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Post by Toad on Dec 9, 2009 20:45:06 GMT -5
Anyone know if rhodonite is good for tumbling? Looks hard enough: 5.5-6
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JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
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Post by JEFFD on Dec 9, 2009 20:51:38 GMT -5
A full batch should do ok.
If you mix with agate or jasper it will get beat up.
I've had mixed results even on the cabbing machine...some is softer and doesn't shine up past a satin shine.
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Post by Toad on Dec 9, 2009 20:53:22 GMT -5
How about mixing with wonderstone?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 9, 2009 21:02:59 GMT -5
I've tumbled it. Probably best by itself. Wonderstone is pretty abrasive and a bit harder. The rhodonite I tumbled, California stuff, was pretty variable with some of the lot taking a pretty fair polish and some just a satin finish. I tried Cerium oxide, Tin oxide ( the expensive stuff) and Rockshed AO. I think the AO actually gave the best shine at much less cost. I finished the batch in my slowest 4# barrel with lots of plastic pellets......Mel
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Post by Toad on Dec 9, 2009 21:25:05 GMT -5
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leadhand
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 262
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Post by leadhand on Dec 9, 2009 21:46:38 GMT -5
Ah ...your ebay finds... I'm jealous. The cost of shipping to Canada makes most material so expensive as to be prohibitive.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 9, 2009 21:59:40 GMT -5
Wow, Nice looking hunk! I don't mind cabbing it but man, I hate slabbing it. It's one of those materials that's tough and pulls the metal on your saw blades. Better with a continuous rim blade as it really glazes notched rim types.....Mel
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Post by Toad on Dec 9, 2009 22:18:57 GMT -5
That's all right, Mel. I don't have a saw at all.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Dec 17, 2009 18:44:37 GMT -5
Here's some tumbled rhodonite. It looks a bit different than the California variety, I believe mine came from "Hill 60" on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Tumbles up pretty well, not as shiny as agate but pretty nice all the same. Some kinds aren't nearly so pink and don't shine up as well. The black veins in mine are manganese. -Don  |
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Post by Toad on Dec 17, 2009 18:47:28 GMT -5
Looks like a beautiful shine on those. The piece I bought doesn't appear to have as much of that nice black. But it will do. Thanks for the pic.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 17, 2009 19:43:17 GMT -5
Just my $0.02 interjection here - I've tried some in the vibe, and ended up after 1 day with pitted rocks, where I started with preforms. I don't think rhodonite likes a vibe very much.
YMMV
Tom
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Post by moondragon on Dec 17, 2009 20:45:34 GMT -5
Dang that looks really nice. When I used to make bracelets out of Rhodonite that was the most asked for, favorite stone. The love stone:) Here is a picture of a slab I bought from a guy that had a shop in Cali for over 30 years. He self collected this piece down a 400 foot cliff on the coast of California. He said the tide was coming in and he was scared. He said this vein was only about a 3 foot by 3 foot section. This is old stock. It is about 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches by 1 inch thick  |
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Post by Toad on Dec 17, 2009 21:34:29 GMT -5
Mine looks more like yours, moondragon. I prefer Don's stuff, but beggars...
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number21
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 72
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Post by number21 on Dec 17, 2009 23:54:33 GMT -5
Interested to see how your Rhodonite comes out. I have a couple pieces that I picked up off the eBay also. I seem to do most of my rockhounding there. My pieces are going to be cut up to make a 3-4" sphere and many smaller ones. Just as soon as I build a rock saw.  |
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Post by Toad on Dec 18, 2009 8:13:02 GMT -5
While your at it, can you build me a tumbler?
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
