Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 8, 2022 14:33:08 GMT -5
No nature trip report this time. Finally some pictures of polished stones! Stage 2 is still not really working for me in the vibratory. The ceramic media always sticks together at the bottom and prevents a nice moving of the stones. Stage 3 is great, thanks to the new AO grit I use now. No sticking or anything. Really great. Polish is also running smoothly in the vibratory. AO seems to do the trick. Now: Any tips on how to hand - polish the ones I like best a little nicer? So here they are:
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2022 18:31:51 GMT -5
Really nice batch Gabriel! Try running the first stage in the vibe with no ceramics then add them for the next two stages. That’s what I’ve had to do, if not I get a glob of rocks, grits and ceramics that don't move well.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2022 18:34:25 GMT -5
For hand polishing get some wet/dry sand paper starting at 80 grit and work you way up as high as you want to go and wet your paper and rocks and sand away!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 8, 2022 19:03:49 GMT -5
Pretty! I don't tumble, so can't help you there.
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 8, 2022 19:31:30 GMT -5
I think you got some great results Gabriel! This is one of my favorites out of the batch: I have been struggling with a batch of Prairie Agates and Fairburns I have running in my vibe. I'm in the initial 120/220 and I keep getting the stickiest slurry buildup that I've ever encountered. The only thing I did different this time was I used saw scraps (from cutting cab preforms) as my smalls rather than ceramic. It's a hodge-podge of all kinds of materials. I tried squirting water on the tumble to try and loosen the slurry...which didn't work as it just put too much water in. So I started all over. Again, it started building up this thick sticky slurry which was keeping the rocks from tumbling. SO...in desperation, I tried using some liquid dish soap (Liquid Dawn). That worked amazingly well! It actually broke down the slurry so it wasn't so thick and the rocks started tumbling the way they're supposed to in the vibe. I just ran a thin line of soap around the perimeter of the bowl and waited to make sure the soap got mixed in. (I did use a wooden stick to "stir" in the soap and speed up the mixing of the soap...) Might be worth a shot...
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 9, 2022 2:26:50 GMT -5
Really nice batch Gabriel! Try running the first stage in the vibe with no ceramics then add them for the next two stages. That’s what I’ve had to do, if not I get a glob of rocks, grits and ceramics that don't move well. ... awesome idea actually. I'll do that for the next batch.
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 9, 2022 2:29:52 GMT -5
For hand polishing get some wet/dry sand paper starting at 80 grit and work you way up as high as you want to go and wet your paper and rocks and sand away! ah... I meant "further polishing the already machine polished rocks by hand" like the ones u see in the pictures. Is there some really fine wet/dry polishing paper / cloth?
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 9, 2022 2:33:58 GMT -5
I think you got some great results Gabriel! This is one of my favorites out of the batch: I have been struggling with a batch of Prairie Agates and Fairburns I have running in my vibe. I'm in the initial 120/220 and I keep getting the stickiest slurry buildup that I've ever encountered. The only thing I did different this time was I used saw scraps (from cutting cab preforms) as my smalls rather than ceramic. It's a hodge-podge of all kinds of materials. I tried squirting water on the tumble to try and loosen the slurry...which didn't work as it just put too much water in. So I started all over. Again, it started building up this thick sticky slurry which was keeping the rocks from tumbling. SO...in desperation, I tried using some liquid dish soap (Liquid Dawn). That worked amazingly well! It actually broke down the slurry so it wasn't so thick and the rocks started tumbling the way they're supposed to in the vibe. I just ran a thin line of soap around the perimeter of the bowl and waited to make sure the soap got mixed in. (I did use a wooden stick to "stir" in the soap and speed up the mixing of the soap...) Might be worth a shot... Thanks a lot for you feedback and the ideas! I'll try that next time. There's gotta be a way to make it work.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,198
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Post by quartzilla on Aug 9, 2022 6:28:27 GMT -5
Great rocks and I like your background too. Instead of distracting it actually emphasizes the stones.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2022 8:34:21 GMT -5
Gabriel_GERIm sorry Gabriel, I don’t know much about hand polishing. I have seen some use a slab of glass and a paste of polish and water but imagine that wouldn’t work too well with a rounded stone. Have also heard of using a polishing paste and a piece of leather or denim to hand polish. I imagine that would work best with a rounded stone.
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 9, 2022 9:08:06 GMT -5
Gabriel_GER Im sorry Gabriel, I don’t know much about hand polishing. I have seen some use a slab of glass and a paste of polish and water but imagine that wouldn’t work too well with a rounded stone. Have also heard of using a polishing paste and a piece of leather or denim to hand polish. I imagine that would work best with a rounded stone. No worries. I'll find some info.
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 9, 2022 9:09:48 GMT -5
I think you got some great results Gabriel! This is one of my favorites out of the batch: I have been struggling with a batch of Prairie Agates and Fairburns I have running in my vibe. I'm in the initial 120/220 and I keep getting the stickiest slurry buildup that I've ever encountered. The only thing I did different this time was I used saw scraps (from cutting cab preforms) as my smalls rather than ceramic. It's a hodge-podge of all kinds of materials. I tried squirting water on the tumble to try and loosen the slurry...which didn't work as it just put too much water in. So I started all over. Again, it started building up this thick sticky slurry which was keeping the rocks from tumbling. SO...in desperation, I tried using some liquid dish soap (Liquid Dawn). That worked amazingly well! It actually broke down the slurry so it wasn't so thick and the rocks started tumbling the way they're supposed to in the vibe. I just ran a thin line of soap around the perimeter of the bowl and waited to make sure the soap got mixed in. (I did use a wooden stick to "stir" in the soap and speed up the mixing of the soap...) Might be worth a shot... Hope I can put a smile on your face with this.
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 9, 2022 16:40:04 GMT -5
I think you got some great results Gabriel! This is one of my favorites out of the batch: I have been struggling with a batch of Prairie Agates and Fairburns I have running in my vibe. I'm in the initial 120/220 and I keep getting the stickiest slurry buildup that I've ever encountered. The only thing I did different this time was I used saw scraps (from cutting cab preforms) as my smalls rather than ceramic. It's a hodge-podge of all kinds of materials. I tried squirting water on the tumble to try and loosen the slurry...which didn't work as it just put too much water in. So I started all over. Again, it started building up this thick sticky slurry which was keeping the rocks from tumbling. SO...in desperation, I tried using some liquid dish soap (Liquid Dawn). That worked amazingly well! It actually broke down the slurry so it wasn't so thick and the rocks started tumbling the way they're supposed to in the vibe. I just ran a thin line of soap around the perimeter of the bowl and waited to make sure the soap got mixed in. (I did use a wooden stick to "stir" in the soap and speed up the mixing of the soap...) Might be worth a shot... Hope I can put a smile on your face with this.
Oh Yeah! Those videos really showed of the polish! Whatever this material is...it has character! Thanks for tagging me so I could see those!
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Post by liveoak on Aug 11, 2022 9:08:05 GMT -5
Fabulous batch. Congrats
Patty
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 12, 2022 2:32:32 GMT -5
Fabulous batch. Congrats Patty It's not fabulous at all. I'm happy still as it is the second one I ever did and the more I learn... the (MAYBE!) better it will be!
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Post by liveoak on Aug 12, 2022 5:53:56 GMT -5
I thought it was (fabulous that is) Gabriel_GER . Interesting rocks that you self collected, that I saw a shine on a bunch of. What's not fabulous about that ? Patty.... who's putting her first tumble into polish today-(rotary's take a long time to finish)
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Gabriel_GER
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2022
Posts: 229
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Post by Gabriel_GER on Aug 14, 2022 15:45:05 GMT -5
I thought it was (fabulous that is) Gabriel_GER . Interesting rocks that you self collected, that I saw a shine on a bunch of. What's not fabulous about that ? Patty.... who's putting her first tumble into polish today-(rotary's take a long time to finish) Well... they are not perfect. Which they can not ever be (probably) and especially not with me having very little experience. I'm just a bit of a self critic. Oh and best success with your polish stage!
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 846
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Post by dshanpnw on Aug 14, 2022 17:49:42 GMT -5
You have some interesting rocks. Pretty good polish. I'm not sure why the 220 grit stage is not working correctly. Stick to the basic recipe, 1/3 ceramic media/filler, and fill the bowl to just about 3/4 full with the rocks. Fill the bowl with water then drain it to where no more water is dripping out so that rocks and media are just wet enough for the grit to stick to them. Then start it, add the grit (I use 2 1/2 tablespoons to start, with a 10 pound vibe) and let it run for about an hour or so and then check for proper motion. If you can see the surface of the rocks add a little more grit, maybe 1/2 tbs, then wait and check it again later. Too much water and the grit will not stick to the stones. Too much grit and you won't get the right motion and there will be no abrasive action. The goal is to have all the rocks and media with a light gray coating of grit. I use silicon carbide 220. You can try what Ashley suggested, go with no media, and see what happens. Just keep trying even if you have to stop and restart a batch several times. Do you have any agates, any type at all, or jasper?
I polished my very first rock by hand, that is what really got me into tumbling, because now I can polish A LOT of rocks at the same time. So, since the tumblers did the hard part of getting your rocks smooth, all you should have to use is very fine grit sandpaper, 1000 wet/dry, then you should start seeing a shine. Then try some AO polish, or whatever you have, with a little water on a small piece of denim, canvas, or maybe felt and vigorously rub all over for a few minutes and see if that works.
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