Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Mar 15, 2009 13:38:43 GMT -5
Yesterday I set away a mixed batch of Amethyst & Citrine, plus a few pieces of rough ruby rock. 6lbs of rock & 2 heaped tablespoons of SiC60. Here is the Amethyst & Citrine only:  I'll take a picture everytime the barrel is opened to check them, recharge or move on a stage. I will try to keep the whole batch together as much as possible, even if it means dropping down barrel sizes, until the whole lot is polished. One week later and here is the same batch. All the sharpest edges are now well worn away. The slurry was a lovely creamy texture, and not a trace of grit left in the bottom of the barrel at all.  Recharged with 2 Tbsp of SiC60. (See you next week.) Now been in rough grind for 14 days. Shaping up really well now. All sharps gone, still some with deep pits, but I'm going to keep them all in rough. Some of them will be ideal pendants once they have finished. Again slurry was totally grit free.  Recharged with another 2 Tbsp of SiC60. (See you again next week.) We are now 21 days into the tumble and they seem to be coming along quite well. I think the Amethyst is a better tumbling quality that the citrine, but this is something we don't find out until they have started to lose the roughness. Oh well, I'm still sticking with the same mixed batch. This weeks picture of both rocks together.  After 4 weeks (28 days) in SiC 60. Recharged every 7 days.    |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Mar 19, 2009 1:25:51 GMT -5
Thanks, rogue. I am following your progress with great interest!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 19, 2009 3:22:22 GMT -5
Hi RT,
That batch looks nice Before you tumble it
Thanks for the progression photos (looking forward to them )
I forget to do that every time, trust all will go well for you.
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 19, 2009 7:44:45 GMT -5
Wow Rogue, that's gonna be killer!
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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 Mar 19, 2009 7:52:21 GMT -5
Yellow and purple... what a royal color combination! Good luck on shining them!
Adrian
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Mar 22, 2009 17:06:12 GMT -5
One week later and here is the same batch. All the sharpest edges are now well worn away. The slurry was a lovely creamy texture, and not a trace of grit left in the bottom of the barrel at all. Recharged with 2 Tbsp of SiC60. (See you next week.) |
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Post by frane on Mar 24, 2009 13:42:04 GMT -5
Wow, you sure did get some top quality amethyst and citrine! Very pretty and I sure am looking forward to the final pics and your step by steps!
Fran
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rockwolf
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2008
Posts: 97
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Post by rockwolf on Mar 25, 2009 7:48:34 GMT -5
Could have sworn that I had posted something here... Oh well!
Anyway, I too look forward to seeing the progress!
Must remember to take pics when I get going with my tumbler!!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 26, 2009 1:24:49 GMT -5
RT,
Thanks for the weekly magazine ,
They are comming along great,
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 26, 2009 21:30:42 GMT -5
What a gorgeous batch!!
I hope that I can do the same justice to the citrine I have to tumble at some future time.
I will watch your progress and model when you are done.
As always ...
Julie
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Mar 29, 2009 16:26:12 GMT -5
Now been in rough grind for 14 days. Shaping up really well now. All sharps gone, still some with deep pits, but I'm going to keep them all in rough. Some of them will be ideal pendants once they have finished. Again slurry was totally grit free. Recharged with another 2 Tbsp of SiC60. (See you again next week - 5/4/9 or is it 4/5/9?) |
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Mar 30, 2009 18:56:34 GMT -5
Man Rogue, they're looking great and that color combo is kick butt!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 4, 2009 10:40:45 GMT -5
Hi Rt
Comming on great,
You got some excelent deep purples in that Amy
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Apr 5, 2009 13:54:26 GMT -5
We are now 21 days into the tumble and they seem to be coming along quite well. I think the Amethyst is a better tumbling quality that the citrine, but this is something we don't find out until they have started to lose the roughness. Oh well, I'm still sticking with the same mixed batch. This weeks picture of both rocks together. Amethyst by itself.  Citrine by itself.  Some of the better Amethyst Points.  And as a closer - in 21 days we have gone from this:  to this:  Changed water, recharged with 2 tbsp of Sic 60, and added some yellow jasper to make batch size back up to 6lb. See you all again next week. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2009 14:58:43 GMT -5
Hi John, they are coming along nicely, are you still using 1.5lb barrels? Also was there any grit left in barrel this time? If not next time add 3 Tbsp of grit! -- I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire U.K, where aliens sometimes come for a visit! And about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! |
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Apr 5, 2009 15:03:45 GMT -5
Hi John, they are coming along nicely, are you still using 1.5lb barrels? Also was there any grit left in barrel this time? If not next time add 3 Tbsp of grit! Andrew, these have been tumbled together in a 6lb barrel. Again, slurry was totally grit free and nice and creamy. I'm sticking with the 2 spoon recipe at the moment thanks. Don't want to change things halfway through. |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 6, 2009 2:45:07 GMT -5
Hi Rt
comming on well them points will make a good sets of ear drops and pendants
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Apr 12, 2009 12:58:58 GMT -5
After 4 weeks (28 days) in SiC 60. Recharged every 7 days. Photos taken in natural daylight /light sunshine. The citrine seems to be deminishing more rapidly than the amethyst. I might have to start cherry picking the stones next week as some of them are more fractured than originally thought and I may never get to grind past fractures. |
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Apr 19, 2009 16:39:24 GMT -5
After 5 weeks in SiC60. Washed, scrubbed and recharged. Photographs taken in natural daylight, bright sunshine and rocks wet. Changed barrel size today due to the amount of loss sustained so far. Reduced down from a 7" barrel to a 5" barrel. Have removed all packing stones from the batch now. So the only things back in the barrel are the Amethyst and the Citrine. See you again next week. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2009 9:29:43 GMT -5
Rogue Trader: They are starting to take shape now you may wish to add plastic or other media even sugar to reduce the impact fractures & i also take it there were no grit left again.
Thank you for the updates.
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