hsnopi
off to a rocking start
"So, I have a bag of rocks. Now what?"
Member since June 2010
Posts: 18
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Post by hsnopi on Aug 10, 2015 20:30:07 GMT -5
So, rounding. Why? is it critical in some way or just aesthetic? I have some rocks that have interesting shapes and i thought a vibe tumbler would be good but as I've never tumbled I wanted to make sure it wasn't a mistake.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,559
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2015 20:56:49 GMT -5
It's up to the person at the helm. Some rocks are better not rounded and overly shaped.
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Post by orrum on Aug 10, 2015 21:16:39 GMT -5
Ahh James close but not the whole story. My friend if it's nice and smooth then thete is nowhere for stray parts of grit to hide. Said particles will scratch the next stage if they work out of cracks, crevases, vugs etc.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Aug 12, 2015 22:40:45 GMT -5
I don't know about that Orrum, I tend to agree with James. I have never had any problems with grit from a previous stage scratching. I wash and burnish a couple times between stages though. Not saying it can't happen just that I have not experienced it yet. Fact is, I don't even use a separate barrel for polish anymore, I can't see the difference myself.
As for you hsnopi, welcome to the board! If you can afford it I would get a rotary for coarse only and a vibe for your other stages. Depending on the rocks shape and hardness you really have to spend a lot of time in course to radically change the shape of the rocks. So if you can only get one right now I would go for a rotary and then get a vibe later on. There are several good tutorials on tumbling here, check out bikerrandy's I followed his to the T and got great results, getting lazier now as you can see from the first paragraph:)
That being said I would spend the time to do it right and not be disappointed, and remember that patience is key with tumbling. You can shortcut later after you get some experience
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Post by snowmom on Aug 13, 2015 5:03:23 GMT -5
hsnopi, I got a vibe tumbler when I could only choose one because they do not aggressively round rocks, but leave more of the natural shape. at the time I just wanted to see beneath the outer crust of the rocks i found. It worked great for that! it just depends on your tastes and how you want the finished product to look. I have learned that sometimes rounding is good, and I have been blessed with a barrel tumbler to play with now as well. best of both worlds. welcome to the forum!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 13, 2015 18:58:23 GMT -5
I leave my rocks just as nature made them and the way they broke or were cut for my tumbles-never had a problem yet......
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