navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 3, 2009 11:16:14 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 3, 2009 11:16:14 GMT -5
yesterday, i started a tumbling a batch of calcite, to see if i can do it. after 24 hours, rounding has begun.
but...........
it's a mess!!!!
i want to check stones, as i know they'll likely shrink quickly. my plan is to pull 'finished' stones out of the coarse asap, then replace them with others, that way, i'll end up with a full batch for the next load. there is a thick tan/white foam forming, i guess, due to the calcium. pasty, etc. i want to leave as much in as possible, because coarse grit is mixed in there as well. overall, i think it will aid the grinding action.
i have a mix of rhombdahedrons (sp?) and broken dogtooths in there. it'll be interesting to see the results.
i'll keep you posted.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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calcite
Feb 3, 2009 12:40:23 GMT -5
Post by drjo on Feb 3, 2009 12:40:23 GMT -5
Post what you put in / pull out so members can see what the end of the first grind looks like compared to what you started with.
Thanks,
Dr Joe
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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Post by navi on Feb 4, 2009 9:31:25 GMT -5
sorry i didn't take photos. :-(
today is the start of day 2. thus far i've added several stones, and have found several with cracks, that i finished the seperation into 2 stones. corners are rounding and the surfaces are grinding down.
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calcite
Feb 6, 2009 18:30:20 GMT -5
Post by frane on Feb 6, 2009 18:30:20 GMT -5
How is your tumble going?
Fran
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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Post by navi on Feb 7, 2009 9:57:20 GMT -5
thus far, i've pulled and replaced about 1/3 of my barrel (4 pounder). those i pulled were smoothed down to 'a good point' without taking off to much. suprisingly, considering how easily calcite cleaves, i've only had to take one out and hit it with a hammer to turn it into two. until i stop the batch and thoroughly clean everything with a toothbrush, i can't really tell how it's going. the slurry is wet, but sticky. a mess, as i've said earlier. the coolest thing is what i thought was grey calcite, is turning out to be BLUE!!! the blue also seems to have white swirls inside, which look like clouds. of course i really can't tell at this point.
more to come....
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 7, 2009 12:41:22 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 7, 2009 12:41:22 GMT -5
here's a (horrible) photo of the ones i pulled thus far. i actually took two photos, but must have deleted the good one. i think i moved. anyway. honey and rootbeer and blue calcite, some have arragonite, barrite or sphlarite inclusions.  |
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 10, 2009 12:05:51 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 10, 2009 12:05:51 GMT -5
i started stage 2 (fine grind) today. here are some pics of where the stones are at at the start. blue/grey  honey/rootbeer  white, etc.  as mentioned before, there are a lot of inclusions in these stones. not sure why, espicially the honey, they are so hard to get a good photo of. all of these stones fill up my 4 pound barell between 2/3 and 3/4 of the way. i added a TON of pellets, to fill all the gaps, since these are so soft to begin with. i'll keep you informed as this progresses. i plan on checking them often, like before and removing 'finished' ones. |
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calcite
Feb 10, 2009 19:51:18 GMT -5
Post by frane on Feb 10, 2009 19:51:18 GMT -5
Those are looking good so far!
Fran
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 15, 2009 14:51:12 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 15, 2009 14:51:12 GMT -5
it CAN be done. i went to a rock show today in kirkwood missouri. at the very first booth was a bunch of tumbled stones of various types AND calcite, honey and orange. i bought a clear honey one, full of rainbows. it's beautiful, with amazing shine. i asked if they do the tumbling, they said they buy everything. i wanted to pick their mind for tips.
anyway, i finished the find grind. i am burnishing now and will start prepolish tonight or tomorrow. photos to come.
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 15, 2009 19:52:03 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 15, 2009 19:52:03 GMT -5
ok. got them cleaned up in a quick burnish stage. now they are onto prepolish. here are pics after the fine grind, stage 2. honey/rootbeer  blue/grey  white, etc.  |
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calcite
Feb 16, 2009 9:55:40 GMT -5
Post by frane on Feb 16, 2009 9:55:40 GMT -5
They are all holding up pretty well and looking good so far! I am looking forward to seeing them all shined up!
Fran
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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calcite
Feb 16, 2009 11:29:42 GMT -5
Post by chinook203 on Feb 16, 2009 11:29:42 GMT -5
I love the fact calcite goes so quickly. My hardest part was getting them "clean". I tried a drop of dawn at the end, then switched to a powdered laundry detergent before the polish, then did the polish, then did used powdered laundry detergent and some corn cob pellets, that helped a lot. Next batch I may try some walnut shell powder at the end. It's seemed to help clean them up better (corn cob and detergent).
My niece went to the Kirkwood show, I didn't know anything about it or we would've done a booth most likely!
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Feb 18, 2009 16:35:49 GMT -5
Post by navi on Feb 18, 2009 16:35:49 GMT -5
well, it had to happen sooner or later. cracks developed in the pre polish stage. i'm going to finish the cycle, take the stones that are ready for final polish stage and set them aside, until i have a full load for polishing. i'll start up a whole new batch. thus, i needed more calcite. there is a spot about a mile from my house, near i-44 and rte 141 that has crazy clear calcite rhombs. there are also at times dogtooths to find, mixed with druzy quartz and sphlarite. once in a blue moon, one can find a nice crystal. i did just that today!!!  again, i'm not a photographer and i know this one sucked. the crystal is clear, not yellow and a perfect point. also, came back with lots of clear material to tumble. i got a grinder for my birthday and plan on grinding corners down before i start them rollin'. |
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calcite
Feb 19, 2009 21:20:29 GMT -5
Post by frane on Feb 19, 2009 21:20:29 GMT -5
Man, I am so sorry they started chipping! I hate when that happens but setting them aside and waiting is the best thing to do. Looks like you have a great place to collect too!
Fran
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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calcite
Mar 2, 2009 20:34:29 GMT -5
Post by navi on Mar 2, 2009 20:34:29 GMT -5
%$#@&*^%%!!!!!!! i give up. i started another load. after the grind it was all crap. i've given up hope. haven't been to the board recently, since this had me pissed off. nasty, sticky, mess. i'm done wasting my time on this project, when i got other material to tumble.
so, i started an mixed agate batch today. time for some pretty bands and colors to make me happy again.
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calcite
Mar 2, 2009 20:54:24 GMT -5
Post by NatureNut on Mar 2, 2009 20:54:24 GMT -5
There, there Navi... You gave it a good try... Take a break and tumble the hard stuff for a while... if there's a way, you'll think of it... if not, well okay. Jo
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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Post by navi on Mar 4, 2009 9:58:43 GMT -5
it's just that i lost a month and a half or so, that could have produced a batch of something worthwhile.
but, IF it had worked.....
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