Post by Good Vibrations on Jul 20, 2009 18:36:07 GMT -5
This is my second batch, and it was a total "Learning Batch". Some of the things I had read on this forum, that I didn't understand at the time, now make sense to me after this batch.
Like when I read "Listen to your vibe". Mine had always sounded the same to me before, but now that I am using "just enough" water, it actually had the opportunity to evaporate enough that the vibe made a different sound finally - like it was laboring and sounded kind of muffled, indicating the need for more water sprays. I'm thinking, "Ohhhh, that's what they're talking about!".
I also realized the value of using enough pellets & spacers in the burnish & polish stages to help to prevent further fractures in the rocks.
I learned that some beach rocks will never be of tumbling quality because the cracks go so deep that the rocks will likely keep chipping until there's nothing left.
I have only used a vibe up to this point, and I can see where a rotary would really be useful for a rough stage on a lot of my rocks. I can also see where a Workforce saw would come in handy.
Probably the best thing I learned is that when the rocks don't meet your satisfaction, you can always toss them (figuratively speaking) back for another round of tumbling!
I posted a few pics of the process itself to hopefully get some feedback as to whether I'm on the right track or not. And, with that, here are the results of batch 2 (note - some of the following will probably wind up being tossed back for more tumbling)
1. Taken during the first 30 seconds of the 120/220 stage:
2. Trying to get the slurry right...
3. And the polish...
4. The moment of truth:
5. Some results! The warm tones:
6. I was hoping to do more before and after shots, but many of the 'befores' never made it to the 'after' status! This one did though:
7. Another "B & A":
8. Really trippy. There's something in there!
9.
10. Is this jasper?
11. This one looks so radically different after tumbling that I couldn't even match it up to its "before" picture:
12. I would love to know what this one is:
13. I find a lot of this variety at a local beach we go to - translucent with a bluish tone, often covered with white patterns on the surface.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
If you made it this far, thanks for looking! AND please feel free to critique and/or identify any of them!!!
Erica
Like when I read "Listen to your vibe". Mine had always sounded the same to me before, but now that I am using "just enough" water, it actually had the opportunity to evaporate enough that the vibe made a different sound finally - like it was laboring and sounded kind of muffled, indicating the need for more water sprays. I'm thinking, "Ohhhh, that's what they're talking about!".
I also realized the value of using enough pellets & spacers in the burnish & polish stages to help to prevent further fractures in the rocks.
I learned that some beach rocks will never be of tumbling quality because the cracks go so deep that the rocks will likely keep chipping until there's nothing left.
I have only used a vibe up to this point, and I can see where a rotary would really be useful for a rough stage on a lot of my rocks. I can also see where a Workforce saw would come in handy.
Probably the best thing I learned is that when the rocks don't meet your satisfaction, you can always toss them (figuratively speaking) back for another round of tumbling!
I posted a few pics of the process itself to hopefully get some feedback as to whether I'm on the right track or not. And, with that, here are the results of batch 2 (note - some of the following will probably wind up being tossed back for more tumbling)
1. Taken during the first 30 seconds of the 120/220 stage:
2. Trying to get the slurry right...
3. And the polish...
4. The moment of truth:
5. Some results! The warm tones:
6. I was hoping to do more before and after shots, but many of the 'befores' never made it to the 'after' status! This one did though:
7. Another "B & A":
8. Really trippy. There's something in there!
9.
10. Is this jasper?
11. This one looks so radically different after tumbling that I couldn't even match it up to its "before" picture:
12. I would love to know what this one is:
13. I find a lot of this variety at a local beach we go to - translucent with a bluish tone, often covered with white patterns on the surface.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
If you made it this far, thanks for looking! AND please feel free to critique and/or identify any of them!!!
Erica
That is some kinda psychedelic looking stone! And #13 hits my "IWANNA" button, too. Wow. Nice rocks. Good job!
Jo, I like the blues too, they're soothing to look at~
Pic #8 is too cool!! 
