that00idiot
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2019
Posts: 2
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Post by that00idiot on May 10, 2019 6:41:12 GMT -5
I'm about to start polishing some quartz and other hard rocks from our local beach. They are various sizes, but only occupy about 1/2 of the barrel now that I'm on the last step.
I need something to fill barrel some more, but don't have enough ceramic media. I've also read that it isn't a good idea to put new media into the polishing step. I DO have a bunch of pea and smaller sized gravel from the beach - which would be no harder than the stuff in the tumbler already.
While that stuff is rounded from wave action, it is NOT smooth. Would this be suitable to add to my polish step? Or would the rough bits on the gravel do more harm than good. Intuitively I'd think that if it is no harder than the polished rocks, then the roughness of the gravel would not matter, but I'm new to this.
And if not gravel or new media, what are my options? A little sand?
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Post by fernwood on May 10, 2019 6:50:14 GMT -5
I use micro polished pea gravel in last 2 steps sometimes. Slowly had run them through all stages of tumbling, prior to keeping the smoothest, glossy ones for last steps. Another option is plastic pellets. Some are sold specifically for tumbling. Have heard that plastic bean bag filler pellets work just the same, but have not tried that.
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Post by grumpybill on May 10, 2019 9:21:37 GMT -5
You've already spent several weeks getting this far. Why chance messing the stones up? Set them aside until you have enough to properly fill the barrel.
If you don't want to wait, buy a bead-filled stuffed toy from a thrift shop, cut it open and use the beads.
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Post by greig on May 10, 2019 10:06:02 GMT -5
I wouldn't do it either. Too great a risk of scratching your rocks and having to return to step 2 again. If you are impatient (I am), google "rock tumbler media" to see if there is something else that you have on hand from the suggested list as a filler. I use plastic beads from old toys. I have also tried marbles, cut up elastics, leather strips, etc. Glass marbles work great, until one breaks...
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that00idiot
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2019
Posts: 2
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Post by that00idiot on May 10, 2019 10:41:45 GMT -5
Thank you all. I will practice patience - or start cutting up my kid's stuffed toys. But I'll refrain from running these through with rough gravel.
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tomg
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by tomg on May 10, 2019 20:14:56 GMT -5
I see people cutting up plastic tile spacers from the home stores, cheap and easy to source.
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Post by greig on May 10, 2019 22:16:25 GMT -5
I see people cutting up plastic tile spacers from the home stores, cheap and easy to source. I have heard about using them too, but wonder why they need to be cut up? I have a bunch of them leftover from renovations. I bet you could get them cheap at a construction reuse center.
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harrym
having dreams about rocks
NH - The Granite State
Member since January 2019
Posts: 59
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Post by harrym on May 11, 2019 4:47:35 GMT -5
I see people cutting up plastic tile spacers from the home stores, cheap and easy to source. I have heard about using them too, but wonder why they need to be cut up? I have a bunch of them leftover from renovations. I bet you could get them cheap at a construction reuse center. I don't cut mine up when I use them. I use about a 50-50 mix of spacers and plastic pellets. Yes, they are cheap. About $3 for a bag of 500 at Home Depot.
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