Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 9, 2014 23:38:11 GMT -5
Let me start out by saying these boards have been so helpful. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. It makes it so easy to draw a conclusion to a problem. I grew up rock hounding cuz that's what my parents did. I recently bought my own tumbler, and that's been an experience all in it's self. I recently attended a Gem and Mineral Show and bought a small chunk of rough Green Moss Agate. It resembles the end cut of small loaf of bread. The local rockhounding club is on hiatus until the middle of September (I was going to join and see if someone would cut my stone) Long story short a friend of a friend has a saw....so he said for a small slice, I'll cut you a slice and you'll still have enough to cab, most likely. Sounded reasonable, I wanted a slice too, in addition to cabbing. One can never have enough Moss Agate. Of course the stone was wet when he cut it and it looked okay. When I got home was another story. Instead of being a clean straight cut, he had gouged the stone in several places. I thought okay I'll just sand it level and shine it up. Well I have invested a lot of time already, and just get frustrated thinking about how shoddy this was. What does anyone recommend to even out this stone. Am I really wasting my time with sandpaper? I am sure I am not the first one to have this problem? All or any suggestions certainly welcome.
Sandy
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Post by roy on Aug 9, 2014 23:44:39 GMT -5
no your not wasting your time you just didnt get a good cut or the friend didnt anyway !dont give up i will look around and find you a moss agate slice do you have a trim saw? and how are you going to grind the cab?
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 10, 2014 3:55:25 GMT -5
Wow! I don't have a saw, I talked with the people who help run the meetings of the local rock hounding club. The meetings are going to start back up next month. They have all the saws and equipment which they make available to all members every other Saturday at their home. They teach members how to use all of the eq. They told me they'll have me slabbing and cabbing my treasures in no time. I like to make jewelry for myself and others taking into consideration metaphysical properties of stones. As far as grinding right now the only thing I have is a dremel. I am really looking forward to being able to shape my own stones. I was going to post photos of the two pieces of Moss Agate, but was having issues with photobucket. But, I'll get it. You are so generous to offer the Moss Agate. I will gladly pay you. Thank you so much.
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 10, 2014 4:50:39 GMT -5
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 10, 2014 4:53:58 GMT -5
They aren't the greatest but, I was excited about having a slice cut and then using the rest for some type of pendant for me to wire wrap. Now that I kinda figured out how to post pics, I'll make them smaller.
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Post by braders on Aug 10, 2014 20:16:16 GMT -5
Beautiful stones There is always the throw um in the tumbler to shine them up !! With proper care and checking on they would come out lovely .
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 10, 2014 21:06:41 GMT -5
I didn't know I could do that. I thought they would break up.
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Post by braders on Aug 10, 2014 21:11:11 GMT -5
You got a vib or a rotary ? With cushion you be amazed what you can tumble lol ...but there is always that chance of a heart break dont get me wrong
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 10, 2014 22:55:46 GMT -5
I have a rotary. I am new at this but, the way you learn is trying new things. Looking in to get a vib, though.
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 11, 2014 11:13:03 GMT -5
Some members here do a real fine job polishing cabs in a tumbler. Drummond Island Rocks comes to mind. Maybe he can point some things out for you.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 11, 2014 11:27:38 GMT -5
Some members here do a real fine job polishing cabs in a tumbler. Drummond Island Rocks comes to mind. Maybe he can point some things out for you. There should be no issues at all tumbling green moss agate. That stuff is usually very hard and durable. takes a killer shine too. Tumble like any other rock in 60/90 but from 120/220 through polish use 50 percent filler (I really prefer ceramic) to make sure the flat sides are getting the attention they need. This slabbette may have been a little smaller then the one you were showing but sure tumbled nicely chuck
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Aug 11, 2014 23:28:19 GMT -5
Wow! That is beautiful. Right now in my tumbler I have some rough Moss Agate that I ordered online. It has been in the coarse for about 2 weeks. The pieces are shaping up nicely. I actually did order some of the ceramic pellets from the Rock Shed and they are tumbling together. It amazes me that I can put those slices in there. Actually it's kinda cool. I make jewelry using stones, actually paying attention to the metaphysical properties. So this is something I am excited about. I have always had a love of stones, and to be able to ask all these questions and get good info takes so much of the frustration out of it. Thanks so much.
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 12, 2014 13:53:01 GMT -5
Take advantage of the experienced people in your club. Nothing like hands on learning. If they have a flat lap you can flatten out the bad cuts and finish them up much faster than hand sanding.
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Oct 5, 2014 17:47:48 GMT -5
no your not wasting your time you just didnt get a good cut or the friend didnt anyway !dont give up i will look around and find you a moss agate slice do you have a trim saw? and how are you going to grind the cab? Roy, This story just gets better. I had another friend who thought he would speed up my hand sanding by using a belt sander. Needless to say he wasn't prepared for how hot the stones got. They flew out of his hands and became several small pieces. I salvaged them, one is almost completely smooth. I sand when I am watching tv sometimes. Another small one is currently being tumbled. As far as eq, I have a 7" wet tile saw here at the house. I also use a dremel a lot. The local rock club which I am going to join has all the eq available. They have workshops every other weekend starting pretty soon again. I will have access to all of the eq, and someone experienced to show me how to use them. So that is a really good thing. So if you ever run across some Moss Agate calling my name, I will gladly take it off your hands, just let me know what I need to send you for it. Then when it is done I'll post pictures. I don't want to jinx myself but, back in July I pulled stones out of my polish tumble that literally looked beat up, due to inexperience and an underloaded barrel. Well after 8 weeks back in coarse, and then fine and pre polish they have now been polishing for 7 days, and so far look awesome. So I will hopefully be posting their pics soon.
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Post by roy on Oct 6, 2014 9:20:43 GMT -5
give me you adress i will find you one and send it to you
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 6, 2014 10:36:02 GMT -5
I'll tell ya',the people on here are just great!!!! Thumbs up Roy!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 22:20:37 GMT -5
Roy is a mensch. We have many of those here. I am humbled regularly.
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Post by orrum on Oct 10, 2014 22:28:28 GMT -5
Way to go Roy!!!
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Sandy
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by Sandy on Oct 19, 2014 8:11:51 GMT -5
I apologize for not responding......somehow I missed these posts. The willingness to help and share that I have encountered using this forum is something I really appreciate. So many thanks once again to all of you
Sandy
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deserthound
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 390
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Post by deserthound on Oct 20, 2014 10:10:17 GMT -5
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