rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 23, 2009 20:35:42 GMT -5
Hello All,
It's me once again with a question ... I am polishing Pet Wood with the first grit of 60/90, I am on my 10th day and although some are smooth, I still have many others with crevices. I took a few out that were really smooth and drastically reduced in size.
Thee rest are not as smooth as I thought they'd be. However, now that I have reduced the amount of rocks, the barrel is almost half empty. I want to keep the slurry as thick and good as it is now. All rocks are covered in slurry, but the fill line is lower than when I started. (I think they state 5/8 full for a 3lb barrel)
Patience is a virtue on this one. Should I go to the 120/220 if the rocks are not smooth enough yet? I want to give the Pet Wood a full 14 days and see what happens. However, I don't want to grind away my whole project ... Any Suggestions ??
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 23, 2009 20:40:47 GMT -5
Plastic pellets for filler? Ceramic? Do you have any rough of similar hardness you could add just to bring the level up?
Love your avatar. Jo
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rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 23, 2009 20:46:59 GMT -5
LOL !! I found the avatar somewhere on the web, Thanks ...
In regards to the pellets, I have some plastic ones that I use for my pre-polish. They will probably get chewed up but I can get more.
Now that I am sitting here listening, there sounds like more tumbling (stone hitting stone) noise than before. Almost a cracking sound.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 23, 2009 21:05:41 GMT -5
Stop tumbling! That's a bad sound. You'll chip your rocks. Add fill of some sort: either more rock or pellets.
I would definitely go the full 14 days if you still have visible cracks. They won't get much better in 120; that's what the 60/90 is for. If you have a grinder, you can grind off the cracks and save more of the rest of the rock.
HTH,
Chuck
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 23, 2009 21:06:36 GMT -5
One of the reasons for having loads 3/4 full is to tumble not have the rise and fall you are hearing. You may end up with a lot more chips depending on what you are tumbling. If you don't have more rocks to add or ceramic media as a filler find some gravel or rock chips.
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 23, 2009 21:14:31 GMT -5
I've used marbles in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend using them all the time. They can be harder than some stone and can sometimes cause gas buildup that leads to a blowout. (yes, I'm talking about the tumbler, LOL) Jo
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rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 23, 2009 21:18:13 GMT -5
What a nightmare, Just had to re-clean the whole barrel since it was leaking after I placed the pellets in. (dried grit around lip) I added some pellets in, now it is back up to the 5/8 mark. Rocks tumbling smoothly like before, and a MUCH BETTER SOUND.
I thought this hobby was supposed to be fun ..,,, LOL !! :blush:
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Post by Condor on Mar 23, 2009 22:19:01 GMT -5
Yup, those things happen. Very frustrating too. Seems like you may need to start over again if the rocks cracked. I agree with johnsgems. Use other, maybe softer rocks as filler. Ceramic media is good if you have it, but you can always use rocks chips or even small pieces of gravel. You'll know by sound of the tumbling rocks when it's right.
Keep on Rockin'
Condor
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rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 24, 2009 8:01:48 GMT -5
Well if anything, it's a learning experience. This forum has been fabulous! Good replies, fixes and encouragement. Hard Rock, I think I'll try to grind the crevices after 14 days. That will save the rest of the batch! I didn't think Pet Rock was that tough. Can anyone recommend a "easy to polish" kind of rock or rocks that can tumble together? Regards .... Lou
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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 24, 2009 9:24:43 GMT -5
Lou: it sounds like you are on the right track. Adding filler to your PetWood barrel to make a nice clinky sound (instead of a harsher cracking sound) was a very good idea. As others have said, you can use many different materials as filler. I prefer more rock of the same kind and/or ceramic pellets.
As for a high-success tumbling rock, most people recommend jasper and/or agate to start. You can find lots of interesting colors/patterns for relatively cheap. I'd suggest trolling through the photos section to look for a kind that appeals to you. Order more than you think you need. That way, as you take smooth rock out of the 60/90 stage, you can add more rough in to keep it full. Keep doing that until you have enough smooth rock to run a full 120/200 medium grind.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 25, 2009 5:23:23 GMT -5
Condor,
In reference to the filler, is the gravel (like a 3/8 to 1/4 inch) acceptable to use? I have a whole bag left that I use for making the drainage part for terrariums. Also, could I use this as a filler during the next stage 120/220 fine grit?
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 25, 2009 12:58:55 GMT -5
That gravel sounds like it would work. Rinse it out with the rock and move on to step 2 if you need filler there also. Ideally you need to keep doing step one and pulling the best to make up a full step 2 load. A variety of sizes is necessary so if you don't have any small stuff the gravel will help there too.
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highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
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Post by highplainsdrifter on Mar 25, 2009 13:57:54 GMT -5
Can anyone recommend a "easy to polish" kind of rock or rocks that can tumble together? Regards .... Lou The easiest and quickest rock I've had success tumbling is beach/river agates/jaspers. It is already shaped by the ocean, so the first step is really quick. |
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rockin50
off to a rocking start
Rock Tumbling - It's worth the wait!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 24
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Post by rockin50 on Mar 27, 2009 10:50:23 GMT -5
Hello Tumblers ... Well, I made the 60/90 14 day mark, and patience is still on my side (sounds like an old Rolling Stones song) How appropriate for this place ;D Anyway, for those following my adventures, you will be please to know, MOST of the rough has smoothed into the next phase. However, about 12 of the large rocks have not. So, I am placing them in another 60/90 for a additional week. (all the rest have been placed aside for the 120/220 phase). Funny thing is, I am not going to rush this. I want the best product I can tumble. I did place some other (old tumbled rocks) that didn't turn out so well and added that to make up the balance for a nice even tumble. Who knows... maybe I'll have a nice set of tumbled material by June .... LOL ! Anyway here are a few photos of The Initial Rough, 7 Day 60/90 and 14 Day 60/90. Patience Grasshopper, Patience ......  [glow=red,2,300]Original Rough[/glow]  [glow=red,2,300]7 Day 60/90[/glow]  [glow=red,2,300]14 Day 60/90[/glow]  |
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 27, 2009 16:41:03 GMT -5
Looks like things are shaping up nicely.
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Apr 9, 2009 17:48:04 GMT -5
Some pet wood is determined to have its crevice or crack that will never get a full shine. Its the nature of how it was formed into rock, or other minerals in that crevice. Find a larger piece and break it up to get to the core of the pet wood, without the bark. If its a type of stone with bark on it, just leave it and let be, unless you want a pea size pet wood without cracks. I love the cracks in the bark of my pet wood, gives it a natural look.
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