nursetumbler
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994 
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 3, 2022 9:58:55 GMT -5
Hello all
Following the thought process of a post 11yrs ago I found on this forum. I put Orchid Calcite in my 3# barrel with small ceramic media, 2 TBsp of 120/220 silicone carbide and 3 TBsp of backing soda to increase PH of the water. (Older post said calcite dissolves less in higher pH water). Checked it after 14 hours and it is coming along nicely. Its starting to round without loosing a lot of mass. Will check again at 24 ish hours. Fingers crossed 🤞
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 3, 2022 10:28:15 GMT -5
Good luck! I hope it works for you.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 15, 2022 22:27:18 GMT -5
 Here are the orchids. Not bad for a novice. None broke. Number in was number out. I know there isn't a glossy finish but satin is fine with me. |
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Mar 17, 2022 7:15:37 GMT -5
Those have a lovely color. Especially the ones with the black speckles. Good job on those!
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Mar 17, 2022 20:09:30 GMT -5
Those have a lovely color. Especially the ones with the black speckles. Good job on those! Thank you |
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 26, 2022 22:08:21 GMT -5
Took this orchid calcite and put it in polish again in dry crushed corn cob and 2 Tbsp The Rock Shed polish per a YouTube video where the lady polished pink calcite and coaxed a high shine onto it. I like the satin sheen on mine but want to see if I can coax a high shine too.
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 26, 2022 23:22:09 GMT -5
Beautiful! I like that not everyone is aiming for the overly polished and smooth look. Fun to try different methods and finished looks depending on the rocks. Thanks for sharing. 😁
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 26, 2022 23:28:21 GMT -5
Beautiful! I like that not everyone is aiming for the overly polished and smooth look. Fun to try different methods and finished looks depending on the rocks. Thanks for sharing. 😁 I dont think calcite will get that glossy look but maybe more than a satin. I am imperfect I can't expect more out of a rock |
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 26, 2022 23:37:21 GMT -5
nursetumbler They'll be neat however they turn out!! Love your scientific approach and curiosity to experiment. My very first tumble is barely three days in and I've checked them a "few" times. I love that the jagged edges are slightly smoothed already, but still have their distinctive shapes. I'm going to polish some like that someday, but will run these longer in 60/90 to see how much smoother they get. This is SO fun!!!
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Post by rmf on Apr 27, 2022 1:41:37 GMT -5
nursetumbler I just have to say it, since I am assuming the first part of the name is "nurse" means you have a technical streak. There is no such thing as "silicone carbide". Please check out: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiliconeIn short Silicone is soft and squishy and they make fake boobs out of it. Silicon is hard and glassy and they make computer chips, Silicon Carbide (very hard where mohs H=9.5) and yes some is used in making silicone but they are not the same.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 27, 2022 7:12:05 GMT -5
Guess I am the laughing stock of the forum.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 27, 2022 11:07:26 GMT -5
Guess I am the laughing stock of the forum. Nope. It's easy to make that mistake. All it takes is an "e".  |
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Post by perkins17 on Apr 27, 2022 11:27:17 GMT -5
Guess I am the laughing stock of the forum. Nope. It's easy to make that mistake. All it takes is an "e". Yup! We've all been there! No worries. |
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 27, 2022 23:10:43 GMT -5
I'm the Queen of typos, spelling and grammatical errors.
FAIR WARNING!! 😁
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 29, 2022 17:01:49 GMT -5
Here are the orchids. Not bad for a novice. None broke. Number in was number out. I know there isn't a glossy finish but satin is fine with me. I have a bunch like that in my tumbler right now and all this time I thought it was quartz??? This was a mohs 3 or 4 stuff. When I got my tumbler hubby and 1 didn't know about mohs so we got a lot of the 'ite rocks. Just be a little challenge for me til it's gone. 😁 |
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on Apr 29, 2022 18:10:39 GMT -5
Oh, I'm very hardheaded, if I bring it home, it is going to be tumbled. Don't tell me I cant do it, I will find a way |
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 29, 2022 20:08:30 GMT -5
You all crack me up. In a good way, of course!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who LIVES this hobby. 😁
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on May 16, 2022 19:58:38 GMT -5
 3 weeks in dry polish. I am pretty happy with the results. Apatite and Amazonite will also be dry polished. Fingers crossed. |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on May 16, 2022 20:11:48 GMT -5
Those look sweet! Beautiful!
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 994
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Post by nursetumbler on May 16, 2022 20:18:56 GMT -5
 Another so you can see the shine |
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