pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 10, 2018 13:28:54 GMT -5
A few weeks ago I started a Lavic thread......this is the continuation of such....:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/83473/finally-got-lavic-material
Here are some "fruits" of the labor........They aren't great photo's, but hosted on two different backgrounds, you'll get the picture....:
(1)
(1B)
(2)
(2B)
(3)
(3B)
(4)
(4B)
Everything here is from Lavic Siding........even the Agates.
I did not deviate from my original process (as outlined in the attached thread)......They rotary tumbled rough for 10 days, everything else went as planned. The blemishes that appear on several are not polish or grit cling-on's...........the under-cutting, cracks and pits starting showing up in the stones that have multi layers of different mineral, during the 600 grit cycle..........glad I spent the time with prep shaping first. Otherwise, I fear they may have had to be in the rotary's for at least a couple of months.......!
The advice I received previously related to how tough this material is, did not go on deaf ears......Thanks to each of those who contributed to that aspect.
The advice I received previously related to the use of ceramics during rotary stage did not pan-out........I believe the ceramics contributed to the accelerated sanding aspects during the 10 day cycle.......may have been a different story if prep work had not been applied first.
I've got plenty more of this material to work on......so, refining the process will be the next goal........and future trips to Lavic Siding will most certainly be on my future October to May list of adventures.........along with Cady Mountain.....!
Thanks to all for following the journey.....!
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Post by mohs on Jun 10, 2018 15:19:35 GMT -5
good roll joe on some hard quartz !
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 10, 2018 16:37:19 GMT -5
good roll joe on some hard quartz ! Thanks Ed........
I think on my next trip out there, I'm going to concentrate more on collecting materials that have a combination of Chalcedony/Quartz within the reddish/sienna/mahogany Jasper........even though that may reduce my specimen finds down to 50%........in that location.......?
Not that I don't like the other Jasper finds, it just starts to become mundane to me..........now, after cutting almost 3/4 (about 30lbs) of my first trip collection. I'm certain that the shaping aspect of such (combo) will be more cumbersome to manage during the tumble stages in order to clean-up the fractures and pitting as they go along to polish. But the striking contrasts they deliver are unlike much of what I have polished to date.......That will be the challenge with more reward for me.
I may have gotten a little lucky with the predominantly "Quartz/Chalcedony" - (2/2B) finds at the location picked (or should say, dug-up)........what I have posted is all I found there that day...........as with most material like that, the polishing process I'm using seems to work well on all Agate type material.......it took awhile to refine (still refining), but my QC partner will not now settler for less.....and is loving the results too......lol
If I were lapping or cabbing this material, a lot more effort would have to go into the process before I would exhibit it.....but for now, even though there are obvious imperfections, I'm pleased with the outcome and reward I'm getting from the search, find, prep and grind.....in that order....... mostly......lol
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Post by mohs on Jun 10, 2018 17:12:21 GMT -5
found2finis ! right on
your cutting and pre grinding the rough ...right? what type of grinding set up are you using to rough out & shape?
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 10, 2018 18:39:46 GMT -5
found2finis ! right on your cutting and pre grinding the rough ...right? what type of grinding set up are you using to rough out & shape?
60 grit 6" diamond faceting disc......3450rpm grinder...........!
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Post by mohs on Jun 10, 2018 19:22:02 GMT -5
cool-- is that lap mounted on a bench grinder well that innovative and inexpensive I did something similar I happened to have variable speed bench grinder
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 10, 2018 23:28:06 GMT -5
I have a two speed bench grinder as well.....tried the disc's on it for a few grinds. Since it only runs full speed or half speed, the higher rpm's get the job done faster, just have to back-off on the stone pressure applied.......still getting the feel of the "drag" aspect while applying water. Disc's are holding up pretty well (not so much my finger nails), although, think both disc's are now an 80 grit texture rather than the 60 they started out as......lol
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Jun 11, 2018 8:27:09 GMT -5
Have heard this stuff is hard to get shiny. No problem here. Nice job all the way through.
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Post by mohs on Jun 11, 2018 10:22:43 GMT -5
The purpose of pre grinding the rough that going to be tumbled Is to round the rocks over and try to remove any pits ect... to make the process more efficient and speed up the rolling time? right? There is possibility that a friend as a tumbler whom doesn’t have much experience So I may try to grind some of the rough for him
Being that I never done it Just looking for some advice
Thanks Ed
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 11, 2018 11:13:00 GMT -5
The purpose of pre grinding the rough that going to be tumbled Is to round the rocks over and try to remove any pits ect... to make the process more efficient and speed up the rolling time? right? There is possibility that a friend as a tumbler whom doesn’t have much experience So I may try to grind some of the rough for him Being that I never done it Just looking for some advice Thanks Ed Ed...In my case yes & yes.........Based on what little knowledge I have about lap work, what I do is considered free form. I try to stay with the original stone shape, or if it's gonna take a loss of stone volume in order to remove fractures and pits, I'll cube, angle or round out the crap best I can...........I don't like to work with small stones (say less than 1") to begin with.......personal preference. Many of my end results are attached to magnets or used by friends who prefer 1" to 2" for wire wraps..........besides, I'm not set-up to micro shape, sand and polish. Thus, the use of a very course disc to just grind down for tumble prep.
If you lap or cab, the "sanding" principal is the same minus the speed I'm running the wheel at. From what I understand, most lap/cab work is done at a much slower rpm and on a softer surface (rubber backed) wheel due to shaping requirements.......I'm a "hard & fast" applicator.....lol
There are techniques to this process I'm still learning, like stone pressure applied, amount (rate) of water applied in order to feel a grit "drag" against the stone without also getting to much heat transfer........ect., ect., ect..............Like I said, I'm still learning and only applying the knowledge I have of wood working (sanding) as a bases for application (with a little internet research too)...... I don't associate with any lap/cab guys outside of conversations with the Covington folks..........Haven't had the time to take a class on this......most likely won't since I'm not going to invest the $$$ needed to do the whole process properly......lol
Sorry I can't help you more........Knowing your background a little, you'll master this much faster than I.....and probably sending me tips sooner than later....I hope.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jun 11, 2018 11:25:35 GMT -5
Have heard this stuff is hard to get shiny. No problem here. Nice job all the way through. Thanks Ken........
It seems to be a little tricky to get polished without also having some imperfections crop up.........but if you're not looking for the "perfect" tumbled stone finish and don't want to wait for months in the rotary and still only (maybe) ending up with 75% "show-time" quality.........the method I'm using might work for you.
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Post by mohs on Jun 11, 2018 11:37:46 GMT -5
Thanks Joe
Yep that rock will grab fast when wet
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Post by aDave on Jun 11, 2018 18:33:37 GMT -5
It seems to be a little tricky to get polished without also having some imperfections crop up.........but if you're not looking for the "perfect" tumbled stone finish and don't want to wait for months in the rotary and still only (maybe) ending up with 75% "show-time" quality.........the method I'm using might work for you. Welcome to the world of tumbling Lavic. Glad to see you're happy with your results. In a polishing sense, I've never been disappointed with this stuff or have found it difficult to get a good shine, and that's with simply doing rotary work. Like you, I'm always amazed at the different colors and patterns, and it remains a favorite for me simply for those aspects. With that, I'll take the flaws that pop up. It's interesting your flaws didn't pop up until so late. I usually see mine in the coarse stage, and from there, I make a choice in how I want to deal with them. The more I worked with this stuff, I was able to identify rocks that may tumble better than others, but it's still often a crapshoot. Problem is, the ones that seem to do best are the most boring, if you will. Good job. Looking forward to seeing more.
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Post by Psycho on Jun 12, 2018 5:55:33 GMT -5
Wonderful materials!
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