kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 29, 2014 10:28:15 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Sept 29, 2014 10:37:20 GMT -5
You want to tumble/polish them as is at their present size?
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 29, 2014 10:50:24 GMT -5
Similar size, yes. But I'd like to try to get them as smooth as possible. If that means loosing a little bit of material that would be okay. Thanks!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Sept 29, 2014 10:54:11 GMT -5
First of all, welcome to the forum!! The 120/220 1st stage of vibe tumbling is what wears away he most material in a vibe tumbler. The 60/90 grit is too course for a vibe tumbler and will burn through the barrel in no time. If you want to get rid of the cracks/crevices/vugs in the rocks,, a rotary tumbler is the way to go. It is also a slow process, as in weeks/months. It is also the only way to accomplish what you want, unless you have access to a grinder and can grind away the bad spots before tumbling. Also judging by the size of the rocks ... make sure you have a lot of filler, small stuff, to add to the mix too!! (helps get the grit to move around and cushion the bigger pieces so they don't crack further. A vibe tumbler works with the natural shape of the stone and will round the rough edges of the stone but will not remove the cracks and what not. My suggestion is to use the rotary for the rough courses/stages 60/90, 120/220, 600, until you have the stone where you want it, then you can see about polishing with the vibe tumbler. Hope this helps, please post pics of your progress for all to see.
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 29, 2014 11:08:47 GMT -5
Thanks a bunch! And I will post pictures.
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Post by captbob on Sept 29, 2014 11:21:48 GMT -5
Yes, welcome to the forum!
Personally, with that Model B tumbler, I'd probably do them one at a time. As Mario said, with lots of other filler rocks.
You'd end up with 3 nice batches of rocks (LOTS of rocks!) and 3 stunning pieces larger than most folks usually tumble. This isn't a one or two question topic/project, unless you've got extensive tumbling experience.
ETA: and like Mario also wrote, this is a months long project.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 29, 2014 14:29:16 GMT -5
Yep, you need a larger rotary barrel to do those up proper. Vibes are best for finishing stages as the really don't remove much material or change contours very much. You really need a couple of weeks in coarse grind to remove pits and such for real smooth contours and then you can go to the vibe if you like ( that's what I do). Good luck. Those are nice looking material.....Mel
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Sept 29, 2014 15:37:35 GMT -5
I agree, those are nice looking. Gotta tumble them. Post photos please.
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Post by braders on Sept 29, 2014 16:16:03 GMT -5
Nice stones and nice size as well The top stone tho hmmm the top right corner looks like a roto may finish that crack off if im looking at it right ?? Or be a crack youll never get out if so be wise to munch it off now The other two tho I wanna say a vib will get them small holes out just take a lil longer on first round . But if ya got a roto they will fit in thats your best bet ....gonna be some nice gifts in the end for sure
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Post by Pat on Sept 29, 2014 16:23:25 GMT -5
I don't know much about tumbling. However, those are so pretty and so big, I would cut and CAB them!
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 29, 2014 16:36:18 GMT -5
I would, but I don't know how to CAB stones. Maybe that will be something I learn down the road. I assume that's where you cut and shape them?
Thanks everyone. I will post pictures.
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Post by Pat on Sept 29, 2014 17:32:33 GMT -5
I would, but I don't know how to CAB stones. Maybe that will be something I learn down the road. I assume that's where you cut and shape them? Thanks everyone. I will post pictures. Yes. Cabbing is like that. See the Creating Cabochon section. Go to HOME first.
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azgnoinc
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 484
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Post by azgnoinc on Sept 29, 2014 19:34:57 GMT -5
Those sure do look like Yangtze River agates... If you are going to tumble them then the advice above is from those with far more experience than I, so follow what they say - plenty of time in the grind until YOU are happy with how smooth they are, then finish them up in the vibe, provided they fit and you have plenty of filler of mixed sizes in with them - other smaller stones (agates would be fine) of the same hardness work just as well if not better than ceramic filler. Looking forward to more pics, and there are those who will tell you that it's just fine to chop those up & throw the slices in the tumbler - that would greatly cut your total tumbling time down.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,339
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Post by quartz on Sept 29, 2014 22:06:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Personally I'm enthused about tumbling material the size of yours, and yours is nice stuff. If no other good mtl. of similar hardness{agates or jasper} is available, use pea gravel for filler, works well.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Sept 30, 2014 9:40:57 GMT -5
Those are some big ole beauties ... like the others have said if you want the cracks and pits gone the rotary is the way to go. Be aware that some rocks will open up more imperfections as they are ground down. Before they get completely smooth in the rotary they can be reduced in size by 25% maybe more as well.
Make them what you like. If you decide to send them to the finishing stages with a few imperfections just be sure that they are thoroughly clean.
When you put them in your UV10 you may want only one at a time. If a rock is too large it can sit on the bottom of the bowl and wear a hole in said bowl ... or so I've heard. Too many large rocks will slow the action down.
Good luck, happy tumbling, welcome to the forum.
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 30, 2014 16:49:35 GMT -5
If I decided instead to put them in the UV-10 as is, and skipped the rotary stages, can someone give me an idea of how these would look? I assume they'd keep there size and shape and all imperfections, but have a nice shine.
After reading they might lose 25% of their size, I'm having second thoughts. Any feedback would be great!
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Sept 30, 2014 18:57:10 GMT -5
You ask a difficult question there. Because the examples you show are so "unique", there is something to be said about polishing with the cracks and pits present, but...there is nothing prettier than a perfectly smooth, (flawless) tumble. I don't even know what I'd do if they were MY rocks! Maybe I'd go for the flawless look, with the understanding that if it looks like the flaws are too deep, too many or are increasing, then go for the polish with the flaws present. I'm with you...don't grind away 1/2 of your pretty rocks!
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on Sept 30, 2014 22:07:36 GMT -5
I can tell you one thing... I'm very excited about this hobby. I'm considering using the vibe and seeing how it finishes them. If I don't like it, then maybe I'll throw them in the tumbler, start over and go that route.
Thanks everyone!
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Post by braders on Oct 1, 2014 7:12:18 GMT -5
I can tell you one thing... I'm very excited about this hobby. I'm considering using the vibe and seeing how it finishes them. If I don't like it, then maybe I'll throw them in the tumbler, start over and go that route. Thanks everyone! Youll be happy ether way if you are patient , I put large stones with pits n stuff in my vib all the time !!! Smash up a bunch of little stone to fill the rest of your bowl with Cheers
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Post by connrock on Oct 1, 2014 7:40:44 GMT -5
Welcome to the board! The best way I've found to determine how much material has to be removed from a rock, and how big it will end up, is to look at the deepest flaw and try to picture the size of the rock if it were ground down that deep all the way around. The bigger a rock is the less chance you have to getting it to have a flawless finish on it unless it is of high quality to begin with.Why?Because you are only seeing the outer surface of the rock and have no idea how deep the flaws my go into the rock.You may get rid of the pits on the surface only to find that there are pits throughout the entire rock! As has been pointed out,the rock in the 1st photo has a fairly deep crack and 1 deep "depression" along with many other large size pits.If you want this rock to have a flawless,completely smooth surface it will have to be done in a rotary tumbler without the other 2 big rocks and will take about 2-3 months to get rid of the flaws,,,,if in fact the flaws can be removed! The rock in the 2nd photo has what looks like surface "pits".Trying to remove these type of pits is really a crap shoot.Why?Because (again) you don't know if they are only surface flaws or if they go through the entire rock,,, and may even get bigger as the rock gets ground down in the rough stage of tumbling in a rotary. The rock in the 3rd photo has a sort of "valley between 2 hills" on the right side.This creates 2 problems for you.One is that the entire rock HAS to be ground down to the depth of the "valley" and 2,,,the "valley" is on the flat side of the rock which gets much less surface contact with other rocks during the tumbling process,,,,,,the "edges" of the rock will get more surface contact then the flat surface. In my opinion,,,the only way you are going to retain the size of these rocks,while getting a "so-so" outer surface finish on them is to do them in a vibe with a LOT of smaller rocks down to rocks 1/2" in size.These smaller rocks are VERY important because they will get into all the flawed areas. Think of brushing you teeth with all those bristles getting into every nook and cranny in your teeth.Now think of brushing your teeth with that handle of the tooth brush!The handle only hits the surface of your teeth and leaves the nooks and crannys unclean. If you don't have enough small rocks you have to use ceramic media.In any case,,,you HAVE to use something small throughout the entire process,,including the polish stage. You asked for an example of what your rocks may look like if done in a vibe.I only have 1 example that I photographed some years ago. This is a piece of Arizona petrified wood about 2" wide x 3" long x about 3/4" thick.I did this piece in a vibe with a LOT of smaller rocks and ceramic media.It has a nice shine yet retains some of it's natural shape,,,, Good luck and keep us posted. connrock
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