nursetumbler
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2022
Posts: 992 
|
Post by nursetumbler on Feb 28, 2022 11:12:45 GMT -5
Hello Everyone
I did this thing over the weekend. The lapidary we frequent had florite. I bought a lot because I thought it was pretty THEN when I got in the car I found it to have a mohs of 4. Any suggestions on how to tumble this? Thank you nursetumbler
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Feb 28, 2022 12:05:16 GMT -5
These guys know their stuff... The key to soft stones would appear to be aluminum oxide grit and lots of attention. I might also be tempted to add a little slurry thickener starting at the 2nd stage to help the filler and slow down the action in case I get sidetracked, which happens often in my world. In fact, I just realized I should be tending to some cabs right now... therockshed.com/instructions3.html |
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Feb 28, 2022 12:37:24 GMT -5
The link posted above is right in line with what I was going to suggest. Having said that, I've not done material that soft.
I might suggest using ceramics in the first stage as well, as it will help to cushion and may help in reducing cracks, fractures, and other flaws. Normally, ceramics are not used in a first stage with harder stones, as it tends to slow down grinding of harder material. But, in the case of you having such soft rocks, it might not make too much of a difference. If you follow the directions from the link and start with 120/220, and you find ceramics slow things down too much, you might want to add a first step with 60/90. Whichever you choose, make sure you check your tumbler daily while in the early stages.
I didn't view the entire video, but it looks there might have had some decent luck with calcite which is soft as well. Dry polish was used, so you'll see the finished product. You won't get that wet looking shine that you would with harder rocks, but it appears this gal got a decent finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsJbcrZ1aWs
|
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Feb 28, 2022 13:16:03 GMT -5
I like aDave link, and the calcite reminded me of another thing. Not sure with fluorite, but calcite will tend to gas off a little when tumbling so opening the barrel fairly frequently would be good. Since our grit supply is more SiC and only a little AO, that may have contributed to it somehow, I'm guessing it's PH related but since burping the barrel solves any pressure issue, and Elizabeth is queen of the tumblers anyway, I haven't pursued an answer to the issue. |
|
nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 992
|
Post by nursetumbler on Mar 1, 2022 11:53:11 GMT -5
Thank you everyone. I never thought of checking out YouTube or other video sources. You all have a lot of knowledge I need to learn as I am new. I was also wondering where all the bubbles came from thanks for clearing that up without me having to ask a stupid question 🙄. Thank you again.
|
|
rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 357
|
Post by rewdownunder on Mar 1, 2022 13:04:56 GMT -5
There is never a stupid question! We all were new at this at one time. There is also a vast amount on information on the site that can be accessed via the search function. Rocks and tumbling tech has not changed that much so a post from 10 years ago is valid today. Let us know where you going be in your travels and maybe some of us can provide you with some rocks to get you started. Not that any of us have too many rocks.
|
|
rockfrog
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2021
Posts: 115
|
Post by rockfrog on Mar 1, 2022 15:59:45 GMT -5
Fluorite needs lots of cushion, lots. Make sure you have plenty before starting. I only did 3 days for the first three grits (60-90, 120-220, and 500) then did 4 days of pre-polish 1000 and finally a week of polish. Was too nervous to burnish because I saw a few comments saying after a burnish the polish had diminished. If a piece of rough looks badly cracked/fractured it probably won't do well. I was nervous about letting them run too long and losing a lot of mass but with as much cushion as I had in the later stages I saw minimal loss and I probably could've let them run in pre-polish and polish a little longer. Mainly just check them often and you should do fine if you have pretty decent rough.
|
|
