mizdeb
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by mizdeb on Dec 29, 2009 20:55:37 GMT -5
I have read and read and have many questions. I got a Thumler T for Christmas and have stones we got at a mine in NC last May while on vacation. I had a ruby cabbed at the mine, but brought all the sapphires home in the rough. I want to start my first batch in the tumbler with them. I know they are hard to tumble, but I want to try it. I have maybe a pound of them so what other stone would be a good match to put in with them. I read that agate is a good one and I have some of them as well. I have the bag of stones that came with the T, but want to use what I have first to see what they are. They are all covered with matrix so I have no idea what colors I will end up with.
I also have an upland grinder and diamond band saw from my stained glass period. Can I use these tools to cut the stones and shape them before tumbling. Should I grind off the matrix before I tumble? I know I will have to get new grinding heads to do any cabbing eventually, but that can come later. I have also read negative comments about the adapter to saw and do flat what ever it is (can you tell I haven't a clue), but I already have the machine so why not start with that.
I started wire wrapping so I could set the ruby myself and I really love doing it. I am planning to finally set the ruby this weekend. I would eventually like to branch out to silver clay , but am a little leery of handling a torch (haven't used one since silver smithing in high school a million years ago) and I do not have a kiln to fire it in. Maybe next Christmas I can ask Santa for one, but not right now.
Enough jabbering for now. Thanks for reading and answers to my questions
Deb
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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 29, 2009 21:54:55 GMT -5
Deb, Problem with tumbling rubies and sapphires is their mohs hardness of 9 matches the silicon carbide grit which is also mohs 9. This of course means rounding off the rough in coarse grind takes a whopping long time. It also means if you mix sapphire rough with agate or jasper rough at mohs 7, that the harder material will pretty much scuff and eat up the softer agate. You can probably tumble fully rounded stones together as there would be no rough edges to scratch the softer agate but getting the sapphires rounded and smooth is a big chore. Sapphire would probably best be rounded and smoothed on diamond wheels at mohs 10 and then put in the tumbler for a good long run. As a general rule though, it's always good to tumble materials of similar hardness...Mel
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Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 30, 2009 6:54:11 GMT -5
You have two great pieces of equipment from your stained glass work. The band saw will cut complex preform shapes from 1/4" to 3/8" thick slabs. Your grinder (with the right grinding bits and pins) will allow you to clean up the edges before you tumble.
What you need is a 7" wet tile saw to cut your own slabs, or buy/trade slabs that are ready to finish and you will be well on yuour way. Saws can start for under $100 for a HomeDepot WorkForce (or equivalent) to get you started. There are hundreds of members that use these.
You have found the right site to answer all your questions.
Darryl.
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Post by connrock on Dec 30, 2009 9:26:45 GMT -5
Hi Deb and welcome,,,,
I know that you want to tumble your own "finds" but as Mel already told you it's going to be a very long time to finish them.
I would also like to add that after all the work I doubt if you will like the results!Getting a "gemmy" look on those sapphires and rubies just won't happen!You WILL get a "so-so" look to them but they will never be gem looking.
Most of what is found in the NC sluice's is mine run material and isn't very "solid' material at all but rather a "gathering" of gem material mixed in with a host rock.(i don't know the correct terminology here),,,,
So,,,what you end up with after many,many months of tumbling is a lot of shiny rocks that resemble sapphires and rubies.
There are a few people here who have polished them and if you search in the photo section you may find what I'm talking about.
I know that none of this is what you want to hear but we are just trying to help you the best we can.
Now go ahead and do it anyway!!! lol lol lol been there,,,,done that ;D
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CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
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Post by CUL-Ann on Dec 30, 2009 10:40:39 GMT -5
I got my 7" wet tile saw at a restore for $30.00, put a good blade on it and use it all the time, works great.
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mizdeb
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by mizdeb on Dec 31, 2009 8:36:36 GMT -5
Thank you for all your replies. I certainly didn't think it would take months so I am rethinking putting the sapphires in the tumbler. I think it better to order the diamond heads for the grinder and see what I can do with that. Will have to wait till spring for that To cold to get the grinder and saw out now to work on them. No room in house for them.
Here in the south western part of New Hampshire we do not have places that restore equipment to resell so that is not available to me.
I have no access to other rocks right now, but I do know where there are white quartz rocks that I could get to if I want to. Other than those I haven't a clue as to what to even look for in the rough. It amazes me what nature can hide under all that matrix. I guess when the Gilsum Rock swap comes around next year I will have to spend some time talking to dealers instead of just looking. Lived here for 15 years and never went until this year. We have mines all around us and I never knew about them. How stupid of me.
Is anyone else from this area of NH?
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