georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:09:45 GMT -5
Keep us updated Georgeb138. I am interested in the results of your Aquamarine rotary tumble when it comes out of the final burnish. I actually think they will polish better in a regular tumbler that has plenty of small ceramic cushioning. The vibratory tumblers seem to be a little harsh on heavily fractured stones. (... a much debated issue follows... You make your own decision... It will probably be a good one) I use the same ceramics throughout the whole process. As long as you take the time to wash them in soapy water between grit changes. I put them in a Tupperware container (with a lid) and a squirt of Dawn. Then I shake-rattle-n-roll them until clean... seems to be no problem with that. If you are doing a burnish run before AND after the pre-polish stage... that should clean the ceramics just fine - just make sure you wash it off well with fresh clean water. The larger ceramics are good for making up lost volume (after the 80 grit chews away at the rocks for a week or three), while the small ceramics are really good at cushioning. Vibratory tumblers get sort of choked-up when to many small ceramics are used (especially the new 2mm ceramic beads! However, the 2mm ceramics will work very well in a rotary tumbler). I have been using small ceramic that I have purchased, but recently I have been using "home made" ceramic. My family and friends are saving all of their broken ceramic dish ware. I break it up by putting it into a 5 gallon bucket with a hammer and other heavy metal ๐ค๐ปobjects then I shake the crap out of it. Then I tumble with some rough grit, and sort the small from the large pieces. Really good results on some apache tears and mahogany obsidian so far. First polish week ends Friday. Pretty excited to see how it goes on those as well.
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Post by coloradocliff on Aug 23, 2017 18:12:39 GMT -5
Always impressed with the responses in this group. Lots of knowledge being shared freely. I very much appreciate all of your input. I dont have a vibratory tumbler. I am going to add a bunch of ceramic, burnish for 12 hours, prepolish for a week or better, burnish again, add clean ceramic and a week or 2 of polish. We will see what happens. Good luck George . Keep us posted up. We need interesting input from members like you who are either fearless to try stuff or really stubborn and will try anything...looking at George.. grin.. And of course unique tumbles like gmitch067 Must be something in either the garage floor or the old tumbler shrapnel that got that one so shiny.. heehehhe Crazy method but yah got er done..
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:14:01 GMT -5
I laughed out loud at the garage floor story. My wife was trying to sleep. She was annoyed. Until I read the story to her. ๐๐๐
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Post by coloradocliff on Aug 23, 2017 18:15:12 GMT -5
Keep us updated Georgeb138. I am interested in the results of your Aquamarine rotary tumble when it comes out of the final burnish. I actually think they will polish better in a regular tumbler that has plenty of small ceramic cushioning. The vibratory tumblers seem to be a little harsh on heavily fractured stones. (... a much debated issue follows... You make your own decision... It will probably be a good one) I use the same ceramics throughout the whole process. As long as you take the time to wash them in soapy water between grit changes. I put them in a Tupperware container (with a lid) and a squirt of Dawn. Then I shake-rattle-n-roll them until clean... seems to be no problem with that. If you are doing a burnish run before AND after the pre-polish stage... that should clean the ceramics just fine - just make sure you wash it off well with fresh clean water. The larger ceramics are good for making up lost volume (after the 80 grit chews away at the rocks for a week or three), while the small ceramics are really good at cushioning. Vibratory tumblers get sort of choked-up when to many small ceramics are used (especially the new 2mm ceramic beads! However, the 2mm ceramics will work very well in a rotary tumbler). I have been using small ceramic that I have purchased, but recently I have been using "home made" ceramic. My family and friends are saving all of their broken ceramic dish ware. I break it up by putting it into a 5 gallon bucket with a hammer and other heavy metal ๐ค๐ปobjects then I shake the crap out of it. Then I tumble with some rough grit, and sort the small from the large pieces. Really good results on some apache tears and mahogany obsidian so far. First polish week ends Friday. Pretty excited to see how it goes on those as well. Large ceramic is a good thing but the small bites for me..Smart on doing your own gravels for small tumble filler. Maybe just make a couple runs of smaller stuff and stockpile. That obsidian and the apache tears are hard to get done well.
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Post by coloradocliff on Aug 23, 2017 18:16:54 GMT -5
I laughed out loud at the garage floor story. My wife was trying to sleep. She was annoyed. Until I read the story to her. ๐๐๐ Yep was either the garage floor or shrapnel from the tumbler that did the trick. Maybe try that method when the wife is out of town... Give you some time to rebuild the garage before she gets back....
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 23, 2017 18:17:42 GMT -5
I know it, this is my 2nd batch of obsidian, I tried the first one a few time, and learned that ceramics are a huuuuge must! I lost over half of the first batch, but have some beautiful pieces that I was able to add to the 2nd.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 26, 2017 11:29:33 GMT -5
Wait. I think I got some of that same degraded aquamarine. What was the actual step that got them polished? Mine are well rounded but the polish is just not getting there. I was about to throw them out.
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 26, 2017 11:30:46 GMT -5
Wait. I think I got some of that same degraded aquamarine. What was the actual step that got them polished? Mine are well rounded but the polish is just not getting there. I was about to throw them out. That's what this thread is about. Read back some and there are some good suggestions. I haven't revisited tumbling these yet cuz all of my tumblers are full.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Aug 26, 2017 11:31:10 GMT -5
Always impressed with the responses in this group. Lots of knowledge being shared freely. I very much appreciate all of your input. I dont have a vibratory tumbler. I am going to add a bunch of ceramic, burnish for 12 hours, prepolish for a week or better, burnish again, add clean ceramic and a week or 2 of polish. We will see what happens. If you think about it, when you get your final result, if you would tag me I'd appreciate it. YIKES, we posted at the same time... thanks...
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georgeb138
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 68
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Post by georgeb138 on Aug 31, 2017 20:23:28 GMT -5
Keep us updated Georgeb138. I am interested in the results of your Aquamarine rotary tumble when it comes out of the final burnish. I actually think they will polish better in a regular tumbler that has plenty of small ceramic cushioning. The vibratory tumblers seem to be a little harsh on heavily fractured stones. (... a much debated issue follows... You make your own decision... It will probably be a good one) I use the same ceramics throughout the whole process. As long as you take the time to wash them in soapy water between grit changes. I put them in a Tupperware container (with a lid) and a squirt of Dawn. Then I shake-rattle-n-roll them until clean... seems to be no problem with that. If you are doing a burnish run before AND after the pre-polish stage... that should clean the ceramics just fine - just make sure you wash it off well with fresh clean water. The larger ceramics are good for making up lost volume (after the 80 grit chews away at the rocks for a week or three), while the small ceramics are really good at cushioning. Vibratory tumblers get sort of choked-up when to many small ceramics are used (especially the new 2mm ceramic beads! However, the 2mm ceramics will work very well in a rotary tumbler). I haven't been changing my ceramic either. I burnish it with the rest and rinse everything thoroughly. I might try the dawn method though. Thanks for the input.
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