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Post by BIll on Apr 18, 2003 12:56:50 GMT -5
Wondering what everyones axperience has been on tumbling thes gemstones. I have about 1/2 pound of each of these in its raw form. Started tumbling them last night. Since they have a hardness of 9 I didnt know if tumbling may take longer? Or if there were different ways to do these stones. Thanks!
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Post by Andrew on Apr 21, 2003 1:42:13 GMT -5
Bill, Not many people (as far as my experience goes) tumble these as they are so valuable. The wastage in terms of size reduction would be too much for me personally to bear with such a high value. If thats what youre doing though - so be it!!!!  In terms of hardness, Silicon Carbide is between 9-10, so theoretically it should grind a low end nine. It will take longer for certain - with more cycles required more frequently than for a Quartz 7. The Silicon Carbide will break down more rapidly under these stresses. Can you let me know how you do on this one? I wouldnt mind knowing how things turn out on it. Thanks Andrew |
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Post by Bill on Apr 23, 2003 1:56:18 GMT -5
I will be sure to keep you informed. I have just finished the shaping phase. They look great and looks like I may have some real quality I did not see before I started tumbling them. I can not wait to see them finished and polished!! I will have completed the polish phase probably 13 or 14 day from now. If you hear of anything else let me know! Thanks, Bill |
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Post by Amy McCullough on Apr 23, 2003 22:31:57 GMT -5
Bill,
I would also be very interested to find out how this goes. I just bought a few of the half-pound sacks myself for that seller on eBay...with the idea of tumbling them also. I guess these are pretty low-grade rough stones that would not make good gems. Let me know how it goes. I'm still waiting on mine to arrive.
Amy
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Post by Bill on Apr 23, 2003 23:42:59 GMT -5
Amy,
I have just tumbled 1/2 pound of rubies the first phase. I have found some gem quality stones already! I am really excited to get them finished! I have some emeralds and sapphires that i might try to grind a little before I tumble them. That way I can knock off some of the bad parts so I dont have to tumble them so long. The rubies definately wore down quite a bit. But so far so good. When I get done with phase 2 I will take some digital pics and also when I am done polishing. The best part about the batch I am tumbling now is that I didnt see any gem quality until I tumbled them. I have one ruby that is the darkest solid blue! It almost looks black. I think that would be classified as a sapphire though.
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Post by Andrew on May 11, 2003 7:58:03 GMT -5
Hey Bill - hows the rubies coming along?
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weichjr
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2003
Posts: 5
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Post by weichjr on May 20, 2003 19:21:52 GMT -5
Sorry, Ive been busy. They are looking good so far. I have not started the polish stage yet. I have been enjoying the silence. I will probably polish them in July. I am about to move so I have put them on hold. I can send you some pics on how they look now if youd like?
Bill
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Post by docone31 on Jun 2, 2003 9:19:35 GMT -5
Hi
I also, have quite a bit emerald, saphire, and ruby rough that I am tumbling. It seems to be really smoothing and bringing out detail. Some are proving to be faceting material with quite a few pronounced stars. I have just finished the first phase of 80 grit and will be inspecting before proceeding to the next finer. I have heard of using CA in the place of opticon or canadian balsam for cracks, and fissures.
Has anyone experimented with CA?
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Post by docone31 on Jun 9, 2003 6:11:12 GMT -5
Just thought I would follow up. I have finished the 80 grit phase, and the 220. Wow. I have lost a lot less than I predicted, and the gems are georgeous. I started with less than perfect stones, and this seems to be working. The 440 is in and I am again listening to a river in the other room. I have started the rubies and saphires in another drum with 80 and have high hopes. The emerald I have done by itself and this is working. I did find some facet material and that is seperated from the tumble. I hope to either wire wrap or make freeform rings from the finished product. Because these are tumbled, I do not seem to need canadian balsam or CA.
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weichjr
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2003
Posts: 5
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Post by weichjr on Jun 15, 2003 8:32:19 GMT -5
Very, very cool. Sounds super. Ill have to try that.
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Post by docone31 on Jun 16, 2003 18:04:24 GMT -5
'Allo, I have just started phase 4 in the emerald mix, and phase 2 in the rubies and saphires. I am really excited about the emeralds!!! The saphires I am not certain about. They are getting smoother but the pitting is still present and the colours are not showing well. This could be a result of just having completed the first phase.
Two weeks on final for the emeralds, and eight days on the saphires. The emeralds are going to keep me up nights. My jewelery is out of the box. I am a wire wrapper and southwestern style jeweler. To me, the inclusions, and matrix on the emeralds adds to the stone. I am really impressed. I took a 12$bid on EBAY and I believe I will make some dynamite bracelets and rings. I reccomend tumbling low quality emerald rough. I am not sure of the saphire or ruby yet. It is tough as nails.
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jun 28, 2003 0:08:13 GMT -5
Hey folks, help me out with this ebay auction for the rough rubies. I did a search and could find nothing...what is the id name or auction number ?? I wouldnt mind trying this next with my tumbler !!
Thanks
Dwight Pilkilton
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Post by docone31 on Jun 28, 2003 18:52:15 GMT -5
I looked under stone rough. I also looked under emerald rough. There are several sites that have the stones. There are several sites that show a picture of a champagne case loaded with rough from years ago. I would avoid that one. The others are an 1/2lb. for about 12$. That is the one I use.
I only got one stone I am not sure about in both batches. It has a white line running through the middle, so I might just cut there, and grind off the rest. As far as the quality, wow. I have found some gem stock, and the rest are just beautiful. I found one star emerald, large, about 10mmX12mmX15mm. That one is going to take some thought.
On the same site, is rough saphire, and rough ruby. I found a lot of star, and some gem. Well worth the money.
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jun 28, 2003 23:44:48 GMT -5
Thanks, I ordered a few bags off Ebay, what the hell..I have lost more money on less things in the past. I apprecieat the help, what type of grit are you using ??
Dwight P
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Post by docone31 on Jun 29, 2003 18:02:32 GMT -5
Dwight I use the loretone grit kit. 80, 220, aluminum oxide, fine aluminum oxide. I finish with cerium oxide. The rubies and saphires are some tough stones. I have to tumble four days, recharge, tumble, recharge. Mind you, this is just to find stones worth cutting and polishing. I ordered a 100 diamond wheel, 220 wheel, and will finish with sanding drums, using cerium oxide and leather buff for the stars. I have found several pronounced stars and facet quality by tumbling. It really takes a lot of guess work out of the first cut. I have tried putting stucco sand in with the 80 grit. I am not sure of the results, the final product is not done tumbling. The other tumbler with emeralds I will just cast rings for. One emerald is a star, it is awsome. One is large, and ok, with a white line running the long way.
Hope that helps. I also tumble with stucco sand for two days to break off the crud before tumbling.
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Post by docone31 on Jun 30, 2003 21:18:01 GMT -5
The emeralds are done, and they came out great. I do not have a camera let alone know how to use it for the internet. I am sure some of the folks who are trying this will have a camera and their results will approximate mine.
I took the emeralds out of the phase four bbl., with a two week run. They looked great except for some polish in the veins I could not get out. My wife and I went to the local robbery(grocery) store to get some Ivory bar soap. They only have six packs, and I am allergic to Ivory. I used Borax soap I use for soldering. I ran a fifth phase all day. That stuff is the prince for burnishing!!! No foam, and it cleans the grit out of the rubber. I like.
As I am sure, many folks out there tumbling these second rate stones will be pleasantly pleased. They look dry like they look wet. I have one star emerald. I am certain it is an anomolie(sp?), but I like. I wire wrap, and make custom settings and I got tired of the same old same old. I like this stuff, and I have some ideas.
Good luck to anyone trying this, I hope you get my results. I got about 20 facet grade small stones that I might facet. Not AAA but it will work. Great colours.
Doc
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Post by docone31 on Jul 2, 2003 21:49:55 GMT -5
Ok, here is a good one. I am re-tumbling the rubies, and saphires. I threw in some dunnage, some small tumbled stones from back then and I just inspected the tumbler. The barrel was under pressure, the water inside was black, kinda like the colour of the grit, and kinda like the rubber of the drum. Hmmm. The tumble is done this monday. I put the rubies in 220, the first tumble in coarse, 80, did its job. That one has me wonderin.
Later
Doc
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Post by docone31 on Jul 7, 2003 18:44:08 GMT -5
Update on the rubies. I had one drum I had done with 220. I oopsed and re-ran the rubies with 80. It turned out to be a good oops. The rubies came out smooth. The colour is washing out on some, they were low grade to start, and the colour is coming up in some. they are in 220 now, and there were some emeralds I had thrown in and some dunnage stone to fill the voids in the mast. The emeralds are perfect! I really love the non transparent green. I have been using fine silicate for powder with the grit. This time I have been using one extra measure each for the 220, and pre-polish. That seems to work better. When all is done, I will preform on my faceter preformer, and set with the smooth random surface. I am seeing some good stuff. I really reccomend this for the low grade. The corundum needs extra time, and grit addition, but it is worth it.
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Post by docone31 on Jul 17, 2003 21:27:06 GMT -5
I seem to dominate this aspect of the topic, however, a finished update. It was well worth the effort. The emeralds are, to my eyes, wonderful! The rubies, and saphires will need cabbing, but the stars are visible in the ones that star. The emeralds are soft, and polish quickly, the corumdum is tough. With a dop on the preformer, I have cut borders and set them and the few I had done sold well. It was worth the potential risk. I am not tumbling at this moment as I need some more coarse and medium grit. I have one more pound of beryl, and corundum awaiting a tumble. All is quiet for now. Well worth a try.
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jul 18, 2003 0:06:32 GMT -5
INteresting thread, please scan some pics and post them sort of a "Dorian Gray" before , during and after if possible.
Thanks
Dwight P
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