stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 3, 2018 20:13:08 GMT -5
Finished my test run with my new rock tumbler. Learned that I have to increase the time on each grit run with the machine I'm using. slurry is supposed to be like mud, not the texture of eggnog. Pictures are of the test run slurry's , 1st completed test run and the gem stones in my 1st full run. Test Run #2 - stones back in for another 9 days @ Grit #1
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 5, 2018 4:44:16 GMT -5
Being naturally nosy, I selected some of the nicer stones, used a flannel cloth to give them a dull shine then soaked them in mineral oil for 24 hrs. I then put them on paper towel for another 24 hrs to let excess oil leach off. Here is the result.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 5, 2018 4:51:24 GMT -5
Yes, slurry too thin. Some of the rocks appear to be tougher ones to tumble. Best to stick with agates/jasperes to start.
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Post by TheRock on Dec 5, 2018 7:13:30 GMT -5
Yes as Beth say's starting with a harder Mohs Rock will give you better results, I would also start at first with the same kind of hard rock so you have the best results to Build your Confidence, From there whatever or what you tumble make sure they are the same Mohs hardness. You can experiment from there and take good notes on all of your tumbles, that way you have something to refer back to.
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 5, 2018 8:18:27 GMT -5
Yes as Beth say's starting with a harder Mohs Rock will give you better results, I would also start at first with the same kind of hard rock so you have the best results to Build your Confidence, From there whatever or what you tumble make sure they are the same Mohs hardness. You can experiment from there and take good notes on all of your tumbles, that way you have something to refer back to. I have 15 lbs of gem stones to play with over the winter
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Post by fernwood on Dec 5, 2018 8:24:57 GMT -5
Do you have any Montana Agate's? Those are pretty easy to tumble.
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 5, 2018 9:35:42 GMT -5
Do you have any Montana Agate's? Those are pretty easy to tumble. I don't think we have those in Nova Scotia. I have close to 18 lbs of gem stones to play with over the winter.
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Dec 5, 2018 9:45:49 GMT -5
I have close to 18 lbs of gem stones to play with over the winter. When you say gem stones what kind of stones are they?
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 5, 2018 12:45:24 GMT -5
I have close to 18 lbs of gem stones to play with over the winter. When you say gem stones what kind of stones are they? Quartz, Agate, Jasper, Amethyst.
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hnhstngs
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2018
Posts: 93
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Post by hnhstngs on Dec 5, 2018 13:38:40 GMT -5
Polished the first three but haven't worked with the amethyst yet. It's on the list to do someday ....
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 5, 2018 13:56:56 GMT -5
Polished the first three but haven't worked with the amethyst yet. It's on the list to do someday .... some interesting information: ALL ABOUT QUARTZ (12 Varieties) Pure Quartz, which is also known as Rock Crystal, is colorless. Various impurities are responsible for the extensive range of colors. The main crystalline Quartz varieties used as gemstones are described below. Amethyst Amethyst, the purple variety, is the most popular and valuable Quartz gemstone. Amethyst ranges from light to dark purple. See the Amethyst gemstone page for more details. Citrine Citrine is the yellow, orange, or reddish-brown variety of Quartz. It is usually colored by heat treatment of Amethyst or Smoky Quartz. Light yellow or lemon yellow Citrine is often called Lemon Quartz in the gem trade. See the Citrine gemstone page for more details. Smoky Quartz Smoky Quartz is the brown "smoky" variety of Quartz. It ranges in color from light brown to black. Despite its dark color, it is rarely opaque. See the Smoky Quartz gemstone page for more details. Rose Quartz The rosy pink variety of Quartz is known as Rose Quartz, and its color is usually soft, ranging from very light pink to medium pink in intensity. Rose Quartz is often milky or hazy, and it may lack good transparency. See the Rose Quartz gemstone page for more details. Rock Crystal The colorless, transparent variety of Quartz, free of any impurities, is known as "Rock Crystal". Flawless and very large cuts may be cut from Rock Crystal. Milky Quartz Milky Quartz is the white, translucent to opaque variety of Quartz. Though very common in nature, it is not used as a gemstone. Rutilated Quartz Colorless Quartz with golden yellow Rutile inclusions, as hairlike growths within the gemstone, are known as Rutilated Quartz. See the Rutilated Quartz gemstone page for more details. Ametrine Ametrine is an interesting, color-zoned combination of purple Amethyst and brownish-yellow Citrine. See the Ametrine gemstone page for more details. Prasiolite / Green Quartz Prasiolite, or Green Quartz, describes a light green Quartz artificially colored by heat treatment of certain types of Amethyst. May also be called "Green Amethyst" by some jewelers. Blue Quartz The blue variety of Quartz, which is uncommon in nature, is seldom used as a gemstone. Most "Blue Quartz" is clear Rock Crystal irradiated with gold to from a deep sky blue color. Blue Quartz may also refer to a dull grayish-blue Quartz in massive form with Crocidolite inclusions. Tourmalinated Quartz Colorless Quartz with Tourmaline inclusions, often as thin long black crystals, is known as "Tourmalinated Quartz". Cat's Eye Quartz Cat's Eye Quartz is Quartz with dense, tiny Rutile inclusions that cause a cat's eye effect. It is not common, and the chatoyant effect is usually weak. Cat's Eye Quartz is usually grayish in color and translucent.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 6, 2018 7:36:03 GMT -5
Amethyst is tough. I have tumbled some from Thunder Bay I collected. It fractures easily if there is not enough media in the barrel.
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 6, 2018 10:41:31 GMT -5
Amethyst is tough. I have tumbled some from Thunder Bay I collected. It fractures easily if there is not enough media in the barrel. Thank you for that tidbit
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 7, 2018 19:10:39 GMT -5
I found this PDF file today , would have been helpful if I had found it sooner. Tumblin. pdf
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zrock1
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2016
Posts: 24
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Post by zrock1 on Dec 9, 2018 22:03:10 GMT -5
Pretty good read on that document
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Dec 17, 2018 14:00:08 GMT -5
Only had one gem stone turn out 1/2 decent. I bought a vibe on sale, I'll run it through pre-polish, Polish and Burnish. I need more practice using my camera in close up mode
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Jan 1, 2019 12:19:25 GMT -5
Following the booklet instructions, that came with my Barrel, left a bad taste in my mouth. A Vibe was on sale and I picked one up. I did a 5 day run using 100/120 grit. Picture is what the stones looked like, when Rough Grit run with vibe, done. I'm much happier with the result. Sorted all my stones. I have 2 loads for Coarse Grit - 60/90 with barrel
1/2 load for a Rough Grit - 100/120 with vibe 1/2 load with Fine Grit - 700 with vibe
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stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
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Post by stretch316 on Jan 11, 2019 8:16:39 GMT -5
Finished a 3rd run, shaping stones with my barrel(60/90grit). Most are going on to my vibe for a 100/120 grit. Some going back into the barrel for more shaping.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Test Run
Jan 16, 2019 11:35:26 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Fossilman on Jan 16, 2019 11:35:26 GMT -5
Nice looking material, have fun...
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