electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Apr 6, 2022 10:24:31 GMT -5
I found this cool "dual" rock during a riverside jog last weekend. At first I thought it was just river gunk covering part of it, but it is actually 2 distinct colours/types. I am wondering if it would be worth trying to tumble it in my rotary tumbler. It is definitely softer than my pocket knife blade (both sides), and the black part is more rough and pitted than the light part. Would I be able to get any kind of shine on this without it grinding down too much?
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 6, 2022 12:13:13 GMT -5
Short answer...yes, you should tumble it! It's not a sentimental stone...at least you didn't indicate it was...so why not give it a shot. It's going to get ground down (if you want "perfect") as much as the deepest pit that's on the rock - at a minimum. Obviously the main concern is if the two different materials are on opposite sides of the Mohs scale. If it's a softer rock, I'd try lots of media to cushion it during the tumble...
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Post by greig on Apr 6, 2022 12:33:06 GMT -5
I'd put it into stage 3 grit and check often because the rocks is soft and you probably don't want a white pebble resulting. Good luck if you try.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Apr 6, 2022 13:15:06 GMT -5
Hmmmm... In my mind, a big issue is the rock's size. Not sure how well it would tumble in a 3 pound barrel. I'm pretty sure that it would be a tight squeeze in my Chicago Electric tumblers.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Apr 6, 2022 13:24:32 GMT -5
BTW, cool bowl of rock candy!
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Apr 6, 2022 13:34:04 GMT -5
BTW, cool bowl of rock candy!
Yes, that's what it is. good eye :-)
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Apr 6, 2022 13:35:43 GMT -5
I'd put it into stage 3 grit and check often because the rocks is soft and you probably don't want a white pebble resulting. Good luck if you try. Thanks, good tip. I will definitely skip at least step one/ I am not looking to make it perfect, so even if some of the pitting remains that would be OK.
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Apr 6, 2022 13:37:27 GMT -5
Short answer...yes, you should tumble it! It's not a sentimental stone...at least you didn't indicate it was...so why not give it a shot. It's going to get ground down (if you want "perfect") as much as the deepest pit that's on the rock - at a minimum. Obviously the main concern is if the two different materials are on opposite sides of the Mohs scale. If it's a softer rock, I'd try lots of media to cushion it during the tumble... Definitely not sentimental, except I jogged with a bunch of them in my shorts pockets, so I want to get something out of them :-)
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Apr 6, 2022 13:39:20 GMT -5
Hmmmm... In my mind, a big issue is the rock's size. Not sure how well it would tumble in a 3 pound barrel. I'm pretty sure that it would be a tight squeeze in my Chicago Electric tumblers.
Yes, that is my concern too. 3lb is what I have to play with. We'll see. It'll be a fun try.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Apr 6, 2022 15:53:20 GMT -5
Short answer...yes, you should tumble it! It's not a sentimental stone...at least you didn't indicate it was...so why not give it a shot. It's going to get ground down (if you want "perfect") as much as the deepest pit that's on the rock - at a minimum. Obviously the main concern is if the two different materials are on opposite sides of the Mohs scale. If it's a softer rock, I'd try lots of media to cushion it during the tumble... Definitely not sentimental, except I jogged with a bunch of them in my shorts pockets, so I want to get something out of them :-) If jogging with rocks in your pockets doesn't scream I'm hooked, I don't know what does LOL.
I also vote yes, the darker basalt side might smooth out, and the other side might surprise as well
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 6, 2022 16:14:45 GMT -5
Definitely not sentimental, except I jogged with a bunch of them in my shorts pockets, so I want to get something out of them :-) If jogging with rocks in your pockets doesn't scream I'm hooked, I don't know what does LOL.
I also vote yes, the darker basalt side might smooth out, and the other side might surprise as well
I'm thinking jogging with rocks in my pocket would just make me scream...
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Post by greig on Apr 6, 2022 16:15:46 GMT -5
I'd put it into stage 3 grit and check often because the rocks is soft and you probably don't want a white pebble resulting. Good luck if you try. Thanks, good tip. I will definitely skip at least step one/ I am not looking to make it perfect, so even if some of the pitting remains that would be OK. You can always back up a stage if things aren't aggressive enough, but cannot replace rock that was removed. I have had good luck with softer rocks, starting with stage 3 (pre-polish) and sometimes (with something already shaped) with stage 4 (polish). For sure, keep an eye on it. I have destroyed some soft rocks in less than a day in a rotary tumbler.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Apr 6, 2022 17:17:53 GMT -5
If jogging with rocks in your pockets doesn't scream I'm hooked, I don't know what does LOL. I also vote yes, the darker basalt side might smooth out, and the other side might surprise as well
I'm thinking jogging with rocks in my pocket would just make me scream... No room for movement in your shorts
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 6, 2022 17:27:25 GMT -5
I'm thinking jogging with rocks in my pocket would just make me scream... No room for movement in your shorts
I'm never gonna live that one down! LOL
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on May 9, 2022 10:22:48 GMT -5
I went ahead and tumbled this rock, along with my other rocks I collected along the Boise rivew, and ended up with a really nice souvenir of Boise! The black section (someone said it might be basalt) stayed quit a bit pitted, but it still feels very smooth. The other section (granite?) got a really nice shine to it. I am very happy with it.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 9, 2022 11:20:02 GMT -5
I went ahead and tumbled this rock, along with my other rocks I collected along the Boise rivew, and ended up with a really nice souvenir of Boise! The black section (someone said it might be basalt) stayed quit a bit pitted, but it still feels very smooth. The other section (granite?) got a really nice shine to it. I am very happy with it.
That's very cool! Good job on taking the leap. Now you have something to show for that jog (and it's not a medical bill).
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on May 9, 2022 15:22:26 GMT -5
Granite is a difficult material to polish but gneiss will often take a great polish. If it is gneiss...
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on May 9, 2022 15:41:10 GMT -5
Nice job! The before and after is great!!
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Post by jasoninsd on May 9, 2022 22:39:33 GMT -5
Fantastic job on taking the leap/chance on this one! Thank you so much for posting the results!
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