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Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 6, 2009 20:40:16 GMT -5
Finally decided to call this batch done. It's been running in a small Lortone 1.5 barrel for about 3 months now. After the volume went down, I threw in a handfull or two of scraps and leavings from cutting preforms on the WF. The end results are, to say the least, startling to me - I didn't think I could get this kind of finish! First, here's everything that was in the little barrel, except for the plastic beads and rubber tile spacers:  The mahogany obsidian chunks  The black obsidian chunks  Some stuff that seems to not be able to decide if it wants to be black or mahogany  And finally, the WF scraps. What aggravates me is I made several preforms from a big puddingstone slab, and am having trouble getting a decent finish on them. However the scraps in this batch (the group upper left) turned out like wet glass. Crud.   Thanks for looking, folks! Tom |
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snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Dec 6, 2009 20:47:32 GMT -5
Very nice job Tom. Thats what polished obsidian is supposed to look like,but doesnt always turn out that way. Makes me want to put a batch on.
snuffy
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Dec 6, 2009 21:56:13 GMT -5
A variety of sizes and shapes to encourage random collisions. Nice polish.
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 7, 2009 14:17:09 GMT -5
Tom:
Are you using the same polish to polish your cabs? Conglomerates are hard to get shiny. IS that goldstone in there as well? I have obsidian I have been seperating to try a batchin the Lot O!!! These look super!!!
Amber
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Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 7, 2009 14:33:06 GMT -5
Amber - I had a few puddingstone preforms in the vibe with a bunch of other preforms and about a ton of ceramics - after one day of jiggling in graded 220, the puddingstone had already severely undercut in the soft parts, so I removed it and have been working it with the Expando ever since. I can get it to a presentable state, but not glassy. However, the WF leftovers from the puddingstone went through all the grits and polish steps along with the obsidian, in the rotary tumbler. Maybe the little Lortone isn't as violent as the vibe?
And yes, there's a few little pieces of brick-red goldstone / monkstone in there. And some little pieces of rosetta and crazy lace, and a couple different kinds of picture jaspers.
Tom
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Post by frane on Dec 9, 2009 21:45:44 GMT -5
Looks like you have a pretty good batch for a mixed load! The Obsidian looks really good and that is surprising. Everything I read says to do it by itself because it will chip and shatter with harder stones. Great job!
Fran
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Post by Toad on Dec 9, 2009 22:26:31 GMT -5
Very nice job, Tom. Nice shapes, colors, variety...
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Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 9, 2009 23:47:42 GMT -5
I do think that one factor that probably helped it all come out ok was that I kept this barrel way fuller than the recommended 3/4. Each time I recharged it, I made sure it was past 3/4 full, and then I added water up almost to the top of the rocks. So there wasn't as much room left inside for stuff to bang around a lot, which my theory says should make for more sliding and less crashing. (Well, at least I can tell myself that I've developed this theory, right? ;D) Of course, the other side of that coin is that it then takes much longer for each grit to do its job.
Tom
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Post by Toad on Dec 10, 2009 10:39:41 GMT -5
As long as it works. Careful about strain on the motor though.
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