hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Oct 30, 2018 21:11:59 GMT -5
I've managed to work my way through a couple of batches of stones, mostly beach agates and quartz and one load of tiger eye. All in all I think they have finished up pretty well so I thought I'd jump into the deep end of the pool and try a load of Apache Tears. I think they came out okay.
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Post by MsAli on Oct 30, 2018 21:16:48 GMT -5
Really nice job on those
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Post by aDave on Oct 30, 2018 21:17:45 GMT -5
Looks good. What was your process?
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Oct 30, 2018 21:29:31 GMT -5
Shaped in a 3A for 5 days with 60/90 SiC and ceramic media, then 7 days with 220 SiC. Moved to UV 3 and repeated 220 SiC for two days (replaced the ceramic media with quartz aquarium stones). Cleaned and charged with 600 SiC, three days there. Two days each at 1000 AO and Kingsley North's Micro Alumina (got it in a grit pack). Burnished with borax for an hour.
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Oct 30, 2018 21:31:35 GMT -5
I think you did great! They look real good.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 30, 2018 21:39:21 GMT -5
Those look great. Nice job on the tumble.
Chuck
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Oct 30, 2018 21:42:09 GMT -5
Thanks everybody! Always a little nervous about showing results - want to have done well but know never know at the beginning of doing something new. I do appreciate that honest feedback is the only way to progress and get better at something and I've been impressed with the willingness here to share information and experience to help others along.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 463
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Post by jimaz on Oct 30, 2018 21:48:15 GMT -5
They look really good. Congratulations on a nice bunch. Hope I can do as well in the future.
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Post by fernwood on Oct 31, 2018 4:24:39 GMT -5
Look very good.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 31, 2018 9:36:47 GMT -5
HOLY MOLY !! Those turned out great!
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 213
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Post by rodeodan on Oct 31, 2018 9:51:12 GMT -5
Great work!
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Post by miket on Oct 31, 2018 10:44:30 GMT -5
Very nice!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Nov 1, 2018 10:44:59 GMT -5
I second all the looking goods. Nice job!
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Post by beefjello on Nov 1, 2018 18:47:10 GMT -5
Looks like you nailed those tears Harlan.. nice!
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Nov 5, 2018 23:17:11 GMT -5
they look great!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Nov 6, 2018 2:30:29 GMT -5
Well done! Congrats on using the quartz aquarium gravel - I swear by that stuff to do obsidian. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,561
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Post by jamesp on Nov 21, 2018 6:54:41 GMT -5
Sure looks like they came out far better than just okay hnhstngs. A big difference I have found with silicon carbide and aluminum oxide when tumbling glass or obsidian: When tumbling glass/obsidian in a rotary or a vibe without ceramic or quartz pea gravel media silicon carbide breaks down quickly. No matter the grit size. When tumbling glass/obsidian in a rotary or a vibe without ceramic or quartz pea gravel media aluminum oxide will NOT break down quickly. Grit sizes 220-500-14,000. And if running only 25% quartz pea gravel media the aluminum oxide will break down much slower. If running 50% quartz pea gravel media the aluminum oxide will break down much quicker. Guessing the same would hold true for ceramic media when used with aluminum oxide. Conclusion is aluminum oxide needs Mohs 7(quartz) to Mohs 8(ceramic) media added to Mohs 5 rock/glass to break down. Curious about your percent quartz pea gravel media used...
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Post by fernwood on Nov 21, 2018 7:02:25 GMT -5
jamesp Great advice, thanks. I am still trying to dial in the Tears with rotary. Tried AO and aquarium sized, well polished gravel first, with minimal results. By polish stage a 50-50 blend. Next batch had plastic polishing pellets that were well cleaned and only used once prior in final polish stage. 50-50 blend again. This batch had less gloss than those in the pea gravel. My pea gravel is now a cross between frack sand and pea gravel, due to maximum size of 1/8". For next batch plan on using a combo of pea gravel, pellets and well used ceramic media. Or should I had some sugar sized, new, glass pellets into the mix for cushioning on final polish? All will be done in a 1 lb barrel.
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Nov 21, 2018 11:04:01 GMT -5
Sure looks like they came out far better than just okay hnhstngs . Curious about your percent quartz pea gravel media used... Thanks James! I would guestimate more than 50% quartz by volume. My vibe is a UV3 and I only had about a pound of AT to start with so the stones were swimming in media. I have a batch of Snowflake Obsidian in the vibe now with 1000 AO and again, a lot of quartz. It's on its second day so 2 days with polish starting tomorrow morning and a burning run after that they should be done on Sat. So far they look like they will come out about the same as the AT.
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Nov 21, 2018 11:19:17 GMT -5
Here a pic of the vibe with the Snowflake Obsidian (can't figure out how to load as a video). Quartz is the same aquarium stone you have posted about in the past James. Again, this is a 3(?) lb bowl, 1/2 tsp 1000 AO and 1 Tbs borax.
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