georgekm
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2010
Posts: 2 
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Post by georgekm on Jun 8, 2010 15:28:48 GMT -5
So I have never tumbled rocks before but recently bought a rotary tumbler in the hopes of polishing some rocks I have collected to make jewelry. However I was hoping to keep a more natural look to the rocks - with edges that aren't totally smooth. I would like to add some shine to the rocks, but I don't need them to be totally shiny. While I'm not sure exactly what all the rocks are I do believe most are harder rocks like granite and quartz. Anyway - all I the instructions i have found so far appear to result in rocks that are totally smooth and I was wondering if it is even possible to obtain a different result using a rock tumbler. Any help or advice that anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 8, 2010 15:50:15 GMT -5
I'm not sure exactly what you're after, but a vibe tumbler will not round the stones as much as a rotary.
With either type of tumbler you can stop anywhere in the process short of the final polishing step. Where you stop will determine how rough the surface is.
Others are sure to chime in.
Hope that helps,
Chuck
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Post by rockrookie on Jun 8, 2010 17:46:08 GMT -5
George , Welcome to RTH !
i would say that less time in coarse grit , should do the trick .
this will leave you with some raised edges & voids . the finer grit will not wear down rocks as much .
i would definintely let then run in soap (burnish) to make certain that coarse grit does not hide in voids & cracks . before going to polish stage .
trial & error learning is very effective in buiding experience & confidence .
Good luck !!
keep us posted on your results .
--paul
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Post by rockrookie on Jun 8, 2010 17:51:52 GMT -5
PS ... you can stop whenever you want .and if you get a shine that you don't want .
you can always put it reverse by puting shiney tumbles back in 500 or 1000 grit for a few days .
just my 2 cents .
beauty is in the eye of the beholder !!
as long as you like it , it is good !
--paul
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 8, 2010 21:53:31 GMT -5
Totally smooth actually takes a long time in course grind. Like others said, you can leave course sooner to avoid over-rounding or taking out every pit or crevasse. Sharp angular edges however are the 1st things to blunt, so those are gone. But if angular edges with a blunt rounded tip are very easy if that is what you want.
Also if parts of the stone are very rough you might get some smooth spots before the rough texture is completely gone in other spots.
All that is about shaping.
For polishing, it is about how much shine. After course grind the shape changes very little. You can go for a dull, high satio, or high gloss shine.
You might tumble a stone with a softer area, vein, or layer. This will undercut (erode faster) and likely will not polish. This gives a mixed texture, but I would not call it natural.
You might also be able to tumble a stone with a fracture, and after it is polished, break it along the fracture to get an interesting mix of natural and worked.
If you want absolutely untouched areas showing a matrix or crust and other areas smooth and polished, then this cannot be done in a tumbler.
Take a look at the pics of some of the tumbles in the tumble pic section and see if some of the stones that still have crevasse or pitts are what you were thinking.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 9, 2010 3:28:18 GMT -5
HI
Have you everstarted at stage 2 and 220 Grit
I know shape dosent change much after stage one
The only thing would be run a extra 2X in 220 to get the foundations for a good finish
This is just a quick guess others would be more qualified to answer
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Jun 9, 2010 8:46:33 GMT -5
"If you want absolutely untouched areas showing a matrix or crust and other areas smooth and polished, then this cannot be done in a tumbler."
You can do this by coating the area in epoxy and later dissolving it. Time consuming but possible.
Dr Joe
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 9, 2010 10:25:36 GMT -5
"If you want absolutely untouched areas showing a matrix or crust and other areas smooth and polished, then this cannot be done in a tumbler." You can do this by coating the area in epoxy and later dissolving it. Time consuming but possible. Dr Joe . Yes true. I think you might even be able to do this trick with wax, which would come off easier. I have heard of wax to protect druzy pockets. |
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georgekm
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2010
Posts: 2
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Post by georgekm on Jun 9, 2010 10:32:08 GMT -5
Thank all of you for the help and advice. I was having a little bit of a hard time describing what I wanted, but I think raised edges and possible rough spots describes it well.  I was hoping to start this weekend and after reading the tutorial think I probably need to include some plastic beads since I was only going to do half the rocks I have to see how they turn out first and that probably won't fill the tumbler enough. So I will be in search of those later today. Again thanks for the help, and if anyone has an additional tips feel free to throw them out there - doing this for the first time can use all the advice I can get. |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jun 9, 2010 11:51:17 GMT -5
George,
Please be aware of two facts of Rocktumbling and RTH:
1) Besides their first tumbling batch, we tend to only show our best work.
2) It is easier to produce tumbles that are not perfectly rounded and less than mirror finish
Like any hobby(or job), we get better and more anal about Tumbling and want to produce a finer finish. To get a more natural finish go with the tumbling recipe recommendede by most manufacturers which is:
1) One week in Coarse grit
2) One week in Medium grit
3) One week in fine grit
4) One week in polish( for less shiny rocks check the finish every day)
Charlie
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 9, 2010 16:51:52 GMT -5
Easiest way to get a natural finish is put the rocks in a clear glass container with water.
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 9, 2010 17:17:52 GMT -5
Or, you could tumbled them for a few hours in water and borax with cushion to clean them up and then coat them with mineral or olive oil. Jo
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 10, 2010 2:06:45 GMT -5
as above
or coat with epoxy dip coating or a varnish ?
Not a polised finish but a nice shiny one that would lift the colours in the rock and keep the natural look.?
(like taking a photo of wet rock)
Jack
Yorkshire uk
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I was hoping to start this weekend and after reading the tutorial think I probably need to include some plastic beads since I was only going to do half the rocks I have to see how they turn out first and that probably won't fill the tumbler enough. So I will be in search of those later today. Again thanks for the help, and if anyone has an additional tips feel free to throw them out there - doing this for the first time can use all the advice I can get.
