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Post by gingerkid on May 6, 2014 17:45:11 GMT -5
Embarrassed to post these after seeing everyone's first tumbles that look great. Here's my 1st batch of tumbles I wanted to share with y'all. Should've played the Blues Brothers tune jamesp posted for better results. I have a Thumbler's Tumbler AR-2 with a set of extra barrels and a Raytech TV-5 vibe with 2 bowls for pre-polish and final polish. Didn't have enough Bahia agates to fill both barrels, so I added some Oregon Newport Blue beach agates, a Dryhead agate, 2 very small geode halves (one is a Dugway), and a Paulina limb cast with plastic pellets and cork sheet that I cut up. The 60/90 SC grit lunched out on the cork. For some reason, I only added 2 tablespoons of 60/90 SC grit to each barrel and freaked out when I realized that I needed to add 4 tablespoons of grit to each barrel. Bahia agates in sunlight - cannot see the shine on 'em. Read photography tips for tumbles earlier today. Bahia agates turned over Here's the Bahia's in the shade this morning. Still cannot really see any shine. Wild patterns on these Bahias. Oregon beach agates with geodes, Dryhead and limb cast The beach agates and the Dryhead agate have that white 'stuff' on them even though I scrubbed them while wet with soap and warm water. Added cut up pieces of soap in final polish. Dryhead agate white stuff ? on Dryhead agate Thanks for checking them out, and I would be very grateful for tips and suggestions!
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Post by manofglass on May 6, 2014 18:06:13 GMT -5
They don't look bad
Walt
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on May 6, 2014 19:01:31 GMT -5
That last agate is beautiful. Are you sure the white stuff on it is from your tumbling?? Looks like mineral deposits I sometimes find on chert goodies I pick up in the Moab area.
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Post by 150FromFundy on May 6, 2014 19:06:13 GMT -5
Tips and Suggestions ... Buy more Bahia agates. They really are pretty varied and colourful and still reasonably affordable. I've cabbed a few that turned out really interesting depending on how you orient the cut through the banding.
As for grit, I think you will find the majority of individuals will use 3 level tablespoons in a 3 pound rotary barrel. It's not an exact science, so there's room for many opinions.
Time is the most important variable and the hardest one to provide, especially when everything is new and exciting. Contingent upon your personal tastes, if you want that perfect mirror finish, you have to get ALL the blemishes out before you polish. Blemishes will trap light. The illusive perfect mirror finish will reflect much of the light that hits it. It all starts with getting the perfect shape in 60/90 before you move on to the next stage. Sounds easy, but it is tough! It took me a few years (and the distraction of specimen collecting) to get over the desire to move on to the next stage.
You likely don't need any pellets or padding in your 60/90 stage. The purpose of the first stage is to grind as much rock as possible to remove all pits and crevices. Pellets and padding will slow down this process. Once you have achieved your desired shape in 60/90, you want the pellets and padding for all further stages so that you don't chip that desired shape in the polishing process.
Darryl.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on May 6, 2014 19:09:24 GMT -5
Nice batch. Sweet agates! Sounds like you have the hardware and looks like you got the rocks. Keep on rocking.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 6, 2014 20:01:48 GMT -5
Nice looking Bahias, but I really like that second to last dryhead. I think Darryl gave some very good advice. That rough grind takes forever if you want perfect rocks in the end.
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Post by iant on May 7, 2014 1:28:23 GMT -5
Love the detail in that Dryhead!
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Post by gingerkid on May 7, 2014 12:17:20 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind comments on the first batch! Darryl, thank you for the tips!! I won't add the pellets or cork pieces in the 60/90 for the next batch. I need to muster up a bit of patience, too. Do y'all rough grind some of the pits out of the rock before the 1st stage and do y'all keep a tumbling journal? Are you sure the white stuff on it is from your tumbling?? Looks like mineral deposits I sometimes find on chert goodies I pick up in the Moab area. I'm not sure aimeesrockworks, but it looks kinda sparkly. ??
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 15:32:42 GMT -5
I really like the second from last pic! great job =]
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Post by 150FromFundy on May 7, 2014 17:24:56 GMT -5
I do all my grinding in a rotary tumbler. Some deeply pitted rocks can take a long time with this approach.
As for a journal, I rely on my flawless memory because I would probably forget where I put the journal if I had one. Journals are great if you have a good memory to begin with.
You may want to try 47/60 SC in Stage 1 if you want to get a little more aggressive.
As for the wait, my last Stage 1 ran for 3 weeks because I got preoccupied with hounding zeolites. You need to get out and add another garnet specimen to your amazing collection.
Darryl.
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Post by Starguy on May 7, 2014 18:50:23 GMT -5
Gingerkid
Your agates look pretty good. I'm going to have to get some of those Bahias.
I've found that tin oxide is a great polish. It's kind of expensive but it produces a glassy polish on most agates. I sometimes rough grind high spots before putting stones in the tumbler, but mostly let the tumbler do the work. It can also speed things up if you saw the nicer stones before tumbling. I sometimes leave deep pits on the surface as long as they aren't holding grit. Sometimes they add character to the stones.
nice job on the agates
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on May 7, 2014 21:06:05 GMT -5
Like the crystal center. Cool to leave them with natural sections too. Looks like another tumbling master added. When are you going to open a shop Jan ?
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Post by nowyo on May 8, 2014 8:11:29 GMT -5
Nice stuff. Great Dryhead.
Russ
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on May 8, 2014 10:01:50 GMT -5
I think you did a great job on a first batch. The bahias are way cool, an under rated rock IMHO. Love the dryhead.
I do keep a journal as I have 6 barrels to keep track of at any one time. When I first started tumbling I might write 1/2 to 3/4 of a page with my observations. These days each barrel gets 3 or 4 lines, mostly just type of rock and notes on weight and formula.
A good coarse grind is most important in getting a good shine. If you don't like it out of coarse you likely won't like it shined. Use lots of smalls in any phase. The smalls do all the work in tumbling. Pea gravel or ceramic pellets are good choices if you don't have small material.
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