NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Feb 18, 2009 21:53:59 GMT -5
I just finished a batch with a small amount of zebra stone in it. I got the stone at a local pet shop, and was curious as to how it would tumble. So I picked some other pieces of granite from my landscaping, busted them all up with the chisel and threw them in the tumbler. After the coarse grind I cushioned the heck out of the batch. By the end I believe I had half the load as plastic pellets. I'm not super happy with how the batch turned out, although the zebra stone took a decent shine. I'm just chalking it up as experience. Kinda one of those "hmm, I wonder how this will work" types of experiment. Maybe I'll run a whole batch of the zebra another time and see how it works. Nate  |
|
catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
|
Post by catskillrocks on Feb 18, 2009 22:29:36 GMT -5
I'd say that they turned out pretty nice! You can't go wrong with granite & the zebra stone looks great. Thanks for sharing,
Don
|
|
renterdan
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2008
Posts: 82
|
Post by renterdan on Feb 19, 2009 2:06:50 GMT -5
That batch looks great! I've always enjoyed tumbling granite; every piece is different. Thanks for posting the pics!
Renter Dan.
|
|
colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
|
Post by colliel82 on Feb 19, 2009 11:20:05 GMT -5
How long did it run in the coarse grind? Those have great shape to them.
|
|
|
|
Post by frane on Feb 19, 2009 12:30:00 GMT -5
 I think they look like a fine batch and what matters is that the zebra turned out great! Granite can give you fits because of the different hardnesses in it from all the components that form together. Causes a bit of pitting and undercutting that can trap grit and polish. Did you run a burnishing rince at the end? That may help the granite to shine up even more. They all look pretty good though! Keep up the good work! Fran
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Feb 19, 2009 20:32:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the nice comments guys!
colliel82 - I ran them in coarse for just a week. I was surprised at how quickly they shaped up.
Fran - Yes, I ran a burnish for a few hours at the end. I like to do that for a final cleaning and to put the last bit of polish on. I've read here it works well, and on my last batch it really helped.
I agree with the undercutting. I have a few in that batch that got undercut, and several with fractures and chipping in them.
Nate
|
|
|
|
Post by Sea Faring Wang Dang on Feb 21, 2009 1:31:45 GMT -5
I like the diffrent slight colors in each stone. Very cool looking
|
|
wildoaks
starting to shine!
Member since November 2008
Posts: 31 
|
Post by wildoaks on Feb 21, 2009 7:57:45 GMT -5
Nice stones. I've never heard of zebra stone, but they look great. I had one of those "hmm" moments myself several weeks ago. Grabbed a bunch of crushed granite from a gravel path out back. I was tempted to give up up on them after 2 weeks in a 3lb barrel and little change. But I think the size mix wasn't right for the barrel. Just finished another week in Model B with a bunch of other stuff and now they're in a Vibe. Optimistic now.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Feb 21, 2009 22:56:18 GMT -5
wildoaks, I'm glad you're optimistic. I believe the zebra stone is from Utah, but I can get it at a few different pet stores, sold for fish tank decorations. It's very gritty in rough form, so I'm happy how it smoothed out. From the little I researched it, it's a form of marble. That's why I threw it in with granite, they are similar in hardness. This was in a 3lb barrel also. Just for size reference, the zebra stone on the far right is a little over an inch across.
Nate
|
|
I think they look like a fine batch and what matters is that the zebra turned out great!
