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Post by tkrueger3 on Nov 7, 2009 15:51:04 GMT -5
I've been tumbling a Lortone 1.5lb barrel of apatite from the Rock Shed since September. 2 weeks of 60/90, 2 weeks of 220, 1 week of 600, 1 week of lusterite II prepolish, and a week of chromium oxide. The results are, shall I say, somewhat less than impressive. I'm wondering if anyone has had success tumbling apatite, and if so, what's the formula? Here's what the "finished" load looks like now, dry. This was the entire load of rock - about twice as much was filler - plastic beads and small ceramics:    So - leave them in coarse for a month or more? Let them grind until there's nothing left? Use less filler? More filler? I'm at a loss - any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Tom |
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Post by Toad on Nov 7, 2009 15:57:23 GMT -5
Some rocks aren't meant to be tumbled - not saying apatite is one of them as I never tried. But from the look of your finished stones, I never would have taken them past rough grind. You can't go by a formula for how many weeks in each stage. Continue in each stage until until they are ready for the next, then move on.
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Post by superioragates on Nov 7, 2009 16:36:52 GMT -5
It almost looks like the vibe just beat them to death....but I don't know what they looked like before in rough....man o man.......
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Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 7, 2009 17:58:18 GMT -5
I bought the same Blue Apatite from Madagascar and had similar relults using my rotary. It is just too soft (Mohs 5) and highly fractured. I was quite disappointed as it was one of my early tumbles.
It's one of those rocks that makes a beautiful specimen if left untouched.
Darryl.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Nov 7, 2009 19:07:15 GMT -5
All the apatite I've seen has a prefractured appearance sort of like Labradorite. I see polished chunks of it at gun shows and rock shows all the time and figured they must hand polish that stuff. Thanks for taking one for the team. I can now cross apatite off my "to do" list.
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Post by frane on Nov 7, 2009 21:18:27 GMT -5
I attempted apatite early on and after a couple weeks, I pulled it and it is still sitting in a container. I am thinking that if I try to finish it, I will do it in the vibe with a dry load. Maybe corncob and then corncob w/polish. Lets face it. Nothing else works! I have one beautiful blue piece left whole that I will eventually attempt to cab. I think I am going to super glue it first and maybe it will be OK.
Fran
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Post by tkrueger3 on Nov 7, 2009 23:40:54 GMT -5
Yep, that's kinda what I figured - I'm not the first to be disappointed with the apatite rough. Marie, I did these strictly in the rotary - not in the vibe. I think the vibe might reduce them to dust! LOL!
Anyway, I needed the barrel to start a load of little lakers somebody sent me. (You know who you are!!!) ;D
Tom
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Nov 8, 2009 13:34:44 GMT -5
has anybody ever tried opticon to stabilize rocks? I find it will permeate just about anything if I mix it according to directions, then cut it 50/50 with acetone. let the rocks sit in it for a couple of days. pull them out & let them dry. there you go. it's pretty good stuff if you do it this way. I've never been able to get it to work when I followed their directions.
jo
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Post by tkrueger3 on Nov 8, 2009 17:38:44 GMT -5
I, for one, have never tried Opticon - I guess one of these days I really should order some and give it a shot, shouldn't I?
Tom
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 12, 2009 9:43:48 GMT -5
Tom:
The apatite from the Rock Shed cabbed up beautifully, maybe just a little too soft for the tumblers, see if you can salvage some to cab, I loved what I got from them, the pieces made smaller cabs, but lots of flash, I will see if I can find a pic to send you.
Amber
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