Post by CornDogs on Sept 9, 2004 9:46:58 GMT -5
HI GUYS!
Well, I took your advice and put my 'insignifigant' pieces into my tumbler dry to see if that would remove some of the matrix
YIPPIE - I was actually successful!!!
Let me tell you what happened ;D
The first time I checked them was about 12 hours and saw that they were covered with this black powder. I knew that it was working and put the top back on and left them for another 24 hours.
I then took them out and rinsed them off - WOW!! I was completely shocked at the difference!!! But I wanted to let them go longer to see if all of the matrix could be removed and I put them back in, slightly wet.
OH MY GOODNESS - I had no idea what that would produce....talk about STICKY!!! It made this grey mud that was so sticky I couldn't even rinse the rocks off completely!! ICK....I guess that is what you guys call slurry or sludge?? I can't remember right now...LOL!!
So, after rinsing off what I could...which was minimal....I decided to put them back in the tumbler filled with hot soapy water.
12 hours later I had beautiful green rocks ;D
I do have to say, I am quite proud of myself Ok, maybe that is a bit too much....since you guys were the one with the knowledge
I am going to take my rubies out today and start the polish stage. This of course is all just an experiment with the rubies and with the grit and polish that came with my Rolling Rock tumbler. I am not expecting greatness, but I figure it will give me some experience, right??
I do have ONE QUESTION!!!
I have looked at a bunch of your pictures and it seems that the "perfect tumbled rock" is almost completely round or oval with a bright shine.
However, I like the NATURAL shape of the rocks, just want them to be smooth and shiny.
My question is this....if I take my Dremel with 120 and 220 diamond points and smooth and shape the rubies, emeralds and sapphires like I want them - and then put them into 500 grit, then Tripoli then finally Polish - will the SHAPE remain??? I would expect a bit of roundiness to come from the remaining tumbling, but would it make them round like they are 'supposed to be' instead of remaining the shape I started with???
I have also been thinking of getting a set of 600 grit diamond points and doing all of the work with my Dremel except the polish stage. What do you think of that idea?? Would THAT help retain the shape???
THANKS EVERYONE! Off to read the remaining messages to see what other tips I might pick up on I hope you guys don't think I am rude if I don't respond to most of them...after all, I don't really think I have much to offer at this point ;D
Bren
Well, I took your advice and put my 'insignifigant' pieces into my tumbler dry to see if that would remove some of the matrix
YIPPIE - I was actually successful!!!
Let me tell you what happened ;D
The first time I checked them was about 12 hours and saw that they were covered with this black powder. I knew that it was working and put the top back on and left them for another 24 hours.
I then took them out and rinsed them off - WOW!! I was completely shocked at the difference!!! But I wanted to let them go longer to see if all of the matrix could be removed and I put them back in, slightly wet.
OH MY GOODNESS - I had no idea what that would produce....talk about STICKY!!! It made this grey mud that was so sticky I couldn't even rinse the rocks off completely!! ICK....I guess that is what you guys call slurry or sludge?? I can't remember right now...LOL!!
So, after rinsing off what I could...which was minimal....I decided to put them back in the tumbler filled with hot soapy water.
12 hours later I had beautiful green rocks ;D
I do have to say, I am quite proud of myself Ok, maybe that is a bit too much....since you guys were the one with the knowledge
I am going to take my rubies out today and start the polish stage. This of course is all just an experiment with the rubies and with the grit and polish that came with my Rolling Rock tumbler. I am not expecting greatness, but I figure it will give me some experience, right??
I do have ONE QUESTION!!!
I have looked at a bunch of your pictures and it seems that the "perfect tumbled rock" is almost completely round or oval with a bright shine.
However, I like the NATURAL shape of the rocks, just want them to be smooth and shiny.
My question is this....if I take my Dremel with 120 and 220 diamond points and smooth and shape the rubies, emeralds and sapphires like I want them - and then put them into 500 grit, then Tripoli then finally Polish - will the SHAPE remain??? I would expect a bit of roundiness to come from the remaining tumbling, but would it make them round like they are 'supposed to be' instead of remaining the shape I started with???
I have also been thinking of getting a set of 600 grit diamond points and doing all of the work with my Dremel except the polish stage. What do you think of that idea?? Would THAT help retain the shape???
THANKS EVERYONE! Off to read the remaining messages to see what other tips I might pick up on I hope you guys don't think I am rude if I don't respond to most of them...after all, I don't really think I have much to offer at this point ;D
Bren