lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by lablover2484 on Sept 9, 2010 22:19:30 GMT -5
I have a big assortment of large rocks, I have everything from root beer agate, pudding stone, red rock jasper, and some obsidian as well, I have tried to bust some of it up with a rock hammer and a regular hammer, but I am not having much luck. It just seems to chip of little slithers and a lot a grit, am I missing something? What am I doing wrong? the rocks i have range in size from football to basketball I need help how do i get them to say golf ball size?
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rons
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 450
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Post by rons on Sept 10, 2010 8:57:10 GMT -5
Sounds like you may be trying to break off to small a piece? ? try breaking in half than in half and so on..how ever the rock will probably break where it wants to.reading the rock takes time to learn...just observe where and how the rock breaks when you hit it and it'll stay with you after a while...hammer, hammer and chiesel...have a good time.....Ron.....
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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 Sept 10, 2010 11:19:02 GMT -5
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Post by susand24224 on Sept 10, 2010 11:37:22 GMT -5
Adding to the above instructions, at least as the rock gets smaller it is important what surface it is sitting on. I use a old "piece of railroad" (don't know what it is called) which is curved, so the entire surface can't sit on it. This helps tremendously. Regardless, the surface should be hard.
Susan
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revco
starting to spend too much on rocks
Another Victim Of The Rockcycle
Member since February 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by revco on Sept 10, 2010 12:42:45 GMT -5
Couldn't agree more with the doc's advice. I would also suggest you use a large box (cardboard, wood, etc) to contain the rocks while you're smashing them (I cut out a large cardboard box on one side to permit easy access) This will help with the fallout and you won't have to pick up pieces everywhere. You also won't likely inadvertently put a rock through a window or something, because the chips really can fly.
Also, the shaping is critical. Make sure you eliminate indentations, thin edges, and other undesirable forms because the tumbling process will take a LONG time to correct these otherwise. Also, save your chips and very small pieces because these are great for small rock additions to the barrel. I even use the dust on some loads and it does an awesome job at speeding up the rough stage.
Wear good, thick clothes, gloves and shoes because some chips are sharp enough to cut you. It would suck to make an ER visit for breaking up rocks.
Good luck!
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Sept 12, 2010 1:25:22 GMT -5
We were never any good at it either. At the end of the day I think you save a lot of time and grief if you buy a rock-cutting saw and just cut things up a bit. Perhaps don't go crazy and buy quite as many saws as we did...but as another poster hinted, I think when you're out there breaking rocks with a hammer, there are injury risks. Will assume you wear eye protection but somehow they draw blood if you try to hammer them. They'll find a way...
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Post by SharktoothHunter on Sept 12, 2010 2:16:14 GMT -5
Spent half a day working a ~4'x4'x4' boulder (quartz w/ crystals) in a pit mine... (rock was gone when I was done - packed to go or as unwanted scraps) ... with a 2.5# hammer (fiberglass mini-sledge hammer) from Home Despot... not sure the size of your rocks, but repeated wacking will reveal cracks. If you watch for them, you can guestimate where they might go and strike accordingly to break off chunks (think flint knapping for axe or arrowheads). I prefer to have the rock on packed clay ground - possibly with a carpet scrap underneath. The cold chisel will also work, but sometimes you can beat on one "tough spot" and not get anywhere for ages, then whack somewhere else and make immediate progress. Personally I love the small sledge - you can hit like a blacksmith for a while and make good progress. I find rock hammers better for precision work - long handled sledges want to bounce for my shins (the other posts are right on - the surface your rock sits on is important - striking 'glancing blows' instead of dead on reduces your dust/chip making - the most precise way of course is a saw)
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 12, 2010 13:43:14 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm with the last gentleman. I like a fairly heavy hammer and a fairly soft anvil ( big limestone shelf). Seems to control the workpiece more and make cleaner breaks and prevent a lot of the tiny fragments I get when I use a harder anvil stone....Mel
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lablover2484
starting to shine!
Member since September 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by lablover2484 on Sept 13, 2010 0:16:01 GMT -5
thanks for the advice I will start hammering and see what I can do, but I think I will buy tumbling mixes already ready, and forget the big chunks.
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Post by cpdad on Sept 13, 2010 17:04:25 GMT -5
no reason to forget the big ol chunks....find you a few burlap bags.....throw a biggun in there and beat the daylights out of it with sledge hammer ;D...im serious i have done it...works great.
when you get somewhat smaller chunks....wrap them in a few old towels or another burlap bag....and beat the daylights out of them again with a smaller hammer....walla tumble mix ;D....oh...dont forget some eye covering and long sleeves...kev.
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