sford13
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 119 
|
Post by sford13 on Nov 9, 2009 8:37:51 GMT -5
Ok I bought some tumbling rough from Tony and it had some limb cast in it. I am fairly new to this hobby but my assumption is that I will just need to tumble off the matrix. But I am looking for input on just what to do with the limb cast and how to tumble it. Are there any extra steps or it is just put it in and let time take it course? Thanks in advance for the help.
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Nov 9, 2009 8:54:15 GMT -5
Assuming the limbcast is agate - I'd just tumble as normal.
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Nov 9, 2009 18:47:01 GMT -5
Sometimes limbcasts are most valuable if they still have good patterning that looks like wood on the surface and just have an end polished, so I'd have a look and set aside nay that still look like wood, the rest just toss in with more agates or jaspers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Nov 9, 2009 22:21:19 GMT -5
I agree, rally. But rock tumblers are notoriously sacriligious (sp???) Nothing is sacred...
|
|
|
|
Post by Woodyrock on Nov 10, 2009 1:56:15 GMT -5
Like Rally said, the value of a good limb cast is the exterior. The inside is usually fairly plain agate, usually. Of course there are exceptions, like when you have a nice iris.
Woody
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Nov 10, 2009 2:08:42 GMT -5
Limbcasts are really hard and take a while to tumble, but I hear they take a wonderful polish! I just started some, and as far as I know, nothing is different just that you need to be extra patient. Steve Here's the rough:  Here it is after three weeks in rough. It's got a ways to go until it's ready for the medium grind.  |
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Nov 10, 2009 7:16:06 GMT -5
Hey fella(rocklicker),,,, Where's all those "grit carriers" we were just tawkin about?  Don't see many at all in your roughed limb casts!!!!! sford13, As you can see in rocklickers photos,the limb casts will take a few go-rounds in the rough stage to get them smooth. Although they can look kind of "blah" after tumbling I think they are sort of "soothing" to look at as long as ALL of the flaws are roughed out,,, Here's a pendant I made from limb casts and I like it's soft pastel pink color!  Notice that it's sitting on a piece of dirty old rough!! It takes a very high polish too! Good luck and don't forget to use a LOT of "grit carriers"! connrock |
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Nov 10, 2009 10:32:01 GMT -5
Aww Steve, I'd say 4 of those pieces would have been prime candidates for end polishing- you could have sold them each for $10-20, but now you'll just have some pink agate maybe worth a buck or two.
|
|
|
|
Post by rocklicker on Nov 10, 2009 18:01:55 GMT -5
Haha Conrock. Yeah you can see there are a few grit carriers in there but not enough. I started another round of rough grind before the whole gtit/water/rocks ration thing. Beautiful pendant by the way!
OMG Pete, I didn't realize entact limb casts were valuable. Well, too late now. Luckily I saved some of the nicer ones from the tumbler.
Steve
|
|
leadhand
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 262
|
Post by leadhand on Nov 10, 2009 18:10:44 GMT -5
Pretty stuff
|
|
rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Nov 10, 2009 22:40:14 GMT -5
|
|
MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by MikeS on Nov 13, 2009 16:44:05 GMT -5
I would tend to agree about the limb casts, but I would add that it depends on the exterior as it relates to the specimen as a whole. Here is a pic of some of mine, they are agatized limb casts with opal layers from the Frontier Creek area north of Dubois, WY. One is face polished and the other is a face polished slab that still shows the exterior.  |
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Nov 13, 2009 16:48:02 GMT -5
That's really cool stuff mikes.
|
|
carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
|
Post by carloscinco on Nov 16, 2009 20:08:23 GMT -5
Mikes, can you help me out please? Which part of the limb casts in your picture are you referring too as "opal"? This is not the first time I've heard the reference but I'm in the dark. Thanks
|
|
Don't see many at all in your roughed limb casts!!!!!
