|
Post by Garage Rocker on Jan 26, 2017 8:56:44 GMT -5
You are MacGyver. Exploding rocks...SMH.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 9:04:44 GMT -5
All rocks contain a certain amount of water. When heat treating stone for knapping , you heat at about 200 deg. for min. of 2 hours. This removes the water trapped inside.Every 2 hours you ramp up another 50 deg. Most stone needs 2 hours at 500 deg. to get the job done. After the 2 hours are up you cut the heat and leave furnace closed until approximate room temps. are reached. If you cook the stone at 200 for a couple hours the ( popcorn effect ) might be reduced when torched , (probably not). All rock, solid or not is gonna blow when subjected to radical heat like a torch. frost crack surfaces will be discolored when exposed. I didn't notice any discoloration on the surfaces exposed in the video, this is usually a given when frost cracks are present ! Broken surfaces in the vid. looked like freshly broken material. Most coral/coastal chert comes out of wet clay or under water agatemaggot. Coral still has microscopic capillaries from petrification that hold water for a long time. A common practice is either set the coral out in the hot sun for a year or put it in the furnace at 200F(just below boil) for a few days. General rule is 24 hours @ 200F per inch of thickness. You still get druzzy cavities in big chunks that may hold up to a couple of teaspoons of water, a problem. The stone was not discolored in the video. But did after cooling. I have seen coral slowly change to richer color incrementally over a day or two as cooling after heat treatment. You are correct, radical heat like that of the torch does shred/shatter/crack all agate/silicified type rocks regardless of dryness. Colors, just on the surface from the quick heat. But good enough to tell if a large chunk is going to yield some gems colors. A small propane torch could be used in the field on a chip of a large piece to find out if it is a good heat treating candidate. captbobOr a direct heating on a surface of a large chunk.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 9:20:10 GMT -5
You are MacGyver. Exploding rocks...SMH. And crossing your arms ? Now I can take a propane torch with me and field test chips from large chunks of coral to see how they react to heat. You never know if you bought back a bunch of big duds that will not change to hot colors.
|
|
|
Post by Garage Rocker on Jan 26, 2017 9:32:25 GMT -5
You are MacGyver. Exploding rocks...SMH. And crossing your arms ? Now I can take a propane torch with me and field test chips from large chunks of coral to see how they react to heat. You never know if you bought back a bunch of big duds that will not change to hot colors. Of course, and tapping my foot.
With your 8 oz. hammer and a propane torch, you'll be unstoppable. Hope that mustard rock I sent does something crazy in the heat. If it works, I'll send more.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 9:36:50 GMT -5
Note. A lot of Georgia coral heats to the exact color as the color "coral". But, is never found naturally with this 'coral' color. Such color not common in the agate/quartz gem family. The color called coral(center 2 chips):
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 9:52:52 GMT -5
And crossing your arms ? Now I can take a propane torch with me and field test chips from large chunks of coral to see how they react to heat. You never know if you bought back a bunch of big duds that will not change to hot colors. Of course, and tapping my foot.
With your 8 oz. hammer and a propane torch, you'll be unstoppable. Hope that mustard rock I sent does something crazy in the heat. If it works, I'll send more.
Had to move the furnace to the other barn. Got to change plug for 60 amp receptacle(like 10 minutes). One time I found a coral that turned crazy purple, like a 25 pound chunk. Mixed it into the tumbling program for years. Never found another like it. Dragged home 1000 pounds from same vein hoping for purple-never happened. Now I will field test. Others in orange peach hot pinks. Gay and fruity colors. If garage is going to make jewelry, gay and fruity mounted stones can roll in the big dollars...Some clients have lots of $$ and 'flamboyant' taste.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 10:02:02 GMT -5
jamesp does great experiments and has really opened my eyes to different things, but does anyone else think he has too much time on his hands? If given enough time I think he may come up with a cold fusion reactor using various corals and rocks. Jake Experimenting is categorized 'prime time'. I was chomping at the bit to make those videos. Even on a very busy day. Gotta make time for foolishness I suppose. Am excited to learn I can field test rocks for heat treatment colors. Never saw that coming. Live and learn falls true.
|
|
agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
|
Post by agatemaggot on Jan 28, 2017 3:19:28 GMT -5
Like the idea of the quartz breaking into squares and rectangles, good trick to know !
|
|
|
Post by spiceman on Jan 28, 2017 14:44:49 GMT -5
I only thing I might try different would using s heat gun. They have one to remove paint, I just don't like flames. I didn't work well with flames. I do like the idea because hammers are not my friend either but the rocks still go everywhere. But that would be easier to solve with that new idea.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
|
Post by Fossilman on Jan 28, 2017 19:28:10 GMT -5
Throw some popcorn kernels in there and I'll be there........Hey,liking the ideas Jim.....
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
|
Post by Fossilman on Jan 28, 2017 19:34:02 GMT -5
With the "Polka Dot" mine here in Central Oregon,there is a cave on the very bottom of the pit area,where they mine the agate.. The Indians use to bring in logs,branches and other burning material and torch the side of the agate hill,feed it wood for a week or so,just letting it burn hot! Than put the fires out,and throw cold water on the hot walls,fracturing the agate into workable material for tools and points.... It changes the colors of the agate to a darker brown and milky whites.....I always bring home some of that material,because of the history of that location... Will be working some this summer...
|
|