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Post by adam on Feb 29, 2016 11:52:09 GMT -5
I'm just gonna hook you in with this here KY agate. I have tumbled and tumbled this thing in coarse. So on to the finer grits. This tumble is one of 2 that came from a larger stone that was impossible to tumble properly. If the pictures are too big, oh well.
Now the backside. This ain't no double edged sword. It has flaws.
This is the second stone.
Here is another one from Jackson County, KY.
More KY agate, one I tumbled almost a year ago, when I was a real amateur. Don't know if I should put it back in the coarse grind or leave it alone. Just another reason why tumbling this stuff isn't a good idea. Either I screwed up somewhere, or this stuff ain't meant for tumbling. This is the end of the KY tumbles. The rest are from CA.
Here's some California petrified wood that been through pre-polish. I hand polished it.
Don't know what you would call this. No plumes or moss look. Just spotted. Been through coarse grind.
Another.
This is pretty, but alas, the fractures.
Your geuss is mine. Because these pictures are so big and the internet is being slow, I'll post a link to my tumbles. That's not all of them, either.
Really, I need some advice to get quality results. How long does it take in coarse grind to get rid of these flaws and pits? Most of these been in there for over 2 weeks. I know some members will tumble theirs in coarse for 2 months or more, but I only have one tumbler with so much other rocks that need to be tumbled, and I just don't have the money like most of you do to ship and buy materials every so often. I'm running low on plastic pellets. Do they help in the coarse grind? I've tried the pellets with the CA tumbles. I've also been reusing my coarse slurry the past month. I guess the slurry gets too fine to grind away the flaws, and a fresh batch of coarse must be used. One problem after another.
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Post by adam on Feb 29, 2016 11:56:07 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Feb 29, 2016 12:05:28 GMT -5
Kentucky's are special Adam. Amazing but rare agates come from there. you got some of the fine stuff in there.
You may have better luck holding the camera a few more inches away from the rock. some cameras do not focus up close.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 29, 2016 12:43:59 GMT -5
Adam, I know I'm new at this, but here's what I am noticing about the agate pieces I have found. Lots O fractures! I have decided to break them down to either very uniform pieces where there are no protrusions to break off or get a piece that is from one band, without fracture. I have a few pieces in with my tumble now, they've been going for a month and at last cleanout the KY agate was holding up and shaping nicely. I won't slap myself on the back until the deal is done, but so far so good. It looked to me like the bigger the piece the more likely to break and/or undercut. I have some big, really big chunks that I'm setting aside until I can cut and grind to see if that works better than tumbling.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 29, 2016 13:02:51 GMT -5
I also break down the rock with fractures and some I grind to form,before tumbling..All rocks can be worked (one way or the other)... Take your time and study the rock,ideas will come to you...Keep tumbling,your doing great!
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Post by pauls on Feb 29, 2016 15:44:19 GMT -5
That first Orange and blue one is going to be a real gem. I would be grinding those deep pits out so that you dont lose as much of the good stuff. Two weeks in course grind is nowhere near long enough for tough old Agates, two months you will probably be getting somewhere, have a look weekly, tip them into a seive over a bucket to save your slurry, wash, pull out any stones that all the pits and cracks have ground out of, throw any that look like they are always going to be unsuitable in the garden, a little bit of grinding to remove deep pits before the stone all grinds away is a good idea, then put them back with the slurry and some fresh grit and roll em. You shouldn't need plastic pellets in the coarse grind, if you need to fill up space fill it with rocks. Patience grasshopper, you will get there.
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Post by adam on Feb 29, 2016 20:03:49 GMT -5
pauls, are you talking about using a lap to grind my KY agate? I don't have them tools. I'd be happy to have someone finish it up for me, if and when I get the money. But shipping and costs to grind/cut rocks can add up. I'd rather wait to purchase my own tools, unless you think I can make a dollar from giving these agates a superior finish?
I already have a bucket... will have to buy a new once since I'll be traveling Greyhound in the coming week and I can't take it with me. I have a AMES sledgehammer, a new one, a flathead screwdriver to use as a spike, and I have some brushes, a plastic brush, a brass one, and a steel one.
Also, I have a tiny hole that's formed on the rubber boot that covers the metal lid to my 3A. Will duct tape fix the problem of leaking slurry? Or will I have to buy new parts? Either way, I'll be spending money, but duct tape is cheaper and fixes just about anything.
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Post by pauls on Mar 1, 2016 15:33:17 GMT -5
If you haven't got a grinder or lap then stick with rolling them, all they really need is more time, grinding just shortens the time. If you haven't got a bucket to tip the slurry into just hook them out by hand, inspect then continue. Thats what I do just sample a handful to get an idea of how gritty the grit is, how the rocks are going. It sounds like you are travelling light so all the best.
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