cmdthenerd
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1
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Post by cmdthenerd on May 13, 2017 16:30:48 GMT -5
My partner recently bought several pieces of rough chrysocolla in apache gum (I'm not 100% certain what that is, but I've looked it up and it seems like it should be fine to tumble those pieces as is).
I'm looking for other stones that are around 3-4 hardness that I could tumble with these, so that I don't end up scratching things up or grinding the pieces down to nothing. I have some calcite which seems like it would work, and I think fluorite might be okay too, but I don't know of any other ones. Any suggestions?
(Also, I'm new here! Hello, my name's Charlie, I'm from Wisconsin.)
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on May 30, 2017 1:50:19 GMT -5
My partner recently bought several pieces of rough chrysocolla in apache gum (I'm not 100% certain what that is, but I've looked it up and it seems like it should be fine to tumble those pieces as is). I'm looking for other stones that are around 3-4 hardness that I could tumble with these, so that I don't end up scratching things up or grinding the pieces down to nothing. I have some calcite which seems like it would work, and I think fluorite might be okay too, but I don't know of any other ones. Any suggestions? (Also, I'm new here! Hello, my name's Charlie, I'm from Wisconsin.) Welcome Charlie! A small amount of homework to doHomework part IIBut perhaps this is too much data and not enough information. I'd recommend: - Amber or Copal
- Apatite
- Bornite (apparently people do tumble this!)
- Dolomite
- Fluorite
- Marble
- Rhodochrosite
- Soapstone (some: Steatite)
- Sunstone
- Turquoise (just a bit harder)
Soapstone hardness
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Post by gmitch067 on Jun 1, 2017 21:37:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum Charlie!
I have never tumbled Flourite, but I did do a dedicated Lortone 3A tumble of very fractured blue Apatite - which came out so-so (the kids loved them because of the color and ran off with all of them within the first 24 hours!). Other forum members recommended omitting the 80 grit stage and tumbling the Apatite alone because it was so fractured and tended to fall apart a lot - scratching other rocks and ruining shines. A mix of 50% Apatite rocks and 50% small ceramics helped me get through the tumbling stages. I used Cerium Oxide as the polish and (as I said...) it came out so-so.... BUT... nice color! Because of the falling apart mid tumble issue, I would be cautious in combining the Apatite with the Chrysocola.
I currently have a 3A barrel devoted to Chrysocolla. This will be my first attempt to tumble that rock. Because the Chrysocolla is so soft, I would recommend skipping the 80 grit tumbling stage and go straight to the 220 grit stage. I understand that the sub-straight around the Chrysocolla may be a harder mineral. The tumbling action might chew them up at different rates - causing undercutting. Stop the tumble after 3 days and check a few stones to see how they are shaping (do not dump the load out or add any more grit... just check out a few of each type of rock you are using in the combined load). Do this check again after another 3 days. Get a feel for how much the 220 grit is shaping the stones and determine if you need/want to continue at that grit stage for another week (recharging the 220 grit) or continue on to the 600 grit stage, and (if you have it) 1000 grit stage, prior to polish.
I still have not determined what polish to use with Chrysocola. Maybe another member can enlighten me (please!). If you are combining rock types Charlie - beware, their optimum polish might differ.
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Post by captbob on Jun 2, 2017 0:04:59 GMT -5
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 2, 2017 8:53:35 GMT -5
Welcome Charlie....Looks like the members have you covered and ready to roll.............
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Post by gmitch067 on Jun 2, 2017 9:05:58 GMT -5
Those turned out beautifully Captbob! What is the difference between Raybrite-A alumina and Aluminum Oxide? I thought the AO had a size of 0.3 micron, while Raybrite-A is 0.5 micron. Does that matter? I just acquired some more Tin Oxide from the Rock Shed, so I am set. Thank you!
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Post by captbob on Jun 2, 2017 10:28:03 GMT -5
Glenn, I don't know the specific difference between the Raybrite and the AO polish. That's above my pay grade. Some things I just go on the word of others that have used it or even those selling it. It was so long ago when I tumbled those, I probably just went with the Raybrite because it said something about being good for soft stones. AO polish may work just fine on chrysocolla, I don't know as I haven't tried it. Someone that makes cabs could probably chime in better on polishes and their difference. I don't cab, but maybe that's like comparing apples to oranges as (I'm guessing) the polish is put on a cab with the added benefit of pressure and heat not present in a tumbler. And cmdthenerd - Hi Charlie, welcome to the forum! How about howlite to use as a mix for tumbling your chrysocolla? It's also a soft stone and would make pretty cheap tumbler fodder. I don't know what chrysocolla in apache gum is...? Is that chrysocolla in a matrix? What's apache gum? Any chance you could post a picture or two of what you have?
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