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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 30, 2014 11:12:11 GMT -5
Unakite doesn't grind as fast as obsidian, but much faster than agate. It's already mostly rounded by the lake, so it won't take long in rough.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 30, 2014 11:30:26 GMT -5
Unakite doesn't grind as fast as obsidian, but much faster than agate. It's already mostly rounded by the lake, so it won't take long in rough. Am into the unakite, find it a real nice stone. It sure is round, the ice and the wave action is a force. About a ready made sphere. It surprised me how variable they are. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 30, 2014 11:35:00 GMT -5
Thanks Dave. It is a fine batch, the sheen is surreal. I see how the angle comes into play. Looking forward to tumbling something softer that does not take so long. |
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Post by Toad on Aug 30, 2014 13:32:35 GMT -5
I wasn't commenting on the filler, but rather that you were going back to rough grind again for another week - and at 30/60 rather than 60/90. Thought that might be too coarse considering that the stones are almost there. But again, I'm talking from inexperience...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 30, 2014 13:54:03 GMT -5
I wasn't commenting on the filler, but rather that you were going back to rough grind again for another week - and at 30/60 rather than 60/90. Thought that might be too coarse considering that the stones are almost there. But again, I'm talking from inexperience... The 30/60 grit was really broken down after 7 days. SiC fractures during the tumbling process, reducing it to a finer grit. So the 30/60 was probably 150 grit after 7 days. For example, the grit salesman gave me some SiC 8 grit, it was BB sized. After a week all the BB's were gone, and crushed. SiC breaks sharp and cuts with the new sharp edges. But does get smaller. If I open the tumbler barrel and see 30 grits in the slurry I rerun it till the grit is crushed to paste. AO does not shatter into sharp pieces like SiC so much. It just gets rounder and duller till it stops cutting. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 30, 2014 15:43:35 GMT -5
You're welcome, Dave. Thank James for inquiring! I never gave it much thought before. |
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tkvancil
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 30, 2014 16:10:52 GMT -5
Looking good James. Pre-grinding seems like a real good road to take. I'm currently roughing some Snowflake, apache tears, glass and some assorted other obsidian. Glass seems to be a good filler, at least for rough grind.
I should have been done with the roughing already but made a mistake and set myself back 20 days. First 10 days with a recharge and another 10 days went great. After the barrel gassed up after 3 days I added some borax. Three days later slurry got too thick so added a little water. Ran well and the first recharge went well. Sorted and started the next cycle with borax to begin and extra water to head off the thickening. Slurry was nearly all foam and bubbles and the OB came out with micro-pits all over the surface. Extra water no good. Not smooth at all. So back for another cycle, this time as I had the first. Took the last of it out of rough today and it looks fine.
Best of luck Sir! Go for the Juggler!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 30, 2014 16:15:41 GMT -5
Hey, what'd I do?
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tkvancil
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 30, 2014 16:49:08 GMT -5
LOL
Edit ... Go for the Juggler shine!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 30, 2014 17:02:01 GMT -5
Looking good James. Pre-grinding seems like a real good road to take. I'm currently roughing some Snowflake, apache tears, glass and some assorted other obsidian. Glass seems to be a good filler, at least for rough grind. I should have been done with the roughing already but made a mistake and set myself back 20 days. First 10 days with a recharge and another 10 days went great. After the barrel gassed up after 3 days I added some borax. Three days later slurry got too thick so added a little water. Ran well and the first recharge went well. Sorted and started the next cycle with borax to begin and extra water to head off the thickening. Slurry was nearly all foam and bubbles and the OB came out with micro-pits all over the surface. Extra water no good. Not smooth at all. So back for another cycle, this time as I had the first. Took the last of it out of rough today and it looks fine. Best of luck Sir! Go for the Juggler! I can say the barrel was sure getting pressurized fast in the first few days of removing the pre-grind. I think the gas is related to the amount ground off. Or at least I hope so. I have avoided the deadly foam so far. Maybe 7/8 full helps. It does sound like a very gentle grind. I wonder that a less filled barrel with too much water does not help making foam, like they splash a lot. Not sure. I was glad to see a nice thick paste like slurry. Dark grey in color. OB dark, makes sense. Good luck to you on you OB. Sorry you pitted out. Waiting for my turn. Will add small glass filler as needed. Barrel WILL stay 7/8 full. Go for the Juggler !! |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 30, 2014 17:05:06 GMT -5
Unakite doesn't grind as fast as obsidian, but much faster than agate. It's already mostly rounded by the lake, so it won't take long in rough. Slabbed one of those 3 inch cobbles today. dang that stuff is pretty. Fine shipment and thanks Rob. |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 30, 2014 17:29:07 GMT -5
I love the how that stuff looks when you slab it. It's almost always pretty inside.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2014 6:48:20 GMT -5
I love the how that stuff looks when you slab it. It's almost always pretty inside. It is solid too. Fractures well healed like agate. I looked it up in google images and could not find prettier pieces than those you sent. Thanks again. Will slab some more of the big cobbles and then post photos. |
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Post by connrock on Aug 31, 2014 9:12:03 GMT -5
James I use obsidian as a filler on a lot of different types of rocks.As has been said,,,it's plentiful and fairly inexpensive for us east coast people. At times I've used broken glass throughout the entire process when polishing obsidian and have had no problems using it.The glass ends up being a bi-product too so why not use it? I've used ceramic media for years but it wears down pretty fast so after I retired and had to be more "frugal" I use anything I can as a filler. If you think about it,it doesn't matter what you use as a filler in the rough stage cuz you're roughing and who cares about any scratches???The hard rocks will round off too and you can take them out as you progress through the tumbling process and use something softer. Here I used some sort of softer "lace' type rock as filler,,,,  This is what the "lace" looked like after the 2nd roughing stage,,,,  I took out the "lace" and used other pieces of obsidian as filler,,,,far right in photo,,,,  After roughing is completed I use the Lot-O-Tumbler to finish.When I get to the 1000 stages I switch to ceramic media to get as much surface contact as possible,,,,  Have a good-un James,, connrock |
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 31, 2014 9:20:36 GMT -5
Lookin' great James!!! Thumbs up
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2014 9:44:07 GMT -5
James I use obsidian as a filler on a lot of different types of rocks.As has been said,,,it's plentiful and fairly inexpensive for us east coast people. At times I've used broken glass throughout the entire process when polishing obsidian and have had no problems using it.The glass ends up being a bi-product too so why not use it? I've used ceramic media for years but it wears down pretty fast so after I retired and had to be more "frugal" I use anything I can as a filler. If you think about it,it doesn't matter what you use as a filler in the rough stage cuz you're roughing and who cares about any scratches???The hard rocks will round off too and you can take them out as you progress through the tumbling process and use something softer. Here I used some sort of softer "lace' type rock as filler,,,, This is what the "lace" looked like after the 2nd roughing stage,,,, I took out the "lace" and used other pieces of obsidian as filler,,,,far right in photo,,,, After roughing is completed I use the Lot-O-Tumbler to finish.When I get to the 1000 stages I switch to ceramic media to get as much surface contact as possible,,,, Have a good-un James,, connrock Yes, I see your point. Hard filler during roughing is fine. The stuff hits the fan when finishing. Your filler quantities look similar to what I guessed I should have. I do have a problem using ceramic, if tumbling then use a filler that has value for it's beauty during coarse stages anyway. I thought about breaking up the remaining obsidian for filler but do not want to waste it. Noticed that some glass is a good bit harder than other glass. Some coarse grinds much slower anyway. Your finished obsidians are Lot-O quality, it is apparent. I got to break down and buy one of those. That is a fine tutorial Tom. Photos of the recipe is a big help in interpreting a written recipe. Odd how photos add a lot to showing the process. Am more comfortable after seeing your tutorial. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2014 9:48:16 GMT -5
Lookin' great James!!! Thumbs up i watched a video of a knapper breaking down big chunks of obsidian in Oregon. it was amazing to see him work that stuff. Made it look so easy. |
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Post by Pat on Aug 31, 2014 10:45:29 GMT -5
Good looking batch and obsidian seems to take a great shine.
I don't have the patience for tumbling, so admire all the tumblers and their efforts. If the entire process could be completed in a day, I might be interested... for a while.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Aug 31, 2014 11:15:17 GMT -5
Good looking batch and obsidian seems to take a great shine. I don't have the patience for tumbling, so admire all the tumblers and their efforts. If the entire process could be completed in a day, I might be interested... for a while. You would make a great tumbler Pat because you are a good gardener. Just add water, grit, stones and come back every week and do it again. collect the fruit in 8-20 weeks. Well, it can be that easy. But it is the same type of patience. I think you tumble metals, but they are fast. |
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Post by 1dave on Aug 31, 2014 11:39:08 GMT -5
BTW, my guess is the gold sheen is from rutile needles that formed in layers in the obsidian.
I've never had it checked so I may be wrong.
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