darcyj76
starting to shine!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 45
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Post by darcyj76 on Mar 5, 2021 19:13:25 GMT -5
This group has spent about 5 weeks in 60 grit (Nat Geo Pro). Every week I checked on them, and put them back in. This past week, I put them in with ceramic media and 220 grit. They are...boring. And there has been SO MUCH shrinkage! Is that normal? Should I just keep going with the 220 until they are smoother? I know they won’t be shiny until the 500 and 1200, but I feel like I might have overdone it in stage one? I tried to be like Michigan Rocks and do a 17 week tumble, and add rocks as they shrank down. I This was my first generic mix batch, and I have some nicer ones waiting, I want to make sure I do this first batch right so I don’t ruin the better rocks! res.cloudinary.com/darcyj76/image/upload/v1614989564/32A4873F-A461-4E06-A064-47C80A844221_ijkqo9.jpg
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2021 20:39:21 GMT -5
I don't think they are boring. I like the shapes you got. Try not to be too disappointed. You haven't seen them shiny yet.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Mar 5, 2021 20:42:04 GMT -5
How do they look wet? Some of them look like they will be nice rocks. It might be impossible to get a couple of them smooth. And if you did, I think they would lose a lot of interest. Sometimes the cracks and knurbles make them cool.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Mar 5, 2021 21:02:24 GMT -5
I think they are looking great so far! You have some very good shapes so far.
When you say they are boring, are you referring to the shape (too smooth, not smooth enough, too lumpy, not lumpy enough, etc.) or to the finish (not shiny enough, cracks, no cracks)?
We pull rocks from stage 1 whenever we are happy with the shape and if there are not enough to move to stage 2, we add some more rough ones and we repeat stage 1 until we have enough for stage 2.
Stages 2 and 3 don't seem like much happens and they don't really seem to get much smoother, but it is shocking when you take them out of polish. The final transformation is unbelievable!
Edit to add: I forgot to say, great job being patient with stage 1! The waiting can be tough.
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Post by aDave on Mar 5, 2021 21:21:04 GMT -5
I know they won’t be shiny until the 500 and 1200, but I feel like I might have overdone it in stage one? Just a heads up so you're not disappointed... 500 and 1200 will not produce a shine in a rotary tumbler. At best, 1200 is considered a pre-polish, and will probably only leave you with a satin type finish. It looks like you have some material that will take a shine, but you'll actually need to get polish. I know your labeling may state "polish" on the 1200, but it's really not. Look for some aluminum oxide polish (AO) around 13-14000 in size. Many of us buy the AO polish from the Rock Shed, and it's more than adequate for rotary and vibratory tumblers. Good luck.
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Post by rmf on Mar 5, 2021 23:00:09 GMT -5
It is my understanding shrinkage is from cold water:)
However in tumbling rock you loose about 25-30% due to the conversion of rock to mud.
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Post by Pat on Mar 5, 2021 23:33:24 GMT -5
Welcome from California.
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darcyj76
starting to shine!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 45
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Post by darcyj76 on Mar 6, 2021 13:34:21 GMT -5
I am so glad someone got that reference! This is SO helpful!! I think I was disappointed because I thought I tumbled them so much they shrunk more than I expected, but it’s good to know that is normal! Thank you for the heads up about the 1200 not really being a polish, that is really good to know! I saw a lot of people mention Borax, so I bought that. Gould I use that in addition to, or instead of, the AO polish? Thank you! It is my understanding shrinkage is from cold water:) However in tumbling rock you loose about 25-30% due to the conversion of rock to mud.
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Post by aDave on Mar 6, 2021 23:52:31 GMT -5
I am so glad someone got that reference! This is SO helpful!! I think I was disappointed because I thought I tumbled them so much they shrunk more than I expected, but it’s good to know that is normal! Thank you for the heads up about the 1200 not really being a polish, that is really good to know! I saw a lot of people mention Borax, so I bought that. Gould I use that in addition to, or instead of, the AO polish? Thank you! Borax is not a replacement for polish. You can use it after the fact to see if it helps...it's really just a cleaning aid. I've used it and not used it. For me, I look to it helping in cleaning film and removing stuff from cracks. But, I also used plastic pellets and hoped the Borax would help to clean. That's the long answer. The short answer is Borax may or may not work for you. But, you still need polish.
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 7, 2021 4:00:35 GMT -5
Some additional thoughts for you. You're getting some "frosting" on the edges of the rose quartz and what I think is aventurine. (?) The borax will also help cushion to minimize damage to the edges--although it might be better to use something that makes the water more "slippery" to cushion the ones that are prone to shattering. I used to use ceramic shapes a lot, and with really fragile ones, Ivory soap shavings and/or Dreft laundry detergent. I don't know if Dreft is even still made, though. The cracks showing are likely not the result of your tumbling, although tumbling without cushioning could make the cracks worse. I've used the Rock Shed's AO for polish, but I much prefer a smaller grained polish, it's faster. If you have enough rocks to do this, I would pull the "prone to fracture and frost" ones (rose quartz and aventurine) and tumble them separately in another load.
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Post by miket on Mar 7, 2021 7:44:28 GMT -5
I think you have a nice mix there! Be patient, you might be surprised....
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 7, 2021 17:40:50 GMT -5
The thrill (and disappointment) of that first batch. First and foremast you are off to a great start! Everything looks as it should. I run 220 with out any media but you will be fine. 500 with cushioning (I like plastic poly beads but there are lost of options) and 1200 with cushioning (do not use the stuff from the 500- keep it separate to avoid cross contamination!) Then onto polish (again with fresh pellets). I use Borax as a final clean up (burnish) again with separate pellets. My 220 grit usually runs 1 to 2 weeks. Then a week in 500, a week in 1200, and a week (sometimes 2) in polish. 24 hours in borax. Save your pellets to reuse in the next tumble (I like yogurt containers as they hold the perfect amount for me. SO you end up with separate container for each grit. Plastic pellets float so separating them from the rock is easy.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,071
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Post by dshanpnw on Mar 11, 2021 16:47:37 GMT -5
Hello Darcyj76, those rocks are nicely shaped. You might not get all the pits out of those few, what look's to me like agates, but they will be all right as is. I am pretty darn sure you will get a good shine on that Tiger's Eye.
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darcyj76
starting to shine!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 45
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Post by darcyj76 on Mar 14, 2021 12:49:08 GMT -5
Thank you to everyone!! I have them in the pre-polish now with the suggested plastic pellets, and I bought the right kind of polishing stuff for when they get to that point! Hopefully in a couple weeks, I will have a fun picture to post!!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 14, 2021 19:13:51 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to seeing them!
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