electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Sept 20, 2012 17:53:32 GMT -5
I recently smashed some amethyst and citrine and found I got about one half stone or chips and one half dust. Is there any method that will decrease my results of dust? I use a steel hammer a large steel plate and wrap the stone in an old pair of jeans then whack!!! I tried not hitting as hard only to have it bounce off the stone. Any ideas are welcome. I need different quartz materials small enough to fit into vials and other than buying beads I have been unable to find any. So here I am trying to make my own.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 20, 2012 18:22:09 GMT -5
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Sept 20, 2012 18:59:27 GMT -5
I bought a bunch of green aventurine from therockshed.com, it was in 5# bags or similar and was pretty inexpensive.
As far as breaking it down, a saw may be a better option? I've not tried smashing quartz, only obsidian and glass. I tried smashing some rainbow petrified wood and that sort of worked.
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Sept 20, 2012 20:47:44 GMT -5
proly have to saw them
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Sept 20, 2012 21:40:24 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, exactly what I was looking for.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 21, 2012 0:27:30 GMT -5
I use the hammer and steel plate also but add a chisel to the mix. I place the chisel on the stone where I want it to break then wrap a rag around it all and whack it. Doesn't always break as I expect but less dust I think than smashing with the hammer alone.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Sept 21, 2012 7:42:48 GMT -5
I will try that cause I'm getting lots of dust when I hammer it. I may end up simply buying from above link and just tumbling all the stones. But I'll still try the chisel method. After all the more I learn the better.
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blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
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Post by blackout5783 on Sept 21, 2012 8:28:56 GMT -5
I'll second the chisel. I've also heard that sometimes rocks and steel hammers don't get along and that you might be better off using another rock to smash. I have more success using my tile saw to cut a notch and then placing the chisel in there to split the rock. Fewer fractures.
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