ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 20, 2017 15:12:31 GMT -5
1. Copper 2. ? 3. ? 4. Malachite 5. 6. Labradorite
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 19, 2017 13:22:19 GMT -5
Just some ideas if this does gain traction....We don't necessarily need to mirror what they do for their contest. We could change things up and do something like, 3 lbs of material in a SFRB, 1 lb each of material of varying difficulties. For example, 1 pound each:
Easy - AZ Petwood, coral? Medium - Mahogany obsidian, banded amethyst Difficult - Rhyolite, apatite, something softer
Overall score based on aggregate score of the 3 materials.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 19:52:07 GMT -5
A World Wide tumbling contest (such as the one these folks have going on) sponsored by this forum would be quite a draw to the forum. We could smoke their little contest. Promoted on the RTH website and wherever else great minds come up with. Not just for folks here like Scott's (AWESOME) lavic tumbling contest was. Advertise the poop out of it - everywhere. Gotta be promoted bigly. Maybe even take out SMALL ads in rock magazines. Facebook the bejesus out of it. etc... Guaranteed to draw new members. I'm gonna have to start charging for these... Yup. As it gains traction, it could potentially drive more traffic to RTH. At the very least, it would create more forum engagement. Perhaps a portion of the surplus from the fundraising auctions could be budgeted for acquiring starting material. Entry fees collected would cover cost of materials, shipping, and prizes. Anything over could help pay for forum expenses. Non-cash prizes or starting material could even be sourced from forum members.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 17:46:35 GMT -5
The contest is a fund raiser for the club. It's a $30 box of rocks with the chance to win up to $250. The lady who contacted me when I won last year said that they lost money on the contest last year, but they're going to try to keep it going if they can. If they lose money this year something is very wrong with their (volunteer) process. I could drive up to Hayden hill tomorrow and fill my truck - this crap material is laying everywhere near the road in. You get club members over for lunch to break up rocks and put in boxes - MFRB shipping? All you'd need is 16 entries to break even. What am I missing? Coming soon: The RTH Cup: World Rock Tumbling Championship. Tommy, make it happen.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 9:48:15 GMT -5
I am intrigued by the 80 AO method and will plan on trying that once i need to reorder grit. I just got my AO 60 & 80 in this week and I'm looking forward to giving it a go as batches progress. May be quite the game changer. That eBay seller has a small 2 lb bag offered w/ free shipping. like 10 bucks - I don't remember. Why wait? I was thinking that i'd use up my 120/220 & 500 first, but I suppose you're right. Maybe I just wanted to avoid getting one of those eye-roll looks from my wife, since I just got a 40lb bag of 60 SiC from Abrasive Armory earlier this week.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 8:33:58 GMT -5
Until a few months ago, I would go from 500 SiC (48 hours or so) straight to 14k AO. Once I added a 1000 AO step in between, the difference was quite noticeable. Enough to make me want to re-tumble everything that I had completed prior to that change.
I am intrigued by the 80 AO method and will plan on trying that once i need to reorder grit.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 7:52:53 GMT -5
Thanks all. For whatever reason, i under the impression tiger iron more yellow/gold-colored.
Smash and tumble or keep as-is?
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 17, 2017 0:01:56 GMT -5
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 15, 2017 13:30:01 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing the outcome. Thanks for sharing.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 15, 2017 11:45:21 GMT -5
Do I really need to use so much less polish than in the stages before it ? The polish stage runs so watery that it is hard to think that the polish could be effective if it is so thin ? The short answer is yes. You need only use a fraction of the amount of polish compared to coarser grits, to achieve the desired outcome. Different tumblers and grit kits will prescribe various quantities for each stage. These measurements are reasonable guidelines for beginners, but are are largely arbitrary. In addition to your own experimentation, the forum members are a great resource for learning grit optimization.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 14, 2017 8:48:58 GMT -5
Also, do a "burnishing" stage after final polish.
When you finish the polishing stage, thoroughly rinse your stones and reload them into the barrel. Do not use grit. Add either soap or borax and water and run for a few hours. This will help remove any residue that causes your tumbles to look hazy or matte.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 14, 2017 8:30:27 GMT -5
I doubt it has anything to do with your choice of stones. If everything was done correctly, something would have taken a polish.
Your tumble stage duration sounds adequate. My first thought is barrel fullness, as James hinted. Polishing/grinding happen through friction and the rocks' ability slide against one another. Consider reducing barrel load to 2/3. Definitely keep it below 3/4. Also, add some smalls or tumbling media for cushioning and to increase surface area contact.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 7, 2017 21:08:03 GMT -5
Blue rocks in last pic look like apatite.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 5, 2017 14:36:12 GMT -5
Received the O-rings from Amazon. Working so far and have gained 4 RPM.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 2, 2017 14:35:34 GMT -5
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Feb 2, 2017 14:22:56 GMT -5
Gonna put in an order. Thanks Bob!
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Jan 29, 2017 18:26:22 GMT -5
I am definitely one of the people who overreacts to imperfections, but I really appreciate perfect rocks. Not that all of my rocks are perfect, but the ones that are make me very happy. I completely agree with throwing them in to see what happens. I do that with rocks I collect from beaches. Since I'll be going back to those beaches, I know what to pick up in the future. But you're the defending tumbling world champion and set a high bar of perfection for yourself. Nothing wrong with that. I was just referring to how we have a tendency to proselytize perfection to others. If my kids find a rock on the ground that they want to tumble, I won't discourage it b/c there's too many pits or cracks. And if a new member proudly posts pics from their first tumble, I won't say "looks good, but keep it in stage one until it's perfect." Perfection is relative. Just my 2 cents.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Jan 29, 2017 14:33:34 GMT -5
I quit using plastic pellets, to big a PITA. Same here. Not worth the effort in my opinion. Pea gravel ftw.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Jan 29, 2017 14:20:06 GMT -5
So, we took our daughter on a hike today at a local Virginia state park. Of course, we picked up rocks along the way. Is there any way to tell what rocks might be good candidates for tumbling, if any? Toss all of 'em in and see what happens. This forum is very knowledgeable and well-intentioned, but overreacts to cracks/pits, in my opinion. I tumble "imperfect" rocks all the time and typically have very good results. Just be mindful of grit contamination and keep your eyes open for soft stones that weather away too quickly, creating lots of mud. Granite will tumble fine too, if you don't mind it not being completely smooth due to undercutting. The quartz and feldspar in granite will take a shine. You will learn what works and what doesn't through experimentation and experience. Just have fun with it.
|
|
ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
|
Post by ubermenehune on Jan 24, 2017 22:37:58 GMT -5
I use shavings from bar soap that i make myself. My personal experience is that soap works better than borax, but YMMV.
|
|