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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 1:53:37 GMT -5
My Rocks That came out of the 40T after nearly two months of tumbling Have More Pitt's than Brad Pitt I am trying to come up with a good tumble, I figure I should try and outdo myself on the last tumble, besides aren't we suppose to progress and learn? The Foredom and Cab King have been getting a work out, and my knuckles have been kissing those 2" wide wheels and feelin it. What do you guys do? I started out with 6 lbs of Bubble Gum Agate, 6 Lbs Dessert Jasper, 6 lbs Med Mixed Rock,,,, 6 lbs Carnelian Nodule, 5 lbs Lavic Jasper from aDave. About 30 lbs total and I now have a lil less than 19 lbs of material. All rocks are nicely shaped and rounded its just the Damn Pitts. Out of the 19 lbs there was 5 lbs that were rounded and ready to move on. Then other 14 lbs I have been working on and have about 2 Lbs done with 12 lbs to go. I just don't know any other way without grinding em all away? I wish there was a Magic Pixi Dust or something I could put in the tumbler, but I feel I'm gonna have to take my lumps on this one! Yep Id rather take an ass whoopin!
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Post by parfive on Sept 25, 2018 2:54:56 GMT -5
Now that you have an idea what a tumbler can’t/won’t remove before the decade’s out, prep the uglies before you tumble ‘em . . .
grind shallower flaws with the edge of the tile saw blade
the deep ones, saw the rock in half right through the pit, or split it with a chisel
Save your cabbin’ wheels for cabs.
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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 3:39:53 GMT -5
What No Pixi Dust?
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Post by HankRocks on Sept 25, 2018 4:23:49 GMT -5
It seems that folks are getting worked up over something that in my mind is just not that big a deal. Some rocks have pits, doesn't mean that the rock is not tumble worthy, doesn't mean that every pit needs to be removed. The only rocks that I tumble that have touched the grinder are my pre-forms for pendants. Even on those preforms I have a few I have sold where the backside and even the edges were not smooth. The less than perfect rocks were still very attractive or so they are in my mind.
It's also a matter of what size tumbler you are filling. If you are using a 3 pound barrel and you need to grind 10 or 12 rocks, not such a big deal. If you are filling a 15 pound or a 40 pound barrel then perfection on every one is unreasonable to expect. If it's only 100% well-rounded smooth tumbles that makes you happy then you better start with river or lake rocks. Or you better be ready to spend hours grinding and months tumbling. If that makes you happy, then go for it. For me tumbles are not Cabs or Faceted stones, they are just rocks I am putting a shine on.
Having said that, there are rocks that I don't tumble because they are just not attractive or they are deep pitted all over. If it's the latter then it's the hammer or the trim saw or they go in the erosion-control material bucket.
Another issue might be that in some cases folks are posting only the well-rounded tumbles from a batch, and not the whole batch. It can lead to un-reasonable expectations.
Good luck
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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 13:58:28 GMT -5
Good Information.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 25, 2018 15:00:44 GMT -5
Bob "Duke".....your experience is not unlike many of us who tumble......As an observation, as I am somewhat of a newbie to this forum and the hobby, there only appears to be a handful of "master" tumblers here that routinely turn-out very well shaped, "relatively" pit-less and high quality shine end product with little to no "set-a-sides". Most of those folks have been at this for years.......!
What I've learned most from those "master" tumblers (as eluded to by other responses here"....and what you have already experienced, are the following...:
Material selection (grade/quality) and stone type mixtures are most critical......as an example, Montana Moss Agate and Lavic Jasper are notoriously difficult to tumble without pits and fractures showing up through the process.
Stone volume/size, grinding media and fillers, duration and recharge cycles during the rough stages as well as methods and media materials used in the polishing stages (I prefer vibes not rotary) beyond the 60/90 rough grinding as an example..........all play a part in reduced "set-a-side" end products.
Some of us prefer to "preform" our material prior to the tumbling.....In my case, due to impatience, lack of time and growing frustrations with less than 75% (show quality) success rates (I work with small quantities) so every stone has value to me.....time spent "preforming" and sanding down the rough's prior to banging/rolling them together, works for me.
Also, like Hank eluded to......not all folks here photo and represent their entire finished products.....for obvious reasons..! Even the methods of the photography can be somewhat misleading (on many occasions I've intentionally) presented the same stones photographed in various ways to specifically show more than one aspect of the finished product........as to not give a false impression or raise anyone's expectations beyond a reasonable assumption.........we all like to show-off our best examples, no harm done. However, the reality of such often is not what we would find in our hands after further inspection........it's certainly difficult to photo polished stones for most of us "not so" inclined to own professional quality equipment.....left more for the "pro's" who seriously market their material for sale.......
Just a few thoughts to consider.
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goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
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Post by goatgrinder on Sept 25, 2018 15:25:25 GMT -5
Well there are ugly pits and you can dremel* them out before polishing. The shallow depressions might still be there but are polished and so reflect more light giving the subject greater depth. Works for me.
*any dremel knockoff will do so go cheap and spend money on nice diamond burrs and pads
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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 16:08:37 GMT -5
pizzano You definitely tell it like it is and I like that. I am pretty happy with my last two Lake Rubble Tumbles, they turned out pretty good but the colors and rocks are kinda boring. I guess I shouldn't get all uptight about it. Many times I am my own worse critic.
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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 25, 2018 17:17:11 GMT -5
pizzano You definitely tell it like it is and I like that. I am pretty happy with my last two Lake Rubble Tumbles, they turned out pretty good but the colors and rocks are kinda boring. I guess I shouldn't get all uptight about it. Many times I am my own worse critic. Yes, I think you are expecting perfection every time. And, I think you, like nearly everyone else, is harder on yourself than others are. I see pretty, shiny rocks. As you continue, you'll get betterer and betterer. Patience, Grasshopper.
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Post by TheRock on Sept 25, 2018 18:13:06 GMT -5
I Just Opened up a Thumbler B where 80 Grit has been rolling for 3 weeks with Moonstone, Obsidian, Salmon Feldspar, Septerian, Sodalite and they have hardly any Pitts to speak of. I Loaded it with 220 and we are off and running for a couple more weeks in which time will switch over to the vibe and 500 AO. Well gotta run I have 3 more to oen up and ck.
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Post by Pat on Sept 25, 2018 18:53:19 GMT -5
Aw, gee, that's the pits!
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 25, 2018 18:55:16 GMT -5
pizzano You definitely tell it like it is and I like that. I am pretty happy with my last two Lake Rubble Tumbles, they turned out pretty good but the colors and rocks are kinda boring. I guess I shouldn't get all uptight about it. Many times I am my own worse critic. Yes sir....a little transparency goes a long way with establishing credibility.......tend to believe that most of us who take our "passions" seriously tend to be our own "best & worst" critics.........glad to hear some of the other batches you've been passionately working through are coming along nicely..........as I have followed, most of your endeavors tend to be quite successful, as will the tumbling aspects and progressions. After all, it's not the successes we learn from, rather the mistakes we try not to repeat.......!
Happily banging. rolling and crashing stones together in search of perfection........
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 25, 2018 19:03:40 GMT -5
pizzano You definitely tell it like it is and I like that. I am pretty happy with my last two Lake Rubble Tumbles, they turned out pretty good but the colors and rocks are kinda boring. I guess I shouldn't get all uptight about it. Many times I am my own worse critic. Yes, I think you are expecting perfection every time. And, I think you, like nearly everyone else, is harder on yourself than others are. I see pretty, shiny rocks. As you continue, you'll get betterer and betterer. Patience, Grasshopper. And if you lack patience........persistence and knowledge will suffice.......!
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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 25, 2018 19:14:23 GMT -5
Yes, I think you are expecting perfection every time. And, I think you, like nearly everyone else, is harder on yourself than others are. I see pretty, shiny rocks. As you continue, you'll get betterer and betterer. Patience, Grasshopper. And if you lack patience........persistence and knowledge will suffice.......! Too true.
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Post by MsAli on Sept 25, 2018 20:04:23 GMT -5
Sometimes less is more and ya have to choose what's best for the rock. I love agates, but they give me challenges Here is a laker that is in polish right now. I knew no amount of tumbling was gonna make its pits and fractures disappear and honestly it would of probably made them worse. It would of grinded away to nothing I thought long and hard about it and decided I liked it as is So I made an executive decision to move it along and save the size of the rock. IMO It's still gorgeous, even if it is a tad flawed. Not all rocks have to be "perfect" to be beautiful and you have some beauties in there!
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Post by TheRock on Sept 26, 2018 3:19:39 GMT -5
Well tonight I cracked open (3) more thumler B's (2) had Lake Mich Lake Rubble inside and another had Marquette Mich Lake Rubble inside and Low and behold about 20 Lakers staring up at me that was a nice surprise the 30 grit was in each of them and it really brought them out. I showed them to MJ and she fessed up and said she threw a couple hand fulls of them in there when I wasn't looking but they were questionable, and this reinforced her hopes that they indeed were Lakers. I put all (3) thumler's and moved them into the 80 Grit stage. So all and all good news on those Clean outs.
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Post by TheRock on Sept 26, 2018 3:26:23 GMT -5
Sometimes less is more and ya have to choose what's best for the rock. So I made an executive decision to move it along and save the size of the rock. IMO It's still gorgeous, even if it is a tad flawed. Not all rocks have to be "perfect" to be beautiful and you have some beauties in there! I think you made the correct decision kat. That is a good size Laker. I have one about that big In the Marquette batch I posted about above. (Damn wish I would have taken some Pictures) Oh well I will when I crack em open again,
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Sept 26, 2018 9:06:16 GMT -5
TheRock - welcome to the reality of rocks. Many of the most beautiful rocks that I cab have issues with pits, fractures, soft spots. It does take lots of work to get perfection. If you have lower standards, you'll be easier to please. Don't lower your standards! You just have to work harder than expected for the results you want. Lynn
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Post by TheRock on Sept 26, 2018 12:32:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragment zarguy I try and keep my sights aimed High. I figure if I do that I will someday meet the mark. There is alot to learn and remember in this hobby.
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Sept 27, 2018 0:52:21 GMT -5
FWIW, though I'm definitely not one of the folks with perfect anything, I think I have the 'everything' posted from one batch on a flickr album thus far. And I have pics for the rest of the second I need to eventually get up somewhere.
...I just have a UV-18, tiny photo space, and that means ten tons of pics and it takes two full days to get all the pics done from a finished batch, so I've let that slip by the wayside a LOT. There's nowhere I could actually do one of the big spread pics with decent light, even outside.
ETA: I'll try to get the remaining pics I've got up there some time tonight and tomorrow if I can. It's probably handy as a good reference for my relative newbie results, too.
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