zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 1, 2014 9:44:53 GMT -5
Well, the first 15 pounds got some fresh air. Generally pleased with the mostly Delaware Pickups that I used to start learning Not quite as shiny as I'd like but I'm learning. I have another 80 pounds in progress and should have something more of interest soon. I need more polish and it should be arriving today, UPS.
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 1, 2014 9:48:06 GMT -5
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 1, 2014 9:50:50 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 10:15:38 GMT -5
Not bad.. A good Average tumble and this was your first time?.. you have a few very nice samples which are going to turn out great.. though there are a few that needed a "pretumble" meaning that by grouping these stones with sharp corners placed in a dry tumbler and allowed to tumbler for about 1 week.. Thou one could actually cut and shape the stones instead of tumbling. Never expect things to go actually right.. because some groupings of stones may not be what one expects (Hardness via Hardness etc)
|
|
|
Post by braders on Aug 1, 2014 20:15:17 GMT -5
Theres is times I like stones in their crazy form and not all rounded !! Gives um character ....as long as they shiney.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Aug 1, 2014 20:46:35 GMT -5
zerocd and @ Stone Whisper, I agree with Stone Whisper. It looks like you might be tumbling rocks of different hardness. Doing so usually results in decent but not great results. It sounds like you are tumbling some pretty large batches. I usually keep two containers handy when I'm cleaning out the coarse grit tumbler. One container is marked "to fine Hard"' and the other is marked "to fine Soft". That way when I go to the finer grits and polish, the rocks are pretty close to the same hardness. I use a much smaller tumbler for 220 grit through polish. Tumbling hard and soft in coarse grit seems to yield the same results. You just need to watch the nicer soft stones so they don't disappear on you.
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 2, 2014 9:14:53 GMT -5
I agree with the replies. This was a test batch and I thought most had a Mos of 7ish.
I have already started being more selective in my tumbles and discarding or setting aside the odd stuff.
I'm working on it, all a "work in progress".
Just thought I'd share my startup as a means of getting to know the board.
I have a few interesting things coming.
I have lots of patience despite being an aggressive type A, lol.
And, I like both the "roundies" and the more natural rock shapes.
I was also experimenting to see how rocks with flaws would work out.
Stay tuned!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2014 11:02:46 GMT -5
It's not all bad news as I stated above and others have commented.. I feel one should treat this as a learning experience.. and work from that and no.. There aren't any mistakes within that batch. Now I do see several stones which are starting to form nicely and I agree with allowing the stone to tumble naturally, I feel once in a while the stones should have their own characteristics. Thus I was attempting cut and shape the stones before hand. As for those "nice" stones.. I would pull out those lesser and focus on the nice ones.. allow them to tumbler polish a bit long and maybe switch up the polish one is using.. I've switched from using the kit polish or the aluminum oxide and now I'm using the red cerium oxide polish which so far has offered a better shine, yet not what I'm hoping for. I have heard but have yet to try the pecan shell trick which is suppose to offer a deeper richer looking shine when use with polish. But one thing I'd also focus on is the cracks, seams and divots in the stones which carry over anything from past tumbles.. this is a big problem for me and I use to actually cut that part out or shape it a bit more as to eliminated the seam etc. Also, I may have missed what type of tumbler you're using.. I tend to gravitate towards the lortone seeing how my oldest one is about 30 years old and I use that one just for polishing. Lastly.. if you're not please with what you've already done.. pick out the smaller stones and try a pre-tumble (about one week) this is sort of a testing phase and one can better just what stones work best together. The other advantage of doing a pre-tumbler is that is rounds or shapes the stones before one actually begins the process.
|
|
|
Post by snowmom on Aug 2, 2014 14:31:26 GMT -5
I love the colors and the different types. Those are all local? What are the deep red ones? The amber/peach/and coral ones? looks like you have some agates and jaspers too??? so hard to photo a large group, especially mixed. looks like a nice shine on most of them. I'm just starting my first batch of agate/jaspers, pictures in a couple of weeks or so...I'll be watching here for your updates!
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 3, 2014 9:49:57 GMT -5
My SetupAlmost all is local stuff from around my home. I few pieces were gifts from my mineral buddy.
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 4, 2014 14:32:51 GMT -5
One more I missed from this batch..........
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 15:10:44 GMT -5
There are a few nice glossy shines on these.. , Stand outs are the tree Agate and just Agate in general.. thou It's unclear if the lighting has in part in this.. but is there any Citrine?.. Cause a few sample do appear to have that Citrine Yellow color. As far as this small batch being the same hardness.. I don't think you have an issue. But remove the smalled stones if they have reached a point where you can polish them.. and work on the larger ones by including them in with other stones for the next batch, Unless your pleased with what's there, then leave them alone.
|
|
zerocd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2014
Posts: 27
|
Post by zerocd on Aug 5, 2014 7:08:40 GMT -5
Yes some Citrine and have more coming. I find a fair amount in the streambeds locally.
This stuff was only "polished" using AO/1000 and the polish stage was a kitchen sink of stuff.
Off to get some "Rock Shed" AO polish.
I have some CO but will use this when I need it only.
Future polishes I will carefully select my rocks. The rest will go in some fish tanks I think and some interested lady friends, kids, etc.
|
|