69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Sept 29, 2004 12:13:51 GMT -5
Hi all, Thought I would post a couple pics. Mostly some local quartzy stuff. Kind of like a "rusty quartz". The darker stuff in the upper left corner is kind of marbled and looks pretty neat. This is a partial of my first batch. These were taken last week after 14 days of 60/90. I did recharge after 7 days. Looks pretty good, but still lots of pits and fracture lines that I could feel. I went another week at 60/90, but there wasn't much difference in the fracture lines. The rocks just got smaller and lost some detail. Some actually disappeared! After 3 weeks, and this being my first batch, I couldn't take any longer... they went into 120/220 this morning! ;D ;D   I didn't have the camera this morning or else I would have took pics so you could see the difference. I'll post pics of the progress next time.  Jimmy |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 29, 2004 12:32:48 GMT -5
69, I have had the same experience with quartz except what I have cut and trimmed. It seem to take forever. I have some I found and didn't trim in 60/90 that have been going for a month or more. Just takes a long time to get those pits out! But, it sure is pretty when it's finished!
You know what they say, PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE!!
Yours look really good after just two weeks!
llana
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 29, 2004 13:21:59 GMT -5
they are coming along great! yep that 1st batch is the hardest but they don't get any faster as you keep rolling you just end up with more tumblers hoping to speed things up  . kim |
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Sept 29, 2004 16:56:57 GMT -5
PATIENCE ??.. what's that?... j/k. It's good to know others have had the same issue with this type quartz. Until a few small rocks vanished, I thought my slurry wasn't right or something. Funny you should mention tumblers, second week of 60/90 and I knew 2 barrels wasn't enough. My second 33B arrived last Saturday. Jimmy |
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 29, 2004 17:51:45 GMT -5
they are looking shiny already...oh...maybe they are still wet? nice looking batch, beeper. i like the little red number in the middle.
one can never have too many tumblers,
KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 29, 2004 18:57:02 GMT -5
That's the kind of quartz I have here localy (in GA) and yes, I have learned that patience is the key with this stuff. It can come out really great, but start with big pieces and let them grind down as much as they need too. Then polish is a breeze! Llana, hows the stuff I sent you going? You gave us such a tease with those pics cookie |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 29, 2004 19:39:57 GMT -5
Started some in polish today. And you can bet it WASN'T Alum Oxide! LOL! They looked really good coming out of 1000 grit and I used the same polish as I used on the ones I posted a pic of. I think they are gonna be beautimuss! Can't wait to see them finished and will, of course, post a pic. Quite a few rutilated ones. I just love them.
It's gonna be too cold to go wadin' for me pretty soon, so you best get movin', woman! ;D I really would love to have some more of this stuff next time you go river rockhounding.
After all that rain ya'll got, the huntin' should be GOOOOOOD!
llana
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 29, 2004 20:53:02 GMT -5
Llanna, You'll be happy to know Emerald and I are going stomping in the 'Hooch tommorrow! I'm really excited about it. We're gonna rent waders so the cold water won't make us give up too quick and the river was out of it's banks for a while after Ivan so the pickens are good! (see "I could spit nails" thread) I'm taking a freon horn to ward off any bratty children/parents this time ;D Emerald is bringing nail aprons so we won't have to keep getting out to take the haul to shore. This is gonna be a lot of fun, she's also bring a digital camera and lap top so we can post really fast. Taking orders now, Numer 1, who has number 1? More on the Morro, cookie |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 29, 2004 21:23:02 GMT -5
#1 ME, ME, Me! LOL!
I saw your "bite nails" thread. You were much nicer than I would have been. I'm afraid I would have done some serious butt chewin' and made those kids jump back in the river and find every single rock they threw back in! LOL!
I think ya'll should take a 5 gal bucket and sign that says "Touch the Rocks in this bucket and I'll make your head a rock sandwich!" Seriously though, maybe you should print up a flyer type thing that says "We are collecting these rocks, please do not throw them back in the river" or something like that. That way if someone does come along they will know that they are there for a purpose. You might also add "My friend from Texas will come and kick your ass if you throw them back in!"
Yep, after all that rain, the pickins should be really good.
Wish I could go. Ya'll are gonna have a ball! I do expect to see a pic of you two in your waders with your aprons bulging!
llana
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Post by Cher on Sept 29, 2004 21:43:15 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] Me me mememememe LOL[/glow] ![]() pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img] Wow it sounds like you two are going to have a blast. Be careful and have lots of fun ok. Jimmy, looks like you have a good start going but I have to agree on the quartz deal, it does take a long time to work out those pits. I've been cheating and going after them a bit with the dremel and carving them down. [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow] ![]() pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img] |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 29, 2004 22:10:57 GMT -5
That's not cheating, Cher, that's good sense. Llanna has proven they run better when pre cut so dremeling is a great idea if you don't have a saw.
Which I don't.
And I will. (dremel, that is)
;D
cookie
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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 Sept 29, 2004 23:19:34 GMT -5
That quartz looks pretty cool 69.
Some types of quartz just keep on shattering , they are the annoying bits that sorely test ones patience.
I have thrown some away as puddle filler .
Others that aren't too sharp end up in my artificial stream, don't want them to puncture the lining.
To Cookie...good hunting in the waders, just mind the crocs, their bite is worse then any kid's.
Jack
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 29, 2004 23:24:16 GMT -5
I have a little pile of rocks I have taken out of the tumbler and set aside to smooth with the grinder before putting them back in the tumbler. I also have a bunch I have cut that have little "tangs" on them I am going to grind off before starting them rolling. Using the dremel to do some shaping and smoothing isn't cheating. Anything that moves the process along faster ain't cheatin' to me!! llana |
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Post by creativeminded on Sept 30, 2004 9:28:35 GMT -5
Yes the first batch is always the toughest, and yes you do have to learn patience especially with harder stones and when you find a system that works best for you. For example the system I have that I get the best results takes me around 7 weeks from start to finish.
Tami
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 30, 2004 15:52:10 GMT -5
Hello 69,
That sure is a good looking batch of stones ... way to go!
I have a bunch od Laguna Agate, Botswana Agates, Petrified Wood, Tiger Eye and a mix of other filler in my tumbler now.
Looks like I might be going into the second week of 90/120, as I just have not achieved the shape I am looking for ... yet.
Thanks for the photo's,
John
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