skylinez
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2020
Posts: 4
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Post by skylinez on Nov 22, 2020 13:08:23 GMT -5
I just got my first rock tumbler & I was curious about adding in the foam cubes with grit during final polish stage. I have a bunch of agate/quartz with a few rocks from Maine coast that I’m not 100% sure what they are (very smooth rocks no breakage or loose grit created). I finally got all the loose grit out of 2-3 of my agates & wanted to avoid scratching in final polish cycle. Is it ok to add a bit of the foam in with the polish grit? Fills tub to about 2/3 full. In my head I thought it might help cut down just a bit on rocks scraping each other.
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alistair
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by alistair on Nov 22, 2020 14:27:42 GMT -5
I just got my first rock tumbler & I was curious about adding in the foam cubes with grit during final polish stage. I have a bunch of agate/quartz with a few rocks from Maine coast that I’m not 100% sure what they are (very smooth rocks no breakage or loose grit created). I finally got all the loose grit out of 2-3 of my agates & wanted to avoid scratching in final polish cycle. Is it ok to add a bit of the foam in with the polish grit? Fills tub to about 2/3 full. In my head I thought it might help cut down just a bit on rocks scraping each other. I can't answer this question as I am also a newbie, though I am curious on the best way to clean the stones prior to final polish stage. Between stages I can see grit lodged in indents in some stones, and in some areas it can be very stubborn and does not seem to want to budge even when scrapped hard with a tooth brush. Any cleaning tips between stages would be appreciated. Sorry to OP, don't mean to high jack the thread, I guess any feedback here would also be beneficial to you too though.
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skylinez
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2020
Posts: 4
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Post by skylinez on Nov 22, 2020 15:34:52 GMT -5
I just got my first rock tumbler & I was curious about adding in the foam cubes with grit during final polish stage. I have a bunch of agate/quartz with a few rocks from Maine coast that I’m not 100% sure what they are (very smooth rocks no breakage or loose grit created). I finally got all the loose grit out of 2-3 of my agates & wanted to avoid scratching in final polish cycle. Is it ok to add a bit of the foam in with the polish grit? Fills tub to about 2/3 full. In my head I thought it might help cut down just a bit on rocks scraping each other. I can't answer this question as I am also a newbie, though I am curious on the best way to clean the stones prior to final polish stage. Between stages I can see grit lodged in indents in some stones, and in some areas it can be very stubborn and does not seem to want to budge even when scrapped hard with a tooth brush. Any cleaning tips between stages would be appreciated. Sorry to OP, don't mean to high jack the thread, I guess any feedback here would also be beneficial to you too though. Hmmm I left a couple like that out. To run back through on previous grit cycle to loosen them up. Idk if this is correct but it did ok for me
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Post by aDave on Nov 22, 2020 20:31:08 GMT -5
I just got my first rock tumbler & I was curious about adding in the foam cubes with grit during final polish stage. I have a bunch of agate/quartz with a few rocks from Maine coast that I’m not 100% sure what they are (very smooth rocks no breakage or loose grit created). I finally got all the loose grit out of 2-3 of my agates & wanted to avoid scratching in final polish cycle. Is it ok to add a bit of the foam in with the polish grit? Fills tub to about 2/3 full. In my head I thought it might help cut down just a bit on rocks scraping each other. Foam cubes? This is, quite frankly, the first time I've seen anyone here mention such a thing, so I went ahead and took a look. I found these on Amazon. Is this what you're referring to? www.amazon.com/NATIONAL-GEOGRAPHIC-Rock-Tumbler-Media/dp/B08B7DJTCRIf so, I'd be highly suspect of it for a couple of reasons, but mainly because Nat Geo isn't necessarily known for putting out good quality stuff IMHO. The second reason is there's really no way of knowing what the polish is which is also what Nat Geo is known for. No one, as far as I know, has ever been able to find out what exactly Nat Geo is calling a polish. Do you have a Nat Geo tumbler, and have you had any success with it? I'll reserve comment for now, but just know that there have been alot of folks who come here to RTH to ask why they've not had any luck polishing rocks with the NG tumbler. It's been speculation, but I believe that not all rocks they provide in their tumbler kits are even capable of taking a polish (if all goes well), and their polish is not really a polish. I'll wait for your response. BTW, don't get discouraged by my reply...we just may have to set you straight and make sure you have the proper materials to help ensure success. I can't answer this question as I am also a newbie, though I am curious on the best way to clean the stones prior to final polish stage. Between stages I can see grit lodged in indents in some stones, and in some areas it can be very stubborn and does not seem to want to budge even when scrapped hard with a tooth brush. Any cleaning tips between stages would be appreciated. Sorry to OP, don't mean to high jack the thread, I guess any feedback here would also be beneficial to you too though. Trapped grit is usually an issue if you're working with rocks that were not sufficiently smoothed during the coarse stage. Think about it...if you totally remove all imperfections and roughness in the coarse run, there's nowhere for grit to be trapped, generally speaking. So, if you are dealing with trapped grit, one of a few things may be going on: 1. Rocks are not sufficiently run in the coarse stage. Many of us here look to get as close to perfection as possible when running rocks in the initial stage. That means lots of material removal and a somewhat glassy smooth surface when wet. In the ideal world, there are no flaws in the rocks to trap grit. If you like the "natural" look of coarse run rocks, then that's fine. At that point, just know you might be dealing with areas on the rocks that can trap grit. 2. You may have been trying to run your rocks to total smoothness, but cracks, crevasses, and pits may have developed that were not initially visible. These areas can trap grit. The more you work with certain types of rocks, you'll start to learn what a type of rock can give you. I happen to like smoothing my rocks totally when I can, but I've come to learn that some rocks I tumble may develop flaws through the process. At this point, you'll have to learn when to pull the plug and move rocks along. 3. If you have rocks with trapped grit, do not let them dry out as you clean them. Normally, trapped grit can be cleaned with a brush, but if you let the rocks dry, the trapped grit and sediment hardens like concrete which makes it extremely difficult to clean out. If you are dealing with rocks in such a scenario, do a quick rinse to remove the heavy ends, and then drop the rocks into a bucket of water. If you do this, you may find it easier to clean out the cracks. I think that's enough for now. Process the info and then ask away.
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EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Nov 22, 2020 20:37:48 GMT -5
Double thumb up, aDave That has to be the most informative post I've read this week. Welcome back
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Post by aDave on Nov 22, 2020 22:15:24 GMT -5
Double thumb up, aDave That has to be the most informative post I've read this week. Welcome back Thanks Eric. Real life happened to get in the way for a while. It's still in the way, but it's not as bad as it was.
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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 Nov 22, 2020 22:35:58 GMT -5
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Nov 22, 2020 22:55:46 GMT -5
We tumble a lot of pet. wood, up to 3-4 pound pieces. Sometimes there is a crack that will never come out, we just accept it as is. Grit sometimes gets stuck very tight in the crack, and the best pick I've found is an old bicycle spoke sharpened on the threaded end. They are made of good enough steel so as to not bend easily.
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skylinez
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2020
Posts: 4
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Post by skylinez on Nov 22, 2020 23:55:51 GMT -5
I just got my first rock tumbler & I was curious about adding in the foam cubes with grit during final polish stage. I have a bunch of agate/quartz with a few rocks from Maine coast that I’m not 100% sure what they are (very smooth rocks no breakage or loose grit created). I finally got all the loose grit out of 2-3 of my agates & wanted to avoid scratching in final polish cycle. Is it ok to add a bit of the foam in with the polish grit? Fills tub to about 2/3 full. In my head I thought it might help cut down just a bit on rocks scraping each other. Foam cubes? This is, quite frankly, the first time I've seen anyone here mention such a thing, so I went ahead and took a look. I found these on Amazon. Is this what you're referring to? www.amazon.com/NATIONAL-GEOGRAPHIC-Rock-Tumbler-Media/dp/B08B7DJTCRIf so, I'd be highly suspect of it for a couple of reasons, but mainly because Nat Geo isn't necessarily known for putting out good quality stuff IMHO. The second reason is there's really no way of knowing what the polish is which is also what Nat Geo is known for. No one, as far as I know, has ever been able to find out what exactly Nat Geo is calling a polish. Do you have a Nat Geo tumbler, and have you had any success with it? I'll reserve comment for now, but just know that there have been alot of folks who come here to RTH to ask why they've not had any luck polishing rocks with the NG tumbler. It's been speculation, but I believe that not all rocks they provide in their tumbler kits are even capable of taking a polish (if all goes well), and their polish is not really a polish. I'll wait for your response. BTW, don't get discouraged by my reply...we just may have to set you straight and make sure you have the proper materials to help ensure success. I can't answer this question as I am also a newbie, though I am curious on the best way to clean the stones prior to final polish stage. Between stages I can see grit lodged in indents in some stones, and in some areas it can be very stubborn and does not seem to want to budge even when scrapped hard with a tooth brush. Any cleaning tips between stages would be appreciated. Sorry to OP, don't mean to high jack the thread, I guess any feedback here would also be beneficial to you too though. Trapped grit is usually an issue if you're working with rocks that were not sufficiently smoothed during the coarse stage. Think about it...if you totally remove all imperfections and roughness in the coarse run, there's nowhere for grit to be trapped, generally speaking. So, if you are dealing with trapped grit, one of a few things may be going on: 1. Rocks are not sufficiently run in the coarse stage. Many of us here look to get as close to perfection as possible when running rocks in the initial stage. That means lots of material removal and a somewhat glassy smooth surface when wet. In the ideal world, there are no flaws in the rocks to trap grit. If you like the "natural" look of coarse run rocks, then that's fine. At that point, just know you might be dealing with areas on the rocks that can trap grit. 2. You may have been trying to run your rocks to total smoothness, but cracks, crevasses, and pits may have developed that were not initially visible. These areas can trap grit. The more you work with certain types of rocks, you'll start to learn what a type of rock can give you. I happen to like smoothing my rocks totally when I can, but I've come to learn that some rocks I tumble may develop flaws through the process. At this point, you'll have to learn when to pull the plug and move rocks along. 3. If you have rocks with trapped grit, do not let them dry out as you clean them. Normally, trapped grit can be cleaned with a brush, but if you let the rocks dry, the trapped grit and sediment hardens like concrete which makes it extremely difficult to clean out. If you are dealing with rocks in such a scenario, do a quick rinse to remove the heavy ends, and then drop the rocks into a bucket of water. If you do this, you may find it easier to clean out the cracks. I think that's enough for now. Process the info and then ask away. Yes, that is it. Hmmm sad to hear about nat geo tumblr. I haven’t had much issue so far but I’m not looking for the super shine most people are. I tend to like to keep mine looking as natural as possible, with that in mind nat geo tumbler has been pretty good so far. I’ve def looked around a bit more though since buying my nat geo & intend to upgrade. I’m probably going to get a better one for Christmas this year. Any suggestions on that front are certainly welcome!
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skylinez
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2020
Posts: 4
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Post by skylinez on Nov 22, 2020 23:58:32 GMT -5
For reference though. The rocks I’m working with are already fairly good quality. They come from a small creek in area that I love. So the nat geo tumbler isn’t having to do a lot of heavy lifting
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Nov 23, 2020 11:16:51 GMT -5
I am a newbie too (halfway through my 4th batch). I have a Dr. Cool tumbler, which is the EXACT same as the Nat Geo "Pro" tumbler. I found that it's working pretty well so far. I was told that even at its lowest speed it is already very fast, so I would definitely recommend sticking with speed 1 all the time. I think that the grit and tumbling times make all the difference and that you should be able to get great results even with this hobby tumbler.
I also saw many recommendations to run a 1-day cycle with only water and borax (or shaved pure soap) between each step. This cleans all the leftover grit from your rocks and also cleans your barrel, so it's great. You should also run a final borax/soap cycle after the polishing stage as a final burnish/clean step. I've done this for my batches and it worked great. Of course, being a newbie, I don't know if it made any difference, but I'll keep doing it as it doesn't add that mauch time to the whole process.
P.S. I need to produce several great-looking batches with my first tumbler before I'll be allowed to purchase a better one :-)
Good luck!
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Nov 23, 2020 11:19:54 GMT -5
Oops, another quick note. If you don't know what type of rocks you picked up, be careful about tumbling them with your quartz and agates. If they are softer rocks, they will shrink much quicker than the quartz and agates. I had a few rocks in my first mixed batch of beach rocks that almost disappeeared after stage 1 :-(
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Post by aDave on Nov 23, 2020 14:15:33 GMT -5
Yes, that is it. Hmmm sad to hear about nat geo tumblr. I haven’t had much issue so far but I’m not looking for the super shine most people are. I tend to like to keep mine looking as natural as possible, with that in mind nat geo tumbler has been pretty good so far. I’ve def looked around a bit more though since buying my nat geo & intend to upgrade. I’m probably going to get a better one for Christmas this year. Any suggestions on that front are certainly welcome! Well, it sounds as if the NG machine will work fine for you, especially if you're not after "glassy" looking rocks. Don't get me wrong...the machine "may" be adequate in and of itself, but there are limitations for those looking for well-polished rocks. My reference and comments applies to someone wanting polished rocks, hence my criticism of the rocks and "polish" that comes with the kit. Should you decide to "upgrade" to a different rotary tumbler in the future, it will ultimately depend on what your goals are in terms of finished product and how much you'll be producing. Many folks are sufficiently happy with 3 pound barrels and stick with that size tumbler. On the other hand, there are those that start with 3 pound barrels and soon move on to larger tumblers. The reason for this is size really does matter, as more mass (rocks) inside a barrel equates to more efficient (and quicker) tumbling, especially in the coarse stage. Just note that "quicker" is a relative term, and if you get to a point of wanting to work with rocks that are ultimately smoothed in the coarse stage, you still may be at weeks in terms of how long you'll need to run that stage. As you get dialed-in in the hobby, it will be easier to recommend a particular tumbler for you based upon your needs. Start looking around and focus on two main brands, Lortone and Thumlers. Before you pull the trigger on any one tumbler, come back, start a thread and ask questions in advance of the purchase. You'll get plenty of opinions, and you'll learn about any potential "negatives."
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 23, 2020 21:27:22 GMT -5
I'm still fairly new to rotary tumbling but I thought I'd answer some of your questions. I havent heard of the cubes you mentioned but in the polish stage I usually fill the barrel about 80% full. I also use shavings from a bar of plain Ivory soap. I just scrape the soap bar and let the tiny little flakes fall into the tumbler. These help produce a foamy slurry for your polish and protects your rocks. It also makes it easier to rinse the polish off afterwards in warm water. Sometimes tumbler kits are sold with 1000 grit polish. 1000 grit will not produce a glassy shine like the aluminum oxide polish you get from a rock store or lapidiary supply. (although your tiger eye looks great ) I believe the AO polish is around 10,000 grit. You can purchase the higher grit polish online from places like The Rock Shed in South Dakota and Kingsley North in Wisconsin. It's always a good idea to rinse your rocks off and then tumble your rocks in clean water and ivory soap shavings or Borax when you're changing from your shaping grits to the polish stages. If you use warm water, it will also help dissolve any grit caught in cracks. I usually run them for an hour or two before I clean the barrel again and get it ready for the polish stage. MeMiner has some good tumbling videos on youtube as does Michigan Rocks. Everyone on the forum is super helpful, so don't be afraid to ask more questions
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Nov 24, 2020 9:09:55 GMT -5
I'm still fairly new to rotary tumbling but I thought I'd answer some of your questions. I havent heard of the cubes you mentioned but in the polish stage I usually fill the barrel about 80% full. I also use shavings from a bar of plain Ivory soap. I just scrape the soap bar and let the tiny little flakes fall into the tumbler. These help produce a foamy slurry for your polish and protects your rocks. It also makes it easier to rinse the polish off afterwards in warm water. Sometimes tumbler kits are sold with 1000 grit polish. 1000 grit will not produce a glassy shine like the aluminum oxide polish you get from a rock store or lapidiary supply. (although your tiger eye looks great ) I believe the AO polish is around 10,000 grit. You can purchase the higher grit polish online from places like The Rock Shed in South Dakota and Kingsley North in Wisconsin. It's always a good idea to rinse your rocks off and then tumble your rocks in clean water and ivory soap shavings or Borax when you're changing from your shaping grits to the polish stages. If you use warm water, it will also help dissolve any grit caught in cracks. I usually run them for an hour or two before I clean the barrel again and get it ready for the polish stage. MeMiner has some good tumbling videos on youtube as does Michigan Rocks. Everyone on the forum is super helpful, so don't be afraid to ask more questions Thanks, I hadn't thought of putting warm water instead of cold. I will definitely try that. I've become kind of addicted to Michigan Rocks :-)
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 24, 2020 12:52:28 GMT -5
I know what you mean. There are several channels I enjoy. Meminer, Michigan Rocks, Agate dad, Currently Rockhounding and the yellowstone crew...Katytid, Agate angler and Theo Kellison. I also can't resist the mine exploration channels- Tvr Exploring and Exploring Mines and Abandoned Places.
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