How to get the pits off of agate nodules without ruining?
Feb 28, 2022 18:33:29 GMT -5
allbetzoff likes this
Post by tumbleburger on Feb 28, 2022 18:33:29 GMT -5
Newby tumbler here -
Thanks to everyone who suggested a cheap tile saw for breaking up larger rocks.
Problem I am having now is that after buying some beautiful agate nodules and cutting them up I'm finding that weeks of rough tumbling in my 3lb tumbler isn't making a huge dent in some of the more deeply pitted skins but IS ending putting deep cracks through some of the more beautiful faces I'm able to expose with the tile saw. I feel stuck between being too rough or just giving up and tolerating deep grimy pits on some of the pieces. Will try and post photos within the thread for reference.
a) am I just out of luck and need to deal or get a grinder?
b) is there something wrong with the balance of sizes I'm using? May try running the more pitted stones with 60/90 and some 2mm spheres and seeing if the spheres get down in the pits
c) do I need to run the rougher whole nodules intact for weeks before splitting to wear away the skins? I don't have a 15lb tumbler.
d) is there something else I can try to deal with these? Just got a Dremel, maybe I need to grind the gunk out of the pits with a diamond bit?
Thanks to everyone who suggested a cheap tile saw for breaking up larger rocks.
Problem I am having now is that after buying some beautiful agate nodules and cutting them up I'm finding that weeks of rough tumbling in my 3lb tumbler isn't making a huge dent in some of the more deeply pitted skins but IS ending putting deep cracks through some of the more beautiful faces I'm able to expose with the tile saw. I feel stuck between being too rough or just giving up and tolerating deep grimy pits on some of the pieces. Will try and post photos within the thread for reference.
a) am I just out of luck and need to deal or get a grinder?
b) is there something wrong with the balance of sizes I'm using? May try running the more pitted stones with 60/90 and some 2mm spheres and seeing if the spheres get down in the pits
c) do I need to run the rougher whole nodules intact for weeks before splitting to wear away the skins? I don't have a 15lb tumbler.
d) is there something else I can try to deal with these? Just got a Dremel, maybe I need to grind the gunk out of the pits with a diamond bit?
