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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 14, 2009 14:23:50 GMT -5
;D After much vibe-ing, washing, boraxing, gritting, polishing, sweating, cussing, and gnashing of teeth, I'm DONE with this batch of beach rocks. And I'm thrilled that I FINALLY got something to really shine! The chronology was: 24 hrs in 500 AO; 2 hrs borax; separated the harder stones from the softer stones, and added in some previously semi-polished harder beach rocks; 48 hrs 1000 AO; 2 hrs borax; 24 hrs AO polish; 2 hrs borax; added ceramics then 24 hrs M-5 polish; 2 hrs borax; 24 hrs chrome oxide polish; 2 hrs borax; then dried. I like the results - might not be up to everyone's standards, but after all that, I'm happy with them. Here's the pics: The whole load  A bit closer   Some of my favorites in this batch      Seems a chunk of chevron amethyst snuck in there   HA! I couldn't see the pits with my naked eyes!    Anyway, I've started a whole new batch of beach rocks in the vibe, in graded 220 grit. After the 500 grit, once again, I'll separate the "hards" from the "softs" and maybe then I'll have enough of the softer ones to have a vibe load of exclusively softer beach rocks. Thanks for looking Tom |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 14, 2009 14:26:35 GMT -5
PS - all these pictures were taken on my dining room table with just the overhead fixture for light, no flash.
Tom
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Aug 14, 2009 16:45:40 GMT -5
That ain't bad!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 14, 2009 17:28:34 GMT -5
They look great bud, keep the pics coming!  |
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Post by frane on Aug 14, 2009 21:05:40 GMT -5
You have quite a few really great ones there! The best thing about tumbling/vibing is that when you need more rock to add to a load, you can throw in some from a prior load that you would like to turn out even better. It's a win win!
I am looking forward to your next batch!
Fran
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 14, 2009 21:28:21 GMT -5
;D Thanks, everybody. Yeah, Fran, I'm looking forward to this next batch, also. Now if I could only get a good shine on some of these cabs I've been working on for a month .....  Tom |
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cork2win
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2005
Posts: 15 
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Post by cork2win on Sept 16, 2009 12:07:07 GMT -5
Ooh! These look a lot like the rocks I'm trying to polish right now. Can I ask, what makes them "beach rocks" other than where they came from? I mean, I assume there are all sorts of real, identifiable rocks in here, no? Mine came from a load of gravel we had dumped in our driveway, but I have lots of similar looking stones to what you have here. Are they all just "junk" stones? I, like you, think there are some beautiful rocks in this mix (and mine), but they're far from gems. I'd still be happy to get a shine on them though. Just curious what's really meant by "beach rocks".
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 16, 2009 12:21:32 GMT -5
I believe "beach rocks" means just that - rocks collected on a beach somewhere. In general, the ocean has already put them through the coarse grind for you, so you don't need to start out with, say, 60/90 grit. They will all be fairly rounded already, and ready for the medium and fine grits.
Not all of them will take a shine, though. You have to be prepared to toss about 1/4 to 1/3 of them as "junk". The rest, though, will provide you with a plethora of different colors, patterns, and shapes, and you will spend hours examining each of them after they are done.
As far as ID'ing them goes, it's a pure guess, but most will be some kind of agate, obsidian, quartz, or maybe jasper. Those are the ones that will end up shiny.
Tom
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Post by 150FromFundy on Sept 16, 2009 16:29:42 GMT -5
Beach rocks? If you found that amethyst on your beach, I want to know where your beach is. You have some real beauties there!
Darryl.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 16, 2009 17:43:33 GMT -5
Darryl: LOL! Here's my "beach" .... www.ebay.com/I bought a bunch of beach rocks off of eBay just to play with and experiment with. Turns out, it was a good purchase. But the amethyst got dropped into the wrong bucket in my rock room, somewhere along the way, and got tumbled with the beachies. No great loss. Tom |
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snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Sept 16, 2009 17:52:39 GMT -5
Those are something to be proud of, Tom. We dont have to worry about finding rocks on beaches around here, do we? snuffy |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 16, 2009 18:17:17 GMT -5
LOL! When I was in the USAF a hunnert years ago, stationed at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, we used to talk about going to "Barton Beach" and watching the babes ... excuse me - I mean the lovely, athletic female swimmers and divers ... but I doubt we could find many beach rocks there!
Tom
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Post by montanamuskrat on Sept 29, 2009 23:58:01 GMT -5
They all look good
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Sept 30, 2009 3:32:12 GMT -5
Hi Tom ,
Agreat batch I wish we had some ammy on our beaches like that that is a great batch
I start with 220 G on my beach batches 220 and a vibe is very agressive and certainly removes some area in 48 hours
Whats that red and white one center 2nd Pic ?
Well Done a great batch
Jack
yorkshire uk
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 30, 2009 11:15:13 GMT -5
Jack - I haven't a clue what the red/white one is - it appears to be a red agate-type with a pure white stone annealed to it. It's very hard, very lumpy, and I only left it in the mix for the volume. I'm thinking about one of these days, maybe cutting it to see if it will shape up somehow.
Tom
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karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
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Post by karock on Sept 30, 2009 22:08:33 GMT -5
Look like very shinny beach rocks to me. The Kiddies will love them! Save the best ones and who knows, maybe they will turn into cabs later when you cut on em.
Karock
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 1, 2009 2:41:08 GMT -5
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Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 1, 2009 10:27:38 GMT -5
Jack - that could well be what it is. Some day, I'll cut it up and see what happens!
Tom
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tomcloss
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 158
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Post by tomcloss on Oct 2, 2009 23:01:00 GMT -5
"But the amethyst got dropped into the wrong bucket in my rock room, somewhere along the way, and got tumbled with the beachies. No great loss."
I hate when my rocks get mixed up. Great rocks though.
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