stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 11:54:56 GMT -5
Would I get better feedback if I made a thread for each rock individually? Or is it better if I have a question like this to have 4-5 rocks on one thread?
I will be starting my first tumble today. I just wanted a few experienced tumblers opinion on these stones.
#1- The first one (approx. 3" in length) to me looks like it is half quartz and the other half is another type of rock. Where they are joined is there a good possibility of it separating and contamination my abrasives.
#2- The second (approx. 1 1/2" round) is a nice quartz that is/would be very clear if it made it to the tumbling. Is it worth it to try or not worth the risk? My little inner voice is saying "do not tumble" lol How do you know what fractures will hold and which will break? (I'm assuming experience.)
#3- The third (between 1 1/2" and 2") are of 2 rocks that are made of different materials. The middle of the rock on the left (grey area maybe quartz) is a bit indented. I am worried about it being softer than the rest of the rock and wearing during the tumbling leaving contaminates. After looking at the picture it appears to be quartz and I think I would be okay to tumble it. The second rock I am more worried about. The grey areas are lower than the tan areas and it looks a little granular. Would the grey area grind down into particles that would ruin a polish? What do you think?
#4- The fourth ( approx. 3"x 2") is a really cool rock. I hope it is hard enough to tumble. It has some other type of rock fuzed into it. I was worried about all the little tiny pits and maybe thinking the rock wasn't hard enough. Cool rock.
Thanks for any and all help!
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 13:08:06 GMT -5
Would there be any reason why I couldn't put any type of rock I was unsure of into the First Stage of tumbling and then assess after the first stage is over? I could always remove them before the 2nd Stage? I cant think of any disadvantage of doing this.
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Post by orrum on Aug 5, 2016 14:15:33 GMT -5
I toss everything n the tumbler. It either makes a pretty tumble or fantastic slurry!
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Aug 5, 2016 17:36:42 GMT -5
I am a total greenhorn here but my rule of thumb for now is that if I can’t scratch it with an iron nail then it goes in to a “hard stones” batch. If I can scratch it with the nail I set it aside for later. I have had major headaches from rocks made of different materials so I tend to shy away from them for now.
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Post by pauls on Aug 5, 2016 17:40:00 GMT -5
I would toss the first, or you could try hitting it with a hammer to split along the crack, The piece of quartz I would saw along those cracks, if you dont have a saw try a cold chisel and hammer it apart, it looks good stuff. The others just throw them in, see how they look after a week or two in coarse. Your idea of throwing them in and then assessing them is spot on, but be ruthless when you check them.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Aug 5, 2016 17:43:33 GMT -5
Give it a shot. Those are not once in a lifetime rocks so you will not be out anything if they failed. Besides, every good tumbler has wrecked at least one rock of a lifetime. I have wrecked many. Until you have wrecked something that is valued by you, you will never retain the lessons you are slowly learning.
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 5, 2016 18:03:21 GMT -5
throw'em all in, what is too soft will make nice slurry. Check them fairly often to make sure they aren't out gassing, add some borax if they are. Scrutinize them after the coarse grind and assess who moves up to the next stage. Even the failed ones make nice filler for another batch, fill in holes in your driveway and make great drainage for potted plants. No rocks are safe!
KD
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 5, 2016 18:42:55 GMT -5
throw'em all in, what is too soft will make nice slurry. Check them fairly often to make sure they aren't out gassing, add some borax if they are. Scrutinize them after the coarse grind and assess who moves up to the next stage. Even the failed ones make nice filler for another batch, fill in holes in your driveway and make great drainage for potted plants. No rocks are safe! KD They all went in. And even a few others I hadn't planned on
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Post by orrum on Aug 5, 2016 20:38:53 GMT -5
Way to go!!!
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Post by spiceman on Aug 5, 2016 21:13:38 GMT -5
I understand your thoughts about tumble or no tumble...waste of time and grit. What is the right answer? You have the answer but sometimes it's hard to find. Do what you feel is right and take good notes. So, if this comes up again and I'm sure it will... Your already have the answer. Find a way for you to see the answer ( cutting, dremel tool or whatever) and you make the decision. You are never wrong if you make it yourself. Good luck. I've been through the same set of guestions and still am today. Being a Ohio guy, I'm afraid of letting something go that may be cool. So I tumble everything but now my notes answer the question. Do what you feel is right and you won the game.
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Post by fernwood on Aug 5, 2016 22:04:03 GMT -5
throw'em all in, what is too soft will make nice slurry. Check them fairly often to make sure they aren't out gassing, add some borax if they are. Scrutinize them after the coarse grind and assess who moves up to the next stage. Even the failed ones make nice filler for another batch, fill in holes in your driveway and make great drainage for potted plants. No rocks are safe! KD They all went in. And even a few others I hadn't planned on No guts no glory.
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Post by Peruano on Aug 6, 2016 8:19:18 GMT -5
Hey you will have fun when you see them again. #1 is probably a bust. All the others are potentials. We all tumble those white quartz pebbles and some of us are even amazed at how pretty they can be once they take a shine. The price is right so go ahead and waste some rocks. Think of it as saving some of them from obscurity if laying on a stream bank or in a farmers field is obscurity. Good luck. Tom
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 8, 2016 13:21:08 GMT -5
Hounding some rocks for my second batch. Some of these rocks have what I will call bruises. I'm assuming they are cause by other rocks being against them and tons of pressure. Question. When I tumble these are the small round spots going to turn into pits?
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Aug 8, 2016 14:17:03 GMT -5
They will grind away
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Post by washingtonrocks on Aug 8, 2016 23:17:03 GMT -5
stonedape, do you live in a known gold producing region? Asking because a couple of those rocks look like some ore I've come across in my area.
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stonedape
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by stonedape on Aug 8, 2016 23:44:16 GMT -5
stonedape, do you live in a known gold producing region? Asking because a couple of those rocks look like some ore I've come across in my area. I actually have no idea. I live in South Mississippi. Which rocks in particular?
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