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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 20, 2010 17:39:06 GMT -5
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Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 20, 2010 17:51:10 GMT -5
Hi Julie! I think the first set of carnelians is looking pretty good, but there seems to be lots of pits or like "hickies" in them. If it were me, I'd probly either grind them smoother with either the edge of the trim saw blade or with the sanding wheel, or put them back in the rotary tumblers with some really coarse grit, say some 46-70, and check them weekly until the pits are gone, then crank through to polish again. Of course, if the surface texture they have now is ok with you, then that's cool - they have a pretty good shine on them already. Just MHO!  Tom |
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 20, 2010 18:15:01 GMT -5
Tom!!! Hi There!!!!
I know .... the carnelian is looking better, but .... they still have a bit of time in the rough to go. What you see as hickies or pits are actually the dimples still there and needing more rough (60/90). I know carnelian is hard rock to work with and I have lost more mass then I thought I would. For carnelian, I suppose .... in my learning arena, I will lose the mass to give me the pretty in the end.
What I am going to do is experiment tomorrow. I will take a few raw/rough/untumbled pieces and play with the gryphon.
I have restarted the barrel with another round of 60/90, same pellets with more added, and I will let it go for another, at least 21-28 days.
I would much rather have 20 very sweet pieces in the end, then have a batch of not so sweet pieces.
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 20, 2010 18:32:38 GMT -5
i love the colors in the carns.
they are tough to get smooth . i'm having the same challenge with Lake Superior . i've been running & recharging 46-70 & 60-90 since Nov 9 .
the other is smoothing up very well.
keep up the patience !!
---paul
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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 Mar 20, 2010 18:38:10 GMT -5
I'm tumbling some Rockshed carnelian right now. Those little pits etc take forever to grind out in coarse grind, some so long the carnelian exterior gets ground clear off....Mel
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Post by frane on Mar 21, 2010 8:34:59 GMT -5
The last time I did a load of carnelian, it took 12 weeks in course grit to get ready to move on. Some, just never made it.
Looking good though!
Fran
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 21, 2010 14:46:51 GMT -5
Thanks guys!!!
As always I get information that helps me not to give up.
With these pieces losing so much outer mass, I know that the final and finished pieces will be small.
RockRookie .... Nov 9th? Oh boy ... you are apparently a very patient person.
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 21, 2010 15:33:40 GMT -5
Thanks guys!!! As always I get information that helps me not to give up. With these pieces losing so much outer mass, I know that the final and finished pieces will be small. RockRookie .... Nov 9th? Oh boy ... you are apparently a very patient person. patient enough , to have to have 5 barrells to make up for the really long session . haha !! --paul |
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