jmyers
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2007
Posts: 20
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Post by jmyers on Oct 24, 2007 12:58:49 GMT -5
I have already succumbed to the temptation of a second roller with two barrels (now have the 3lb CE and the 2X3lb CE).
So I ask the group two questions. First, can you share your experience by listing a series of common rocks you have tumbled that work from easiest to work with to more difficult? In other words, which rocks should i wait to try until I have more experience, and which will I have a better chance at initial success (to avoid being too discouraged).
And second, and this may be a different list or in a different order, but which common, or easy to find/order rocks provide the best bang for the effort. In other words, which do you find the most impressive if done well. I realize this may be subjective, but am interested to learn and plan on trying interesting rocks as I move forward!!
Thanks,
Jeff
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2007 13:17:25 GMT -5
Generally speaking, harder materials polish better than softer materials. You almost cant go wrong with agates and jaspers. They are easy to find, can be gotten inexpensively (or expensively depending on the varieties) and polish nicely. For instance, when cabbing, some materials require grinding, sanding and polishing all the way to 50,000 grit to get them to look good. On the other hand, many agates and jaspers end up with a liquid polish after just 600 grit and CO polish or a quick session with some diamond paste.
I am sure you will get some different answers but that has been my experience. I have seen flat rate boxes filled with pet wood, agates and jaspers go for really cheap on ebay.
Shannon
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 24, 2007 17:23:24 GMT -5
Jeff, my first tumble batch was a mixture of rocks which were supposed to be of "around" the same hardness.
1st point of call for your early tumbles in my view would be stick to one type of rock per barrel.
With this in mind - the best results I had were with "Rose Quartze". It isnt expensive, and its quite a hard rock which gives a good shine.
In my experience - Obsidian is second hardest to to get a shine on, and my personal failure is Malachite which is relatively soft and therefore hard to get a shine on with a tumbler (however there are plenty of people here who have done it).
Start with Rose Quartze and Amethyst second (in my book), use your various barrels for different stages - try not to get too much rock going at once.
AND DONT RUSH THINGS!!!! Mark.
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 24, 2007 19:57:48 GMT -5
Agates and most jaspers would be a good place to start. I particularly like Montana agate. It is really neat to grind the weathered rind off and find the inclusions inside. My first few batches were beach rocks from San Simeon area.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 24, 2007 20:53:00 GMT -5
Jeff, I'd vote for a mix of agate and jasper. Inexpensive and usually turns out great with little effort. Just remember, don't rush the coarse grind. better to take them through several recharges and get nice smooth rounded shapes before you move them on. Then your stones will shine up easy and look swell. Since you're in Ohio, don't forget to try some of your Ohio Flint Ridge Flint. It works up easily into spectacular stones. It's one of my favorite materials to tumble....mel
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 25, 2007 2:48:55 GMT -5
Hi Jeff Nobody has mentioned CLINICAL Clean
In between stages wash throughly and DONT get even one grain of grit into your next stage as it will ruing your polish
do a Wash /Burnish between each stage with Borax and soap
jack Yorkshire UK
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 25, 2007 9:05:38 GMT -5
Interesting points here- But my take on it comes down to this- Your in Ohio- and there is a lot of CHert/ Flint in Ohio- LOTS and LOTS- I would seek out some local gravel pits/ Stream/ river banks- or roadside cuts and start searching for some local stuff- Carry a water bottle and a hardend steel file- water to spray your finds- steel file to check the hardness (if the file scratches the rock its a leaverite (as in leave it right there) if the rock scratches the file- its a keeper- You can't beat the price of locally collected material, you will have GREAT satisfaction with the outcome (even if it's not the best outcome)- and you will learn a greater appreciation of your local material- I love working all kinds of exotic materials- But my favorites are still the local Cherts and Granites that I collect on my walks!
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 25, 2007 11:38:05 GMT -5
My first batch was a local chert and it shined great! Well my second batch did, I rushed the first one. john
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jmyers
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2007
Posts: 20
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Post by jmyers on Oct 25, 2007 11:45:03 GMT -5
Thank you all! I had started out ordering some rough that sounded interesting; Snowflake Obsidian, Red Leopard Jasper and Lapis Lazuli. After reading more of the posts, i realized that I may have started with a tougher stone - Obsidian. I will be putting it in it's third phase tonight, so we will see how it goes.
I have Tiger Eye and the Red Leopard in it's coarse grit stage (the Jasper is on its second charge). My son really likes the Tiger Eye so we moved that into rotation a little early.
I had read in several places that Ohio is not much for good stone. Except for the flint, I get the sense that we are mostly limestone near the lake (Erie). We have collected natural river tumbled rock for the gardens, and some have interesting colors and designs, but I am unsure how they would work in the tumbler.
Jeff
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 25, 2007 12:14:56 GMT -5
Jeff, I live in an area that is known to be rock free. When I'm in Maryland I collect beach rocks from the Chesapeake Bay. While I have no idea what most of them are I do find a lot of quartz. I have some in one of my barrels doing the second stage right now. They look like they are going to turn out very nice. I have also found a local stream that has some chert and flint. They aren't spectacular but look they do polish up well. Don't be afraid to try what you can find, you might be suprised.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 26, 2007 9:46:26 GMT -5
LAKE Erie is an awesome place to hunt- You might be amazed at what you find along the shores!!!! The rocky beaches tend to have some real nice bigger stuff (again take along the file- I think if your along the shore the Spray bottle can be left at home!!!) as for the sandy beaches- well I always find some real nice "pretumbled" quartz nuggets in the sand- Here is a batch of goodies I got out of Lake Erie a few years back (they are scanned in so the shine is not as noticable) And a Lake Erie Fossil SO get out there and do a little "beachcombing"
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jmyers
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2007
Posts: 20
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Post by jmyers on Oct 26, 2007 10:48:23 GMT -5
Stefan,
Those are beautiful!! Now I will have to go through the yard, because my in-laws (from Europe and stay with us 6 months a year) had us out at one of the local parks looking for stones, at rivers edge, for the garden.
Jeff
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