mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 3, 2010 18:46:58 GMT -5
I am about to run a load of obsidian. It seems I recall something different about tumbling this stuff, but can't recall what it was. (Do you need to use plastic pellets?). I'm sure this topic has been discussed here before, and am sorry to ask for the info, but when I searched for it I got an error message. Thanks.
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 3, 2010 18:58:36 GMT -5
I use 50% ceramic shapes, mixed in size. Others here use plastic pellets. I also add borax to the water as a thickener. Other than that, I tumble as I do everything else.
Susan
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Oct 3, 2010 19:20:25 GMT -5
Susan, do you use the ceramic/pellets at each step?
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nickinmass
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2010
Posts: 18
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Post by nickinmass on Oct 3, 2010 21:46:51 GMT -5
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 3, 2010 23:27:45 GMT -5
Good reading! Yes, I add the ceramics at each stage. And yes, I do a 1000 before polish. And yes, don't add anything else. I've really not had a problem tumbling them, although when I didn't add enough ceramics I had some chipping.
I have read that different types of obsidian shouldn't be mixed, in particular, that the snowflake obsidian inclusions are harder and can scratch other obsidian. I had a few pieces of snowflake in there and didn't have a problem, but I may have just been lucky. You might want to keep that in the back of your mind, though, if you have polish problems.
Enjoy our tumble--obsidian certainly is beautiful.
Susan
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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 Oct 7, 2010 14:51:32 GMT -5
An oldtimers recipe(not originally mine but I cannot remember who) 7 days in 60/90 no pellets 5 days in 120 with standard amount of pellets 5 days in 500 again std amount of pellets. 4 days in 1000 ditto on pellets. 4 days in Tin Oxide I use 50/50 pellets to Obsidian. Charlie
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 8, 2010 10:30:08 GMT -5
only other thing i can add is CHECK OFTEN. obsidian (and glass in general) tends to foam...a LOT. borax will help a little, but you really need to "burp" your barrel every couple of days. if you've ever had a blow out due to foam, you know what i'm talking about.
KD
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Post by cpdad on Oct 9, 2010 16:45:39 GMT -5
100 percent agree with K.D. .....its a glass ...watch closely....specially in rough....the barrels may need to be burped as K.D. said.
you can actually look at the bottom of your barrels....if the bottom of the barrel is pushed outward...it needs to be burped.
if it is actually sucked inward somewhat.....its good to go....and is actually the indicator that all is well....and slurry is somewhat right.
its a hard stone to polish that can be rewarding if done right....good luck @ getting a good tumble ;D....it took me a while to figure it out ;D....kev.
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