think he's kind of excited with the idea of having one of these types of saws, but more for home improvement projects, whereas I'm interested only in its ability to cut rocks. Maybe we need two of them?? ;D Man, I can already see this hobby is going to get me in trouble.. Sunday is the BIG day for my first check on my tumbling abilities. I will take pics and post them!! (you guys have to promise to keep the chuckling to a minimum) I don't know how the rest of you keep your hands off the tumbler, I go in and stare at that thing 20 times a day and have to keep telling myself "Leave it alone" |
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 7, 2009 12:56:33 GMT -5
HF's got two 7" saws online and similar to HD's WF and the # 40315 is on sale for $59.99 (was$79.99) Dr Joe . Dr Joe, I have wracked my brain trying to figure out what HF is?? I like that price! |
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Post by akansan on Jan 7, 2009 19:55:58 GMT -5
HF = Harbor Freight. Depending on how hard you push the rocks, the blades will last a while. My current blade has been on my saw for the last year. |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 8, 2009 4:24:20 GMT -5
Hi
Dont forget to tell your husband the dimond blade will cut his tiles in 1/2 the time !!!!!!!!! ;D
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 9, 2009 9:41:49 GMT -5
HF = Harbor Freight. Depending on how hard you push the rocks, the blades will last a while. My current blade has been on my saw for the last year. akansan, thank you for unveiling that acronym! I navigated over there and decided that I'd not let my husband browse that site. Yikes, I'd need to take out a second mortgage to pay off the credit card.  That said, I probably shouldn't be browsing that site .. did you see that awesome greenhouse??!! I finally got to the saw and think it looks like a good saw at a good price. I'll probably end up purchasing that, along with the Topsy Turvy tomato grower ;D and, well, some other stuff. I think I need to stay focused on rocks before I really get into trouble. |
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firstrune
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 156
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Post by firstrune on Jan 9, 2009 9:45:22 GMT -5
Hi Dont forget to tell your husband the dimond blade will cut his tiles in 1/2 the time !!!!!!!!! ;D Jack Yorkshire UK Thank You Jack ;D I'm going to repeat this word for word to him. HF also sells the blades and I thought they seemed reasonably priced, so think I'll order a couple of extras along with the saw. I'm probably not as sticker shocked by the prices as some others may be. I've raised horses for a hobby for years, and when you pay hundreds of dollars for a nice set of harness or a good saddle, the rock tumbling hobby seems light in comparison. Plus rocks never need a vet. ;D |
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It will take some trial and error, as each tumbler is a bit different, each type of rock is a bit different, each type of polish is a bit different, ect....but you won't probably ever "ruin" a batch of rocks , it may just take a bit longer to get the desired results...
I've been keeping notes on this first time through the process and I'm sure someday I'll look back and call myself a "worry wart". 
That said, I probably shouldn't be browsing that site .. did you see that awesome greenhouse??!! I finally got to the saw and think it looks like a good saw at a good price. I'll probably end up purchasing that, along with the Topsy Turvy tomato grower ;D and, well, some other stuff. 
