donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Jul 8, 2004 12:21:22 GMT -5
Here are some more great pics that Puppies sent to me for posting, super shine, interesting rocks puppies! In her words: This is more of my backyard rock, where I keep finding unexpected and mysterious things. This time through, I decided to try to preserve the natural features of the rock. I'd noticed that many of these had hollows inside that sometimes had crystal inclusions, and continued grinding to try to get a smooth surface trashed the features of the rock. With a vibe, holes seem to matter very little as far as ruining a polish run because of grit traps etc. I figured this out accidentally and then decided to take advantage of it, thinking that the odd shaped/geode type rocks might be cool.
So these photos are what I thought were the more interesting of the latest run, and you can't miss the hollow shell with the lines around the opening. You can't see it to well, but there are still some crystals within. Then the rock next to it is one of the strangest I've seen yet. It has rings on one end and that strange nodule shape, almost like a cave formation, which it may be. I love the spots -- what neat inclusions. I forgot the size ref: both of these 2 rocks are about the size of a dime.
One of the larger rocks I have a "before" picture of. Sometimes the vibe is amazing for retaining size and shape.
The surprises in this stuff just go on and on.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 8, 2004 13:05:13 GMT -5
DAM PUP hell of a shine you got some great back yard rock, you should start mineing and sell it hahaha,, im serious nice assortment too
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Jul 8, 2004 19:25:11 GMT -5
Hugely interesting backyard rocks Puppie,
The one with the chrystals reminds me of the tiny and I mean TINY rocks I saw yesterday under a microscope .
OUT OF THIS WORLD. They belong to Charlie Powell . He gave me some rocks to cut. I will post some pics on a new subject
Great rocks Puppie , I hope to see more of yor pics.
Jack
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 8, 2004 19:46:38 GMT -5
Puppie, those are beautiful. Love the colors and shapes. Iv'e got some orangey banded quartz in what I'm doing now, hope it turns out half as well. Incedible shine.
OK, give it up. Whats your formula ;D
cookie
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 8, 2004 20:01:07 GMT -5
Hello Donwrob,
How luck are you to be finding such gorgeous rocks in you back yard. Are you finding them in the soil or ?
Gorgeous stones! Looks excellent, keep up the good work.
Enjoy,
John
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lotarocks44
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2004
Posts: 54
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Post by lotarocks44 on Jul 8, 2004 20:50:16 GMT -5
vary nice I wish I got that kind of a shine on my rocks. I have a vibe 18 and I like it real well how long did you run them
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duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by duke on Jul 8, 2004 22:14:07 GMT -5
Hey puppies...to quote sandsman "you got a HELL of a shine"..... shall we call those backyard rocks, 'puppie agates'.. ;D.. Great job!!! great shine!!!..looks like you got this polishing business well in hand.
duke
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 8, 2004 22:44:09 GMT -5
these never cease to amaze me especially when watching them from start to finish. how they go from a plain old brown rock to an exquisite stone is just a wonderment. i love the hollowed one - it's like a baby geode. nice polish too!
kim
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jul 9, 2004 0:08:11 GMT -5
When I first looked at these I wasn't as taken with them as "regular" tumbled stones. But coming back for another look, they kind of grow on me. I especially like the big one in top centre of the first picture, though the two smaller black and orange ones to its lower left are quite striking also.
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Post by puppie96 on Jul 9, 2004 1:54:28 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for all the compliments and interesting comments, that's something I really like about this board, everybody is always so positive. I'll try to answer questions etc.
First, Rollingstone, your comment makes me smile. I agree, there's an attitude and esthetic adjustment involved with having a taste for these stones, but I've gotten very absorbed with it. It dawned on me that in order to get the most out of this stuff, it would work better to work with it and not against it; in other words, my efforts to get more regular shapes and surfaces were destroying the most interesting features of these rocks in the process. They continue to fascinate me because of the endless variety. A new color or crystal inclusion or something turns up in every batch. Now that I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of tumbling "holey" rock I've got more of the honey comb, "cave formation" I'd describe it, type rock. I also love the big one top center, the last of the 4 shots is that one pre-tumbling. I also love the black/orange ones.
John/Bearcreek, I'm not sure of the origin of the rock. This house was built in the 70's on a drained lakebed. The back yard would have been lake bottom. Evidently a lot of fill rock was brought in during construction, however, a lot of the rock was in dirt at lower levels of the yard where there seems to be less fill. This is a ROCKY yard, the stuff seems to be right below the surface pretty much wherever you dig.
Cookie, you tease, I already told you all my polish secrets!
Recipe was the same I've been using -- TV-5 Raytech vibe tumbler; started with a full load using 100/120, ran it about a week or a little longer; along the way removing stones that I thought had gone as far as I wanted them to. (Note: in the vibe there seems to be a lot more grinding in the later stages than in the barrel.) Along the way, I kept adding more stones to keep the bowl full. After all I have an endless supply. When I had enough to fill the bowl I ran 120/220 for about 2 days or maybe less, then 500 for a day, Iolox for a day, 1000 for a day, wash for a couple hours in borax and recycled polish and water, thorough rinse with soap, into the polish barrel with Raybrite TL & Glossine, done in 48 hours.
There's probably no gain in running 5 separate grinds before the polish, it's overkill, I think I just do it to keep myself entertained and slow me down so I don't go to polish too soon.
That miniature geode blows me away!
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Post by stoner on Jul 9, 2004 2:20:55 GMT -5
Hey Puppie. Excellent job on the polish. I think you're right, less is better on those stones. Keep up the great work. Look forward to seeing the next batch.
later, Ed
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jul 9, 2004 2:21:00 GMT -5
Check out the rock that is almost in the centre of the second photo, or in the first photo it is second row from the bottom, just right of centre.....looks like the face of some demented orange cat! Hmm, must be late, I should just go to bed.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Jul 9, 2004 2:56:40 GMT -5
Those are amazing!  Wonderful shine on them too! |
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aquababie19
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2004
Posts: 97
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Post by aquababie19 on Jul 9, 2004 14:12:33 GMT -5
those are so nice and shiny! |
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Wonderful shine on them too!
