whatamidoing
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2014
Posts: 86
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Post by whatamidoing on Sept 1, 2014 20:38:50 GMT -5
Picked up some large chunks of flint at Nethers farm today. I want to break it down to smaller pieces to tumble. Tried taking a hammer to it and ended up with mostly flakes. I know it is hard stuff, but are there any secrets to breaking it down to tumbling size?
-Kathy
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 1, 2014 23:20:40 GMT -5
If you can cut it... If not.....
On an edge that sticks out hit it with another rock or hammer on the opposite side, I usually don't break my stuff down more than 2 inches around if I can help it.
Hope this helps.
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 1, 2014 23:21:01 GMT -5
If you can cut it... If not.....
On an edge that sticks out hit it with another rock or hammer on the opposite side, I usually don't break my stuff down more than 2 inches around if I can help it.
Hope this helps.
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 18:44:07 GMT -5
jamesp has a terrific video on this topic. He is the master blaster.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 8, 2014 19:07:33 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. That had to be tiring having the little guy on his back Everyone has this problem. I use a smaller steel hammer. Some rocks are easy, dense ones are luck. I do well with glassy stuff. Grainy dense ones are a problem. Look for fractures and try to break them along a fracture. It is not an exact science. and waste usually occurs. I hardly tumble anything unless I grind it to shape anymore if it does not break easy. Flint ridge is a bit uncontrollable.
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 8, 2014 20:19:42 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. That had to be tiring having the little guy on his back Everyone has this problem. I use a smaller steel hammer. Some rocks are easy, dense ones are luck. I do well with glassy stuff. Grainy dense ones are a problem. Look for fractures and try to break them along a fracture. It is not an exact science. and waste usually occurs. I hardly tumble anything unless I grind it to shape anymore if it does not break easy. Flint ridge is a bit uncontrollable. I don't have that problem, Send me a pm and i can make a little video and send you a link some time soon.
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Post by kap on Sept 8, 2014 20:33:24 GMT -5
When James said SMALL hammer he meant it! I think he is still laughing at me and my idea of a small hammer! I'm glad someone does not have that problem. It is hard to get good size pieces for tumbling with a hammer with out having fractures that show up later, I know I do.
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 8, 2014 20:55:38 GMT -5
When James said SMALL hammer he meant it! I think he is still laughing at me and my idea of a small hammer! I'm glad someone does not have that problem. It is hard to get good size pieces for tumbling with a hammer with out having fractures that show up later, I know I do. A small hammer is exactly what you need! My small one (i will take a pic of some day) works great for prepping for tumbling.... the head from start to end is like 4 inches... the handel is 3/4 inches long going into the head (minus the plastic / rubber bit)... And yes small hammers can break massive rocks along fractures!
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Post by kap on Sept 8, 2014 21:51:04 GMT -5
James would say your hammer is still too big! LOL
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 22:10:19 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. That had to be tiring having the little guy on his back Everyone has this problem. I use a smaller steel hammer. Some rocks are easy, dense ones are luck. I do well with glassy stuff. Grainy dense ones are a problem. Look for fractures and try to break them along a fracture. It is not an exact science. and waste usually occurs. I hardly tumble anything unless I grind it to shape anymore if it does not break easy. Flint ridge is a bit uncontrollable. WTF? Why no youtube for our new friend? Come'on Mr. JamesP. Help the brutha' out! That is one of the best rock workin' video's............ever!!
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 22:12:36 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. That had to be tiring having the little guy on his back One of the finest Mad Maxx scenes ever.... thanks for bringing back the memory.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 8, 2014 22:33:16 GMT -5
James would say your hammer is still too big! LOL These are disappearing hammers. The head weighs 4 ounces at the beginning and then nothing after a coral trip. It's the darndest thing I have ever seen. I sold the rights to the video to the Federal Penitentiary Rock Breaking Association. Not really. Best rock hammers are of annealed steel. Or cheap Chinese hammers already have soft steel that works great. Please post a video Glenn. This is a common problem.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 8, 2014 22:54:23 GMT -5
oh me, I got too much sun today
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 8, 2014 23:01:11 GMT -5
James would say your hammer is still too big! LOL These are disappearing hammers. The head weighs 4 ounces at the beginning and then nothing after a coral trip. It's the darndest thing I have ever seen. I sold the rights to the video to the Federal Penitentiary Rock Breaking Association. Not really. Best rock hammers are of annealed steel. Or cheap Chinese hammers already have soft steel that works great. Please post a video Glenn. This is a common problem. I will do that, i will probably make it on the weekend, depends how much college homework I have (i'm doing homework as i speak) I will eventually make a lot of how i do stuff tutorials and videos but that's a winter project Also my hammer is smaller!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 8, 2014 23:11:53 GMT -5
These are disappearing hammers. The head weighs 4 ounces at the beginning and then nothing after a coral trip. It's the darndest thing I have ever seen. I sold the rights to the video to the Federal Penitentiary Rock Breaking Association. Not really. Best rock hammers are of annealed steel. Or cheap Chinese hammers already have soft steel that works great. Please post a video Glenn. This is a common problem. I will do that, i will probably make it on the weekend, depends how much college homework I have (i'm doing homework as i speak) I will eventually make a lot of how i do stuff tutorials and videos but that's a winter project Also my hammer is smaller! Sounds like a plan Glenn. Looking forward to the video. What are you studying in college ?
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 9, 2014 0:07:53 GMT -5
I'm studying Computer Networking Technology ... anyway back to reading 21 pages left for tonight and a 9 paragraph writing to do in the morning or start tonight On a side note... am I the youngest lapidary here for actual lapidary stuff (saws, tumbling, grinding, polishing) I turn 20 on 10/1
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 9, 2014 5:56:46 GMT -5
I broke all my nethers farm flint with a sledge hammer and it worked fine. I use a 1" thick steel plate under the rocks to avoid damage to the concrete. I also set up 6ft square area with cardboard all the way around to keep the mess contained. Here's my post about breaking it up. I yielded 38 pounds of great tumble material and had 6 pounds of smalls that got tossed. At .50 cents a pound I was OK with those numbers. Breaking up flint for tumblingAnd here are the results after a little tumbling This is another post I made recently about breaking rocks down. breaking rocks for tumblingChuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Sept 9, 2014 7:17:24 GMT -5
I'm studying Computer Networking Technology ... anyway back to reading 21 pages left for tonight and a 9 paragraph writing to do in the morning or start tonight On a side note... am I the youngest lapidary here for actual lapidary stuff (saws, tumbling, grinding, polishing) I turn 20 on 10/1 Looking forward to the video Glenn. I saw your trek up to some fine high country for prehnite crystals. You are fortunate to live near such fine territory. Photos incredible. What part of Alaska do you live? I would like to look the area up on Google Earth.
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Post by glennz01 on Sept 9, 2014 11:22:44 GMT -5
I live in the Mat-Su valley (Palmer / Hatcher Pass area) Although the Prehnite locations and other cool stuff is within a good 60+ mile drive up the Glenn Highway towards Fairbanks (1 way. The Prehnite is the best and most exciting thing that I can find currently... I am still exploring places though. One of the main guys I go with is up north working on the slope so not sure when he will get back.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2014 11:30:28 GMT -5
Also my hammer is smaller! How's it hanging?
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