jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 2, 2019 21:09:42 GMT -5
I have been reading up on tumbling at rock tumbler.com I am getting a basic idea what to do. I have two TV5 and one lyman pop-top vibrators, and an thumler AR1 rotary tumbler, 14" panther saw & jewler saw, flat lap, and lot of older tools. My 12 year old daughter took a lapidary class and has jumped into making jewlery. We got all this gear from 2 estate sales and from my aunt who got it from my great uncle who used to work for and write jem books for kingsley north. We also got tons of rocks and slabs. We want to learn how to tumble beach rocks and tumble this thin green rock to polish for earrings my daughter sells. I would really like to ask for your thoughts of how we should tumble with the gear we have and provide some thoughts on using ceramic media for tumbling. Thanks jason short
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Post by greig on Jun 2, 2019 21:30:09 GMT -5
Sounds like you have quite a bit to work with. The rocks don't mind if some of the tools are older. My humble suggestion for an easy start would be to do a tumble (stage 1-4 plus burnish) using the AR1. You can pre-form some of the rocks to the basic shape your daughter needs for her jewelry, or tumble a bunch of rocks and hope some at the end will be OK. My suggestion is to start with agate, as they are easy to tumble and the results are usually pretty nice. There are lots of instructions available and tips online and in this forum. Good luck and welcome to the hobby.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 3, 2019 9:36:19 GMT -5
Go to the tumbling site on this forum, the guys will fix you right up.....Welcome!
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jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 4, 2019 23:37:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the help. Can you point me in the direction of discussions on how to tumble beach rocks? They are are all less than 1/2 inch. Do I start at step 1 course grit even though they are round already?
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Post by aDave on Jun 4, 2019 23:59:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the help. Can you point me in the direction of discussions on how to tumble beach rocks? They are are all less than 1/2 inch. Do I start at step 1 course grit even though they are round already? Depends on how "perfect" you want to make them. If you are happy with the basic shapes, then skip a coarse grind. If you want to get rid of all imperfections, then do a course grind until those imperfections are eliminated. From there, do the subsequent steps.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 5, 2019 20:19:01 GMT -5
Hi Jason, I see you made it over here from Facebook. Welcome. (I'm Rob who you've been talking to over there).
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 5, 2019 20:22:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the help. Can you point me in the direction of discussions on how to tumble beach rocks? They are are all less than 1/2 inch. Do I start at step 1 course grit even though they are round already? Here's a link showing some beach rocks I tumbled. I have tumbled lots of beach rocks and they always go through all the stages, including the first stage. The first stage just doesn't take as long because they have a head start from the lake/ocean.
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jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 5, 2019 21:18:28 GMT -5
Rob,
Thanks for pointing me in this direction. Much appreciated. Jason
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jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 5, 2019 23:09:09 GMT -5
Thanks for everyones help. First try with beach rocks and small ceramic media with 60/90 grit 3/4 full in my thumlers A-R1. My 12 year old daughter cannot wait. We will see what it looks like in a week. It is in a plastic container, just in case it leaks.
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jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 22, 2019 9:07:10 GMT -5
Thanks for everyones help. Completed first tumble of rocks in my life that my wife and kids found on the beach in Trinidad CA. They are not as good as most posts of tumbled rocks in this forum, but they are dry and look shiny and no idea what they are but my daughter is super excited. I think I am addicted to tumbling rocks. Saving up for a QT66...and a bigger shop...lol
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MommaGem
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 312
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Post by MommaGem on Jun 23, 2019 8:41:36 GMT -5
These look great! It looks like you got a nice variety. Tumbling sure is addicting isn't it
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jasonshort
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2019
Posts: 113
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Post by jasonshort on Jun 26, 2019 21:44:51 GMT -5
O yes and even more fun to include the whole family rock hunting
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Jun 27, 2019 8:31:37 GMT -5
Great job Jason! I like all the different colors and patterns and you have a good polish on them. Keep up the good work.
My daughter and son-in-law in Seattle take their two girls, 8 and 12 years old, rockhounding to collect rocks for their tumbler. The kids love it.
Living in Delaware I'm so jealous of those living west of the Mississippi River that can get their hands on such nice rocks, agates, jaspers, P-wood, etc.
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