fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Nov 27, 2011 20:51:47 GMT -5
Hello, i'm new so... hello ;D I was after some advice on tumbling beach pebbles/stones with fossils in them, they are already smooth and there are no bits of the fossils that stick out. does anyone have any advice for me, i'm totally new to this, don't have a tumbler yet- getting a rubber one rather than a plastic one. Any photos of tumbled (rather than flat polished) fossils you would care to share? thanks! here is an image of some of the fossils and rocks i would like to tumble i41.tinypic.com/14dqa2q.jpg
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Post by connrock on Nov 28, 2011 9:36:11 GMT -5
Hi and welcome! You've chosen a VERY difficult type of stone to polish and about the only thing more difficult I can think of to polish is chalk! Most fossils are found in very soft types of rocks and although some can be tumbled and polished it a very difficult procedure and better left for the more advanced tumblers. Learning to tumble rocks can be very frustrating especially if you start out with something difficult to polish. If you read some of the posts in this section "Totally Rock Tumbling" you can see that some people who are new to tumbling are having problems and they are tumbling agates and jaspers which are very hard rocks compared to the soft fossil types of rocks. Most rocks found along the shore don't do well in a tumbler.Yes they do look pretty and inviting as they lay there along the shore or in the water,but unless you live in an area that has hard rocks (agates and jasper), you're just going to have trouble tumbling them. Even some of the agate and jasper found along the shore can give you problems as a lot of them are fractured and or have deep pits in them. I know I'm not making your day here but I'm just stating the facts! Ok,,,,here we go,,,, The best way to tell if any given rock will polish up nicely for you is to do a little "scratch test" on it.This can be done with a broken piece of quartz,a "good" pocket knife or a piece of a broken file. Try scratching the rock and if you can't scratch it with any of the above,,,,it should take a good polish.If it does scratch then it's what's called a "Leaverite",,,,leave-er-right,,,,where you found it! Sometimes when doing a scratch test you may just see a white "scratch". This is usually not a real scratch.Wipe it away and try to see if in fact you did actually make a scratch in the rock or if the white mark is just residue for the rock. One of the more popular soft stones that is polished and found along the shore is called a Petoskey Stone,,,,,, Although they are called a stone I "think" they are actually fossilized coral but I'm not sure of that? Polished,,, I've done only a few loads of Petoskey Stones through the years and they're not on my #1 list of favorites to do! Good Luck,,,, connrock
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Nov 28, 2011 12:06:38 GMT -5
Wise words conrock!
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Nov 28, 2011 13:12:39 GMT -5
Most fossils are found in very soft types of rocks and although some can be tumbled and polished it a very difficult procedure and better left for the more advanced tumblers.I think alot of the fossils i have are in hard rock? (i'm in the U.K), I'll have to test them,unless you live in an area that has hard rocks (agates and jasper), you're just going to have trouble tumbling them.I do live in an area with jaspers(red) but this doesn't seem hard as i scratched it at it left a mark The best way to tell if any given rock will polish up nicely for you is to do a little scratch test on it.When you say polish up nicely, what do you mean exactly? i don't mind rocks coming out less than perfect as long as they are polished enough to appriciate the patterns/fossils Or will they break up and refuse to polish at all?thank you very much for all the help, i appriciate it! ;D
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 28, 2011 15:06:24 GMT -5
You can only tell by doing. A lot of fossil bearing beach rocks here are more a conglomeration of shell in limestone. Tumbling should smooth and improve appearance but depending on material may not polish to a "wet look". Check frequently too.
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Post by connrock on Nov 29, 2011 11:24:47 GMT -5
Even though your fossils may be in hard rocks I believe you'll still be dealing with 2 or more different hardness's which may give you trouble if tumbled.
Make sure that the "mark" you are seeing on the jasper is in fact a scratch and not just a mark left from the residue of the jasper or what ever you are using to scratch it with.
When I say "polish up nicely" I mean a high glossy look. We may be getting into specifics on tumbling here but if you want a fair shine on your rocks and not a high glossy look you may be satisfied with doing some of the softer rocks. In any case,,,,,when tumbling rocks you should tumble rocks of the same hardness or you'll create other monsters for yourself,,,,,,harder rocks mixed with softer rocks causes the hard ones to mar, scratch or even break/fracture the soft ones.
The easiest way (I know of) to tell if your rocks are of the same hardness is to try to scratch them against themselves!The scratched ones would be the softer ones.
You seem to have the will and determination to tumble you rocks so stay with us and we'll help you as much as we can!
Good Luck,,,,
connrock
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,676
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 29, 2011 16:32:29 GMT -5
I've never tumbled fossils or seen them tumbled-all my fossils are polished with a machined polish pad with "Fabulustre" usually by hand.
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Post by texaswoodie on Nov 29, 2011 17:02:20 GMT -5
We have a few fossil rocks around here that will tumble nicely. They are solid jasper, even the fossils. If you have that kind, go for it.
Curt
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Nov 29, 2011 20:33:18 GMT -5
One of the things Ive done, is take an old 2 wheel grinder. I bought buffin wheel for em, and usin red rouge Ive been able to polish shells. So far thats all Ive done, but theyve turned out pretty good. Later Clyde
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Dec 1, 2011 8:53:11 GMT -5
I looked at your photo, and I believe I would prefer to hand polish, not tumble polish, at least some of your specimens. Not necessarily all with hand tools, although I did polish a petoskey stone just with sandpaper from Walmart, just to say I did. I have to admit I'm amazed and impressed at the results Connrock got in the tumbler. But you seem to have a mixed bag of stones that you've collected, and I'm not sure you could get the same result without working the stones individually.
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mp166
starting to shine!
Member since March 2011
Posts: 30
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Post by mp166 on Dec 14, 2011 6:00:33 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 14, 2011 9:09:34 GMT -5
I have tumbled fossil rocks before. As TOm stated it can be a real pain. THe trick is to try to get an accurate hardness of both the matrix and the fossil. As for your statement about the softer jasper- well if it scratches easily then it is NOT jasper (although it may be called a jasper- it truely is not). We are not trying to discourage you from trying your tumble- just trying to make sure you realize what your in for. Just from the looks of your rocks I would have to say that you might not get the desired results your hoping for. Best of Luck in what ever you decide to do. Oh and WELCOME to the Board!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Dec 15, 2011 3:57:37 GMT -5
Yes welcome to the Board
I have run Jet through a polisher NO grit only som sharp sand to remove the shale and found fern on them
But I only ran it for 4 to 5 hours and checked it every hour I have a few biger fossils but would never put them in a tumbler
Have you thought of flat lap polishing say just one surface ? I have seen a few fosills done this way
If your in North Uk Ravenscar is where you get good fosills
Jack Yorkshire UK
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Post by connrock on Dec 17, 2011 10:06:07 GMT -5
PEACHFRONT,,, The photos of the Petosky Stones I posted ARE NOT something I tumbled! They're just 2 photos I got off the web as a reference to show polished and un-polished!
I have done some Petosky Stones and am NOT trying to boast but mine actually came out better then the polished ones in that photo! I had to keep a CONSTANT eye on them in my vibe and after MANY attempts finally gave in to using a rotary! LOL
Thick headed,,,,persistent,,,,and sometimes just flat out dumb! LOL
connrock
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Jan 10, 2012 14:08:44 GMT -5
that is actually my thread haha.
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Jan 10, 2012 14:11:11 GMT -5
the jasper i have where i live is brecciated jasper, i just got some more today- lovely stuff.
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Jan 10, 2012 14:15:36 GMT -5
Yes welcome to the Board Have you thought of flat lap polishing say just one surface ? I have seen a few fosills done this way i imagine that would be quite noisey and dusty? (i live in a flat so i can't do it outside)
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mp166
starting to shine!
Member since March 2011
Posts: 30
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Post by mp166 on Jan 11, 2012 5:30:54 GMT -5
Ahh a lady of many names LOL
MP
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