Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Oct 30, 2012 16:04:19 GMT -5
We have some opal stone we decided to tumble in a 6# rotary while we finish getting the saw up and running to cab. I ran these for 8 days in 60/90 and they are shaped well but have some pits and fractures. Knowing this stuff will pretty much have flaws I want to my on to step 2 before I grid them down to the dust we found them in Being that it's such a soft brittle stone do I use plastic beads or ceramic? My other question is what grits steps to take and what polish? My plan was 7 days of each grit step below. Rockshed 120/220 Borax 5hrs 500 ao Borax 5hrs 1000 ao Borax 5hrs Polish? Borax 5 days Thanks for your help and input. Matt Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards Attachments:
|
|
Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
|
Post by Dora on Nov 1, 2012 2:47:12 GMT -5
I have no actual experience with them yet, but IF I were to try it myself I will use ceramic media. Also I’ll either shape them first with a Dremel, OR do a short first stage( 60/90) with a 50/50% mix of ceramic and opals for a couple of days and then move on to the other stages in a similar way. Good luck I found this video interesting:
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Nov 2, 2012 7:42:14 GMT -5
I've never done common opal either but have done some common honey onyx and it came out great! Plastic pellets v ceramic media is a personal choice and I use plastic cuz I have a lot of it.I doubt if it matter doing common opal.
The steps you're using seem OK but I don't think you need all that burnishing between regular grit stages.Unless a lot of your rocks are flawed and grit can get trapped in the flaws?
I think tin oxide or aluminum oxide would work well for you,,,and most other rocks as well.
I use Rapid Polish #61 and I'm not sure what it is! LOL Good luck and keep us all posted!
connrock
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Nov 4, 2012 19:56:26 GMT -5
I've tumbled lots of the stuff. I used between 1/3rd and 1/2 ceramic media to cushion, I run all rocks 10 days in a rotary tumbler while in 60/90. I also added Ivory Soap shavings to each step to help thicken/protect the rocks. The last time I tumbled opal I did not yet have the vibe, so followed these steps with a rotary:
2. 120/220, ten days 3. 500 ten days 4. 1000 ten days 5. Clean--Ivory Soap (w/more water than the grit stages) for 24 hours 6. AO from the Rockshed, 7 days 7. Burnish (tumbler almost full) w/Ivory Soap shavings--3 days.
You can tumble at least some of it without pits and cracks. The lighter colors are generally more solid; the military green color falls apart if you look at it crooked. The browns and translucent pieces vary, as do the reds and purples.
It is brittle, so the cushioning is crucial. Also, Connrock processed some cabs he made in his Lot-O, so perhaps he can fill you in on subsequent steps in the Lot-O.
NOTE: I do not use plastic because I don't like chasing them around and separating. They may work just fine. I also don't use borax because of the environmental consequences and also because I think it ruined the finish on some fluorite I was tumbling. Either or both may be fine but I have no experience with them.
Susan
|
|
Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Nov 5, 2012 20:19:26 GMT -5
Thanks Dora, Connrock and Susan for posting. I'm glad you mentioned the ceramic media. I was a little scared of using it for cushion thinking it may damage the stone but I would rather have the less solid material break anyways in step one then wear on it through the other steps then break on me later on.
I have been going back to using ivory soap again for burnishing and cleaning. The Borax has been helpful in the yard for areas I neglected to weed by hand lol. It is pretty back stuff though and will be using ivory from now on.
Susan, I hear ya about those plastic pellets. They are a pain in the butt. I have been using muslim to capture them but still getting tired of finding them around when one flings out of my hand shaking them sticky things off me.
All my grit and polish stages will be rockshed and look forward to seeing them rounded and shine again.
They are going back to 60/90 for 4 more days and I have filled it with more ceramic.
Thanks for all your help.
Matt
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Nov 6, 2012 8:11:38 GMT -5
Matt,,, A couple of things here,,,, If you put the rocks in 60/90 for only 4 days it won't have a chance to break down much,,,or really do much to the rocks.Let them tumble for at least 7 more days. Plastic pellets,,,,,A LONG time ago my grandson was interested about tumbling and I took several photos of him as things progressed. One of the main reasons we did this whole thing was to show how easy it is to "control" and use plastic pellets! If a kid can do it? ? imageevent.com/tcknkk/mikesfirstbatchoftumbledrocks?n=0&z=2&c=4&x=1&m=24&w=0&p=0connrock
|
|
Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Nov 7, 2012 14:37:53 GMT -5
Oops, i didn't mention I had these in 60/90 for 7 days previous. The pic below is after 7 days. I'm giving them another 4 days. Thanks for the link. I'll have another look at it on a larger screen later today to take notes of how you have it setup to fish those pellets out. I have been experimenting with different ways between barrel charges. Cheers Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Nov 8, 2012 7:16:39 GMT -5
he rocks are looking good,,,,nice a rounded and I can't see any flaws in them in the photos either.
Keep doing what you're doing and just remember,,,,Good enough is NEVER good enough!
connrock
|
|
Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Nov 9, 2012 19:53:57 GMT -5
Thanks connrock. Here is a pic after a total 11 days in 60/90. I think I added to much water when recharging as there was a lot of un used grit stuck on bottom. I'm happy with the results. I and doing a wash before moving to step 2. I pulled a couple out as there was softer material impeded and wearing out causing larger creveses. This material is like that on lots of what we hounded. Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Nov 10, 2012 8:34:44 GMT -5
That looks like it's a fairly difficult type of rock to tumble as it has hard and soft areas within each of them and will grind down differently. Keep and eye on them and don't forget,,,there's nothing wrong with tossing a rock from the 2nd stage back into the 1st if it doesn't look "good enough" to you! connrock
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Nov 14, 2012 2:20:58 GMT -5
Matt, they're looking good. I'd say about 2/3rds of mine turn out well, the remaining third develop pits and other abominable things. Some of the brown ones are so pretty I finish them even with pits. Also beware--some of the opal has a bit of agate attached, and it will bash up everything. I save that for cabbing. ;D
|
|
Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Nov 14, 2012 2:43:29 GMT -5
Thanks for posting Susan. They do develop lots of cracks and pits. This run is really a quick and dirty run to tell how much will be lost through the run. I have them in a 6# but will most likely after stage 2 pull the best ones and reduce to a 3#. I have plenty to keep trying different ways and i'm keeping a journal too.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Nov 14, 2012 21:34:32 GMT -5
Sounds like a road to perfection!
|
|
Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
|
Post by Mattatya on Dec 24, 2012 15:54:23 GMT -5
Well, it's been a month and these little stones are polished thanks to Susan's very helpful steps. I have been sick since December 7th with a nasty cold /flu, so if was nice to see a shine come out of the barrel today. Thanks again Susan for all your help. This is my 2nd polished rock since I started rolling :-) Matt Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by susand24224 on Dec 26, 2012 21:24:52 GMT -5
Nice! A lot of those are perfect or nearly so and you minimized the cracks, etc. in the cantankerous ones. You can't ask for more than that, and they are not an easy tumble.
|
|
|
Post by tntmom on Dec 26, 2012 22:55:11 GMT -5
Nice Matt!!!
I have some of that from Susan! Great stuff and as long as you weed out any pieces that have agate inclusions.... it works up the same as ob!
|
|