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Post by krazydiamond on May 4, 2006 20:00:01 GMT -5
shape your stones, cpdad, until you have enough to move onto the next run. i am presuming you are working with one tumbler? i run three (3) pounders two weeks to get enough to move into one barrel for a 120/220 grind, i have gotten picky and still not as picky as some. always depends on your rough, the MOH and what your desired end result IS. i make a lot of magnets out of the "almost" perfects. if your son is into scouts or similar, maybe he can raise some money that way? i get my magnets from K and J magnets: www.kjmagnetics.comgood luck, KD
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Post by Bikerrandy on May 4, 2006 20:16:30 GMT -5
They lost almost 50 percent? If you're pre-shaping soft rocks (like hardness of 5 or less), then I'd only tumble them for 3 or 4 days. (I'm guessing that these weren't agates) Pre-shaped agates should be able to go 7 days or more in the coarse grit.
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Post by cpdad on May 4, 2006 20:31:05 GMT -5
actually it was hematite...and i preground them to the point that there wasnt any sharp edges or pits....all was ground totally smooth with an 80 grit silicone carbide wheel...all defects were removed before i put them in the tumbler.
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jrtrio
has rocks in the head
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With10 tumblers tumbling the sound is so delicious!Send me more of those little red fellas, please?
Member since February 2006
Posts: 535
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Post by jrtrio on May 4, 2006 20:39:18 GMT -5
I'm thinking that next time you might want to try moving them on to the 120/220 stage instead of any time in the coarse grit. I'm betting that you may have to run them just a tad longer but they won't lose as much mass and they will smooth on up like you want. But, remember that with some stones you're going to lose up to 2/3 of their mass no matter what you do. But, do what I do and keep a log of the stones you do so when you get another bunch of them you'll know what you need to do to get the best out of them! Good luck!
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
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Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on May 5, 2006 4:42:53 GMT -5
I agree with jrtrio. My experience exactly.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on May 5, 2006 9:50:41 GMT -5
YUP on the skipping the course- I pregrind a lot of stuff- Sometimes I even buzz it on the 220 belt and toss it into 500- If your using an 80 grit wheel- and you like the appearence of the stone- go right to 120/220 grit!
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Post by Cher on May 5, 2006 10:33:44 GMT -5
actually it was hematite...and i preground them to the point that there wasnt any sharp edges or pits....all was ground totally smooth with an 80 grit silicone carbide wheel...all defects were removed before i put them in the tumbler. You already did the work of the coarse stage then so skip that step and start them in 120/200. How'd you like the mess they make when you were tumbling them?
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Post by cpdad on May 5, 2006 17:49:40 GMT -5
ya it made a mess..even after 120/220..it made another mess...i can see why to tumble by itself...i put them in 60/90 to start with because we wanted really nice rounded edges....and i ws under the impression that 120/220 wouldnt do any shaping...even though i pre ground the rock...it still had a few places where straight lines met..i didnt take the time to round every corner...maybe i should have said that earlier
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Post by cpdad on May 8, 2006 18:00:06 GMT -5
ok...im back at it again...i preground a few more peices...this time some of the savannah river stuff cp found...theres about 15 peices of the river agate/chert...and a few peices of amythyest...in the pic they are in the middle on the left is some small peices of amythyst...and garnets....on the right is larger peices of tumbling rough....same agate/chert...along with some larger peices of amythyst (pre tumbled)...some tumbled filler rock...and a few large peices of pink granite. now what would you all do....all im experimenting with now is the preground peices. can i throw it all in 120/220...and expect the preground peices to be ok with all of the rough? or should i just wait until i have enough that has been thru 60/90...and needs to go back thru it again..and fill it with that? i know the pic isnt good...i only had a sec to take and download it..the pic shows what i had in the 3lb tumbler...i dumped it out to ask this question before going any further. ![](http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/fittycents/slabs012.jpg)
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