bubbett1960
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
|
Post by bubbett1960 on Feb 22, 2015 11:33:01 GMT -5
Hi everybody I am new to lapidary but have been digging rocks for awhile I am in eastern Washington lots of petrified wood And I go often to dig garnets in Idaho. Trying to work my garnets with out any fancy equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks so much
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 22, 2015 12:41:56 GMT -5
Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 22, 2015 12:41:56 GMT -5
Hello bubbett. Welcome to the forum. I can't help you with your garnets, but they've been discussed a lot lately here. jamesp has been experimenting with them in his vibratory tumbler.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Hello
Feb 22, 2015 13:52:30 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 22, 2015 13:52:30 GMT -5
Hi everybody I am new to lapidary but have been digging rocks for awhile I am in eastern Washington lots of petrified wood And I go often to dig garnets in Idaho. Trying to work my garnets with out any fancy equipment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks so much Hi bubbet. I found a bunch of Idaho garnets from an old stock. And have been tumbling them. They are small, like 5-6mm. Tumbling is probably the simplest way to go. Both for garnets and wood. They can be tumbled together. However the garnets will take a long time. Idaho has the hardest garnet as far as I know, the almandine. And garnets being small and hard can take a long time to shape to smooth so that a polish can be put on them. There are two kinds of tumblers, a vibratory and a rotary. Vibes do best with final finish and rotaries do best shaping with coarser grits. Probably best to start with a Thumber's or Lortone Rotary, since they can do the job from start to finish. Starguy has sure mastered tumbling Idaho garnets. He has collected some fine nugget sized one over the years. Be tumbles and cabs them. Often bringing out the star pattern they put out. welcome to the forum and please enjoy yourself. A lot of great people and rich knowledge here.
|
|
bubbett1960
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
|
Hello
Feb 23, 2015 9:03:45 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by bubbett1960 on Feb 23, 2015 9:03:45 GMT -5
Thank you for the information. I don't have any tumblers as of yet. But know that sportsmans carry vibratory ones. Can anyone tell me if the garnets will be clear when tumbled? I can catch a glimpse of this beautiful raspberry color w a flashlight
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 23, 2015 9:15:45 GMT -5
Post by MrP on Feb 23, 2015 9:15:45 GMT -5
Thank you for the information. I don't have any tumblers as of yet. But know that sportsmans carry vibratory ones. Can anyone tell me if the garnets will be clear when tumbled? I can catch a glimpse of this beautiful raspberry color w a flashlight Those may not be for rocks. Make sure the ones you buy are for tumbling rocks.................MrP
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 24, 2015 4:31:10 GMT -5
Post by snowmom on Feb 24, 2015 4:31:10 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan. Lots of garnet enthusiasts on this board. Looking forward to seeing pictures of some of your finds!
|
|
bubbett1960
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2015
Posts: 3
|
Hello
Feb 24, 2015 10:30:59 GMT -5
via mobile
snowmom likes this
Post by bubbett1960 on Feb 24, 2015 10:30:59 GMT -5
Thank you I checked at sportsmans and the ones they carry are for tumbling brass casings:(. I will keep looking. And will post for sure when I have some done. I am trying to use my dremel w a diamond bit but I can not seem to put a polish on them I got one somewhat smooth but still not able to see anything. Not giving up.
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 24, 2015 13:06:53 GMT -5
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 13:06:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Better vibe tumblers work for both rock and metals. The lighter duty ones only handle lighter dry metal loads. Check specs before buying. As a beginner tumbler I would advise mastering a rotary tumbler first.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
|
Hello
Feb 26, 2015 22:14:28 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Feb 26, 2015 22:14:28 GMT -5
Welcome to the group......
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 27, 2015 15:06:36 GMT -5
Post by iant on Feb 27, 2015 15:06:36 GMT -5
Welcome Bubbett!
|
|