Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Aug 10, 2011 23:55:21 GMT -5
Hopefully my first attempt of posting a picture up here works (Finally got it to work via flickr). I collect this stuff on a small beach along Lake Superior. Its very similar in color to Thomsonite, but I'm not sure if its actually thomsonite or not. I don't think the picture does justice to the shine, I was rather pleased with how they turned out. Since they were beach worn, I skipped a corse stage and went right to 120/220 since I was a little concerned about the hardness of these. Since I can't seem to get an image embedded from Picasa, here is a link to the full resolution photo so you can zoom in to your hearts content. picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iKcF-qQ_yAElNUUqFFZXUg?feat=directlinkIMG_3836.CR2 by Jonded, on Flickr
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Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Aug 11, 2011 0:26:31 GMT -5
Here is also my first tumble in 15 years or so. The last time I did this was with my dad when I was young. It was a batch of lakers. Unfortunately, I seemed to have problems with chipping on some of the agates. Decent shine though in my opinion. I'll have to see how my next batch of lakers comes out when its done in a week or so. IMG_3839 by Jonded, on Flickr Or the full resolution picture: picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VUETsUQISrsy0O59Ittt7w?feat=directlink
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Post by Toad on Aug 11, 2011 7:02:42 GMT -5
Looks like both batches could have used more time in rough grind, but decent shine on the lakers.
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Post by tanyafrench on Aug 11, 2011 8:13:49 GMT -5
Keep on working with the stones. I agree with Toad, I would have put the first batch in the coarse to round out the pits and rough edges. The lakers are awesome, beautiful banding and shine. I really like to get the stones smooth prior to moving past the coarse stage. You are off to a good start. The hardest part for me was to learn patience. Tanya
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 11, 2011 8:19:25 GMT -5
Looking at the first pic, I think some of the stones look like pink feldspar with smoky quartz, but after studying google pics of Thomsonite, some of your stones do make me wonder... since they occur in cavaties of basaltic volcanic rocks, and can be found along the shores of Lake Superior, as well as Scotland, you may have some there. Beautiful shiny rocks, all of them. Jo
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 11, 2011 8:21:47 GMT -5
Sometimes when tumbling softer rocks like these, more coarse grind will do more harm than good though. Some of those cracks will become craters. It's a tough call. Jo
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Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Aug 11, 2011 9:36:48 GMT -5
That was my main fear. Didn't want to grind them to oblivion in a course stage considering they're fairly soft. I really don't mind some pits and cracks as long as the shine is good. I've also gotten more patient from my first load. Most everything stays in course for 2 weeks now.
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Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Aug 11, 2011 9:59:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip on the pink feldspar, after taking a look at some pictures of it, I think some of these may be that. But I still think some of the pink/white ones are some form of thompsonite, I find it too close to where thompsonite is usually found on the north shore of lake superior.
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 11, 2011 10:51:15 GMT -5
I had a chance to play around tumbling some green feldspar that is similar to the pink with smoky. I added a slice off a bar of Ivory Soap at each stage. It did slow down the action of the grit, but seemed to help the batch in the end. Jo
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Post by ColtChainmailJewelryDesigns on Aug 11, 2011 12:30:04 GMT -5
Wow, Nice lakers!
~Colt
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Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Aug 11, 2011 17:14:55 GMT -5
I actually find it on a small private beach south of two harbors, so its a ways from the traditional locations of thompsonite.
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Post by tntmom on Aug 12, 2011 13:47:46 GMT -5
I love the colors and banding in those Lakers!!
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