magentadeb
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2018
Posts: 12
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Post by magentadeb on Mar 24, 2018 13:35:01 GMT -5
Hello everyone!
Here are my beach rocks after 4 days on stage 4. I was going to take them out but some of them still have a bit of a haze on them so I put them back in for a couple days. my question is, our rocks are beach rocks and most are smooth to start with. I noticed after only 4 days of stage 1 they were already smooth and smaller. Can I just skip this stage so they stay the same size? This is what I have done with these
stage 1...4 days stage 2...3 days stage 3...7 days stage 4...3 days
I admit, I am a little impatient and would have a hard time waiting for rough rocks. I don't even know if I would know how to look for them
Thanks for the help!
Deb
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Mar 24, 2018 13:39:57 GMT -5
Those look good to me. Nice job. Welcome to the RTH forum from another Northern Cally guy.
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Ami
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 162
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Post by Ami on Mar 24, 2018 15:20:17 GMT -5
Hello everyone!
Here are my beach rocks after 4 days on stage 4. I was going to take them out but some of them still have a bit of a haze on them so I put them back in for a couple days. my question is, our rocks are beach rocks and most are smooth to start with. I noticed after only 4 days of stage 1 they were already smooth and smaller. Can I just skip this stage so they stay the same size? This is what I have done with these
stage 1...4 days stage 2...3 days stage 3...7 days stage 4...3 days
I admit, I am a little impatient and would have a hard time waiting for rough rocks. I don't even know if I would know how to look for them
Thanks for the help!
Deb
Hey, and welcome! I do not use coarse grit for my beach stones if they are smooth, but what I'm doing after every stage is to roll them for a day in plain water with dish soap!
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Post by rmf on Mar 24, 2018 16:55:43 GMT -5
if the rocks are already rounded you can start with 220 Grit. (I am assuming #220 is your stage 2). the only reason to grinde well rounded rocks in coarse is if there are pits or a rind or something you wish to grind away.
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Post by gmitch067 on Mar 24, 2018 21:02:19 GMT -5
Those are really nice finds Deb! The coarse stage usually uses grit around 80-grit, and will chew off around 25-30% of the stones after a 4-day tumble. That Stage-1 is mainly for knocking off sharp edges and forming the stones until YOU are pleased with their looks and feel... something that Mother Nature has already done for you. You could probably eliminate that first stage.
Although the beach-processed stones are smooth to the touch, they are still too rough in places for a good polish. You should start out with a long Stage-2 at 220 grit. This stage only removes about 3% of the stone and you will not realize so much of a reduction in size. The remaining stages are just to eliminate the previous stage's grind marks until the stones do not have a choice in the matter... they MUST shine!!! ... I hope...
Welcome from Northern California - Vacaville.
Glenn
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Post by aDave on Mar 24, 2018 21:34:06 GMT -5
Those are really nice finds Deb! The coarse stage usually uses grit around 80-grit, and will chew off around 25-30% of the stones after a 4-day tumble. That Stage-1 is mainly for knocking off sharp edges and forming the stones until YOU are pleased with their looks and feel... something that Mother Nature has already done for you. You could probably eliminate that first stage. Although the beach-processed stones are smooth to the touch, they are still too rough in places for a good polish. You should start out with a long Stage-2 at 220 grit. This stage only removes about 3% of the stone and you will not realize so much of a reduction in size. The remaining stages are just to eliminate the previous stage's grind marks until the stones do not have a choice in the matter... they MUST shine!!! ... I hope... Welcome from Northern California - Vacaville. Glenn Glenn, as well intended as your post is, I gotta disagree with your statement about how much material is removed after a 4 day tumble in coarse (25-30%). Hard stones, such as agates or jaspers, just barely begin to round on the edges after one week. Heck, most of us tumble for months just to get shaping the way we like. If the OP is actually noticing material loss and a change in size after just a few days, I'd venture the stones are extremely soft and will be very difficult to polish at the end of the day. IMHO, if rocks are noticeably smaller and well rounded after only 4 days, they are extremely soft. The end result being material that may not be conducive to a shiny polish at the conclusion of all stages.
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Post by grumpybill on Mar 25, 2018 6:34:23 GMT -5
I've tumbled a fair number of beach and/or river rounded pebbles. It has taken at least 2 runs (often 4 runs) in 60/90 grit to get rid of enough of the small pits for them to polish properly.
The only way I'd even consider skipping the course stage would be to try 120 grit in my Lot-o with several 12 hour rinse-and-recharge cycles.
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