highwatermark
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2012
Posts: 1
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Post by highwatermark on Nov 12, 2012 17:53:40 GMT -5
Hello Just joined this great group and already I'm asking advice.
First of all, I'm brand new at rock tumbling so apologize for all stupid questions to follow. I want to know if I can tumble small pieces of slab? and what to be careful of. Also how can I take larger rough slab and brake it down to tumble. Thanks for any help in advance Highwatermark
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 12, 2012 21:00:42 GMT -5
Yes, one thing to be aware of is that depending on the size of the pieces, they'll grind down really fast if mixed with larger stones. If it's gonna be a full load of slab pieces then you should be ok.
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Post by geoff on Nov 12, 2012 21:53:54 GMT -5
Good! An Alaskan member to take my place! Welcome! And goodbye.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 13, 2012 0:03:54 GMT -5
break down large slabs to small slabs to tumble.... hmmmmm A Hammer !!
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Post by susand24224 on Nov 13, 2012 0:48:20 GMT -5
With slabs, if you use a chisel and hammer you will have a bit more control over the size of the pieces you end up with.
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Post by BAZ on Nov 30, 2012 21:03:01 GMT -5
if I can tumble small pieces of slab? and what to be careful of. Try using finer grit with buffers like plastic pellets first to see the outcomes before throwing the really coarse grit in without any kind of buffers first. You can buy plastic pellets designed for tumbling at most rock shops, online and at a store front.
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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 Dec 1, 2012 22:16:25 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Post by paulshiroma on Jun 14, 2013 21:07:02 GMT -5
Welcome! No such thing as a stupid question. We all learned by asking so ask away and read a lot of the threads!
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Jun 14, 2013 21:33:44 GMT -5
Welcome from Arkansas! I tumble slab sections all the time, however I use 3# barrels so there isn't alot of trauma produced.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 14, 2013 23:02:17 GMT -5
Tumbling slabs will round off corners. You can hammer break slabs covered with old denim or other heavy cloth for random shapes. You should use ceramic media or small gravel or other small stones to speed things up. Welcome to the forum.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 16, 2013 10:07:04 GMT -5
Howdy, Maybe it's just me but I find it works best for me when I mix the slabs with other rough of various sizes and shapes. Sometimes, if I run too many slabs together, I find they stick together and don't round off properly. This is especially important in the later stages like prepolish and polish, where the mix of sizes and shapes leads to better surface to surface contact resulting in a better final polish. Too many slabs in the final polish stage, seems to me, to often inhibit the polishing process when the slabs stick together......Mel
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