jmmccann
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2013
Posts: 3
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Post by jmmccann on Jan 16, 2014 16:53:41 GMT -5
Recently my son got a tumbler for christmas. I also bought him some leopard jasper as a first tumble. The rock is all one size and according to what I've read so far, needs to be broken up into smaller sizes. Can anyone recommend a good tool to do this? I'm afraid a regular hammer might just crush it completely into dust. What tools do people use for this and is there a relatively cheap place to get them?
Thanks so much.
jeff.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 16, 2014 17:26:36 GMT -5
Welcome aboard Jeff.
A picture would help us better understand what you are starting with. Assuming you bought Leopard Skin Jasper for the purpose of tumbling, it is probably already in the 3/4" to 1-1/4" size. That may be fine as is.
You can crush small rock with a heavy hammer and steel plate, or anvil. You can bag the rock, or put it in an old sock to cut down on the flying debris. Wear safety goggles either way. Ear plugs if you are doing this inside.
To get a better answer, describe or photo your rock and tell us how big your tumbler barrel is.
Darryl.
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Post by pghram on Jan 16, 2014 18:41:37 GMT -5
If it's too nice to turn into gravel, buy some pea gravel & mix in, assuming it's about the same hardness.
Rich
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jan 16, 2014 20:23:03 GMT -5
I use a small 8 once hammer. Here is a video. Some rock is harder to reduce.
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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 Jan 16, 2014 20:55:25 GMT -5
I use a small 8 once hammer. Here is a video. Some rock is harder to reduce. That's a nice piece of coral James!!! I may need to get some of that!! Beautiful Color!! Great video too !!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jan 16, 2014 21:12:28 GMT -5
I use a small 8 once hammer. Here is a video. Some rock is harder to reduce. That's a nice piece of coral James!!! I may need to get some of that!! Beautiful Color!! Great video too !! Thanks Mario. You can't tell what the color is on those translucent ones until you get some of the skin off. Ended up being about the bluest one i ever found. I saved the back for some slabs.
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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 Jan 16, 2014 21:55:03 GMT -5
That's a nice piece of coral James!!! I may need to get some of that!! Beautiful Color!! Great video too !! Thanks Mario. You can't tell what the color is on those translucent ones until you get some of the skin off. Ended up being about the bluest one i ever found. I saved the back for some slabs. So very cool!!! If you ever get around to slabbing it and have an extra you don't need.... I'd be happy to remove it so it doesn't take up any needed space around the house for ya bro!! Mario
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 17, 2014 9:25:24 GMT -5
Hey James, that is a nice video. You have a great southern accent. Looks like coral chipping is all about the right tool, and from there out it's all in the wrist. . .
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jan 17, 2014 10:15:27 GMT -5
Hey James, that is a nice video. You have a great southern accent. Looks like coral chipping is all about the right tool, and from there out it's all in the wrist. . . After chipping 2 or 3 you get a feel for each coral head. That video piece was a chunk of glass basically. Lot of it is grainy and requires a lot more speed and horsepower. That blue piece was not even heat treated Bill and still chipped w/little taps. I must be cooking 100 pounds of chunks at a time now. And i still reduce most of it into chips. I am stockpiling the chips to make freaky cabs one day when i get some diamond wheels setup. The light weight hammer can be steered easily and has lots of chipping velocity. Angle and speed of impact is a great way to make tumbles. That southern accent sounds strange. Why do we have that?
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Post by pauls on Jan 23, 2014 19:31:32 GMT -5
Really good material I saw into chunks that way you get fewer fractures through the rocks and less concave holes that take forever to grind out, If I am hitting it with a hammer I use a small cold chisel that I place on the fractures and hit, that way I am opening up the rock on existing weaknesses and hopefully not introducing too many more. Some of the mineral collectors have a small hydraulic rock breaker that they get very precise with. Its basically a small hydraulic press with a couple of cold chisels pressing on opposite sides of the stone. This thread on Mindat shows a nice rock breaker in the second post. Our mineral guys have a much much smaller version of the same thing, about 12" high. Copy and paste the link with the numbers included, this forum seems to strip the actual page from the link. www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,291726,292037 I also posted the image but it wont open on here either
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 23, 2014 20:28:34 GMT -5
I borrowed these photos of the rock crusher that feather river lapidary society uses to crush the rocks for the competition each year. It sure dont make for easy tumbling but I bet its fun compared to a hammer. Chuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2014 23:38:46 GMT -5
There is a rock shop in Atlanta w/a car engine similar to that for doing their tumbles.
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Post by Starguy on Jan 24, 2014 19:39:00 GMT -5
In addition to eye and ear protection, a good pair of leather gloves is a good idea. I still have a sliver of Montana moss agate embedded in my ring finger. It doesn't bother me any more. The doctor didn't think it was a problem, but I could feel it for years after it happened.
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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 Jan 25, 2014 9:24:53 GMT -5
Jeff Pauls has the right idea. use a cold chisel with a hammer to transfer the force to natural break points and fractures..
Lots of people use an inexpensive(its all relative) rock saw with diamond blade
Charlie
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Post by pghram on Jan 25, 2014 11:54:11 GMT -5
And, following all the safety info given here, if you do it in a cardboard box, cut to allow you to swing the hammer, it will contain most of the flying chips.
Rich
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