washougal
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 29
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Post by washougal on Aug 13, 2010 22:00:11 GMT -5
This last week I collected about 30lbs of opalized and agatized petrified wood from Umtanum Creek in Washington. I was wondering if anyone has some advice on polishing this? It seems kind of soft compared to normal agates and jasper so I am not sure where to start. I have a 15Lb. thumlers tumbler and a larger thumlers vibe. I would appreciate any advice someone might have. It is very pretty material so I would like to do it in the right way.
thanks!
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Post by susand24224 on Aug 13, 2010 23:20:55 GMT -5
Is it possible for you to post a picture? I have collected and tumbled opalized petrified wood from several locatins in Washington, and the woods were very different. If I can get a better understanding of what you have, I will send you my tumbling log that is closest to the ones you have.
Susan
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washougal
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
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Post by washougal on Aug 13, 2010 23:24:09 GMT -5
Thanks Susan, I really appreciate it. I'll post a couple of pictures tomorrow so you can see what it looks like.
thanks!
David
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washougal
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
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Post by washougal on Aug 14, 2010 0:29:01 GMT -5
Susan, Here are a few pieces that are representative of the differenct kinds of pieces in the batch. Let me know if a different kind of photo would help. Thanks  |
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Post by Toad on Aug 14, 2010 4:21:52 GMT -5
That is beautiful
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Aug 14, 2010 6:40:24 GMT -5
That's some real pretty wood!!!!
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Post by susand24224 on Aug 14, 2010 17:44:58 GMT -5
Okay, I'm going to p.m. you my actual log. It was notes for me, so please ignore the caps, etc. I was shouting at myself! Also, I certainly can't say this for sure with just the photos, but it looks like you may have some agatized wood in there as well. This is not a problem--it is more solid.
Some of those materials are more "shatter prone" based on my experience. It looks like the large middle top one, the one on the left, and the one long one at the bottom may all into that category. Eventually you will still get a solid tumble with them, but break your pieces considerably larger than you want the final product. When you start breaking, you will get a feel for it--some may chip off.
Above all else, the key to the opalized wood for me was plenty of ceramic pellets and adding a TB or so of borax or Ivory Snow. Whenever I didn't do this, the rocks started chipping. If you have pieces that turn out to be agate or jasper (looks similar, works very differently) and you separate them, these precautions are not necessary. The directions are for a 3 lb. barrel.
Susan
P.S. I've only lived in central Washington a year and don't know where the river is--mine stuff came from George, Mattawa and a bit beyond, including Saddle Mountain.
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washougal
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Post by washougal on Aug 14, 2010 19:38:31 GMT -5
Susan, Thanks very much! I really appreciate the great help. After ready through your IM it is just what I needed to get me going in the right direction.
Umtanum Creek is a side stream that flows into the Yakima River in the Yakima Canyon about 10 miles below Ellensburg. If you ever get a mind to go over there, let me know and I can send you a sketch of what I ran across. There are quite a few logs buried in the hillsides but I was only looking for smaller pieces in that I was by myself and couldn't pack all that much out.
again, thanks
David
email dv8@comcast.net
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Post by susand24224 on Aug 14, 2010 23:25:33 GMT -5
David, it sounds like you were only forty-fifty miles from the various localities where I found mine, so it's no wonder it looks so familiar to me! I would love directions; it's a good day trip for me, about an hour and a half away, if that. If it ever cools off, that is!
Susan
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washougal
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Member since February 2009
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Post by washougal on Aug 15, 2010 20:02:07 GMT -5
Susan, I'll put together some notes and IM them to you about Umtanum Creek. The day I was there last week was over 100, so fairly warm. Really great area.
David
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Post by susand24224 on Aug 16, 2010 1:13:16 GMT -5
David, here are some photos of what your wood will look like tumbled. The first is all opalized wood; the second is a mix of opalized, agatized, and a few pieces of picture jasper. I just took them inside, so the colors aren't real good, but I hope you can get a general idea. The log I sent you is from the first batch, and several of the better ones have been wrapped and given as gifts, so they aren't available to photograph anymore. [  ][/img] [  ][/img] |
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 16, 2010 2:16:08 GMT -5
man thats some nice colored wood you found -- you had a great day-- cant wait to see it tumbled
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washougal
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 29
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Post by washougal on Aug 16, 2010 9:47:40 GMT -5
Sandman, Thanks! I'll post a picture when the batch is done.
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washougal
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 29
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Post by washougal on Aug 16, 2010 9:50:58 GMT -5
Susan, Those look really great! Beautiful pieces in there and a really nice polishing job. Nice to see the picture jasper. It is one of my favorites. I am heading over to Biggs Junction in a couple of weeks for a collecting trip and look forward to having some luck.
thanks!
David
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 23, 2010 1:32:24 GMT -5
wow susand nice batch -- i gotta get out and start hunting again i just dont have alot of room but i could always throw out some styuff hahaha
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 23, 2010 8:47:09 GMT -5
All I have to say is HOLY MOLY,thats some great looking wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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