jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 10:28:53 GMT -5
via mobile
iant likes this
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 10:28:53 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Sept 20, 2015 12:13:25 GMT -5
Shaping up very nicely! That's quite an assortment. I love your Owyhee picture jasper pieces. Some of those, however, look like they may benefit by another run in a course grit cycle. Depends on how patient you are I reckon. I have probably never moved an entire batch on all at once. Always picking out pieces that need more work and saving them for a future run in whatever grit they have been in. For instance, the red piece above the picture jasper on the right side in the last picture. That rough spot on the lower end needs more work. All a matter of what you are looking for as a finished product tho. I usually start two loads and end up with one moving on by combining the best out of each barrel. The "rejects" simply get run again before moving on. It's kinda like schools promoting a child to the next grade level before he/she is ready. Depends on the standards you want to apply. Overall, a great looking batch of colorful well shaped rocks. Staying tuned for updates!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 20, 2015 12:26:09 GMT -5
Also, don't forget to inspect for pits and cracks still evident that can hide coarse grit. The hidden coarse grit can very easily dislodge in your fine/polish stages and ruin the batch. The pitted and cracked rocks can be held out and ran later until hopefully the pits or cracks are gone...or, pick out the good rocks now, set'em to the side and continue grinding the rocks not ready. When they're all done combine them and proceed to the next stage. If you remove the "ready" rocks don't forget that you might need to add some more rock to the reduced load of rocks in the coarse grit to get the barrel filled back up to 2/3 - 3/4 full.
Those are some good looking rocks and well on their way to a nice polish! I'm looking forward to getting some of mine going.
|
|
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 12:49:39 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by txrockhunter on Sept 20, 2015 12:49:39 GMT -5
Great advice, from CaptBob. I go through 4 times the amount of 60-80 grit, because I am constantly taking rocks out of the mix. Either they are not keeping pace, with the rest of the rocks, or they are not turning out like expected.
As for the saw....I haven't graduated to a real saw. I cut everything with a $79 tile saw, then tumble it, to smooth out saw marks. Go slow and Learn how to dress the blade, because most of these rocks clog up a diamond blade, quickly. I make 5-6 passes with a 1" thick piece of sandstone paver. It exposes new diamonds, with very little effort and it's cheap!
More than anything else, Have Fun!
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5
Shaping up very nicely! That's quite an assortment. I love your Owyhee picture jasper pieces. Some of those, however, look like they may benefit by another run in a course grit cycle. Depends on how patient you are I reckon. I have probably never moved an entire batch on all at once. Always picking out pieces that need more work and saving them for a future run in whatever grit they have been in. For instance, the red piece above the picture jasper on the right side in the last picture. That rough spot on the lower end needs more work. All a matter of what you are looking for as a finished product tho. I usually start two loads and end up with one moving on by combining the best out of each barrel. The "rejects" simply get run again before moving on. It's kinda like schools promoting a child to the next grade level before he/she is ready. Depends on the standards you want to apply. Overall, a great looking batch of colorful well shaped rocks. Staying tuned for updates! I had 2 different batches. The first few picture are what is moving to 2nd stage. Everything in the last picture is going back to 1st. Here are a few more pictures of what is moving to 2nd stage. below is the stuff going back to 1st stage
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 20, 2015 15:16:02 GMT -5
Somebody is hooked. Nice looking batch of rocks. If you've been tumbling those since the beginning of August, you're already ahead of most people. It's surprising how many people think that the first stage should go for a week or two no matter what. Tumbling manufacturers should really stop lying to their customers.
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 15:27:18 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 15:27:18 GMT -5
Also, don't forget to inspect for pits and cracks still evident that can hide coarse grit. The hidden coarse grit can very easily dislodge in your fine/polish stages and ruin the batch. The pitted and cracked rocks can be held out and ran later until hopefully the pits or cracks are gone...or, pick out the good rocks now, set'em to the side and continue grinding the rocks not ready. When they're all done combine them and proceed to the next stage. If you remove the "ready" rocks don't forget that you might need to add some more rock to the reduced load of rocks in the coarse grit to get the barrel filled back up to 2/3 - 3/4 full. Those are some good looking rocks and well on their way to a nice polish! I'm looking forward to getting some of mine going. Yes I did have to add some ceramic to fill the barrel to 3/4 full.
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 15:31:17 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 15:31:17 GMT -5
Great advice, from CaptBob. I go through 4 times the amount of 60-80 grit, because I am constantly taking rocks out of the mix. Either they are not keeping pace, with the rest of the rocks, or they are not turning out like expected. As for the saw....I haven't graduated to a real saw. I cut everything with a $79 tile saw, then tumble it, to smooth out saw marks. Go slow and Learn how to dress the blade, because most of these rocks clog up a diamond blade, quickly. I make 5-6 passes with a 1" thick piece of sandstone paver. It exposes new diamonds, with very little effort and it's cheap! More than anything else, Have Fun! I too go through grit like crazy. I have been thinking about trying extra coarse grit. I also am interested in the ways to filter grit/slurry. I have been looking at 3 different tile saws. I just have not made up my mind.
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 15:36:30 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 15:36:30 GMT -5
Somebody is hooked. Nice looking batch of rocks. If you've been tumbling those since the beginning of August, you're already ahead of most people. It's surprising how many people think that the first stage should go for a week or two no matter what. Tumbling manufacturers should really stop lying to their customers. I agree the manufactures directions are misleading. Lapidary also seems to be a dying art making it more frustrating to find information. And there is a lot of trail and error. I am very much hooked, one day I will venture into making cabs and using a vibe.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Sept 20, 2015 15:48:17 GMT -5
I use coarser grit Jessie. 30/60 or just 30. No need to filter coarse grit. After a week in most tumblers and it has broken down to nothing. Useless for anymore shaping. Like all mentioned, run those rascals in coarse till they look rounded enough for your contentment. It is difficult to speed up the coarse shaping. A big barrel may speed it up. Other tricks may assist like speed and additives a bit, but it is a long process no matter. it is a state-of-mind issue. Set them to tumbling and have no expectations for 1-3 months. I think i average 2 months in coarse grind. But if you have 8 tumblers that is a batch/week LOL.
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 15:55:23 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 15:55:23 GMT -5
I use coarser grit Jessie. 30/60 or just 30. No need to filter coarse grit. After a week in most tumblers and it has broken down to nothing. Useless for anymore shaping. Like all mentioned, run those rascals in coarse till they look rounded enough for your contentment. It is difficult to speed up the coarse shaping. A big barrel may speed it up. Other tricks may assist like speed and additives a bit, but it is a long process no matter. it is a state-of-mind issue. Set them to tumbling and have no expectations for 1-3 months. I think i average 2 months in coarse grind. But if you have 8 tumblers that is a batch/week LOL. How do you know how fast your rocks are being tumbled?
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
|
Post by Fossilman on Sept 20, 2015 16:17:24 GMT -5
Looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Sept 20, 2015 16:41:45 GMT -5
I use coarser grit Jessie. 30/60 or just 30. No need to filter coarse grit. After a week in most tumblers and it has broken down to nothing. Useless for anymore shaping. Like all mentioned, run those rascals in coarse till they look rounded enough for your contentment. It is difficult to speed up the coarse shaping. A big barrel may speed it up. Other tricks may assist like speed and additives a bit, but it is a long process no matter. it is a state-of-mind issue. Set them to tumbling and have no expectations for 1-3 months. I think i average 2 months in coarse grind. But if you have 8 tumblers that is a batch/week LOL. How do you know how fast your rocks are being tumbled? Visual inspection. In coarse grind stage I assume you are referring to. The simple fact that they are rounding. looks like you have a broad range of rocks. I would guess some of them are softer like granite. They will sure round faster. But likely not polish as well as the agate and petrified wood. Unfortunately, the harder and slower to shape agates/jaspers and pet woods polish best(and quickest). You have a perfect variety for beginning tumble. And will find out what rounds fast and what polishes best. That batch will answer lots of questions by the time you finish it.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Sept 20, 2015 16:42:54 GMT -5
This one is stoned
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Sept 20, 2015 18:28:13 GMT -5
This is a really nice assortment. Great start! Looking forward to seeing how they turn out.
|
|
jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
|
Pictures!
Sept 20, 2015 18:48:17 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 20, 2015 18:48:17 GMT -5
I really thought that picture japer was petrified wood . I don't know if I should be excited or bummed.
I think I will just call them pretty rocks.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by tkvancil on Sept 22, 2015 10:08:19 GMT -5
Seems as if you are off to a good start. Lots of nice ones there.
|
|