vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 6, 2017 18:13:35 GMT -5
OK, my daughter and I have been tumbling rocks since we got her first tumbler for Christmas 2016. To date, we have been unable to produce a single shiny rock. Based on multiple posts and respondents here, this hobby is NOT as simple as Steps 1-4 as first laid out in the Nat Geo instruction manual that came with the tumbler. So, I would like to ask the following: 1) What grits are recommended for tumbling stages? I have bought grit from multiple vendors, so this seems to be one area where I can control stages. Who do you recommend for buying grit from and what grit , i.e. "150/220", for each stage? 2) How many real stages are their? Based on my limited knowledge, I only know of "Coarse", "Medium", "Fine" and "Polish". However, from these boards, I have learned that there could be a "pre-polish" stage as well as a "Borax" stage or stages.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Apr 6, 2017 18:25:08 GMT -5
Four stages are standard, some people do fewer, some do more, but 4 will get you the results you want. Clean thoroughly between stages. I just wash rocks off after coarse grind, but on finer stages I use an ivory soap (or borax) cleaning stage for 45 minutes or so to clean the rocks. Don't forget to add plastic pellets to prevent things from crashing around too much in the cleaning water. Stage 1 - coarse grind. 60/90 grit (which means between 60 and 90 mesh sizes) Stage 2 - fine grind (or I think your instructions call this medium). 120/220 grit. Stage 3 - pre-polish (I think your instructions call this fine grind). 500F grit (meaning finer than 500 mesh) Stage 4 - polish. I use aluminum oxide (AO) but there are other polishes out there too.
The Rock Shed in South Dakota can fix you up with all the grit you need, plus all sorts of crushed rock for tumbling. There are lots of other vendors too. -Don
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 6, 2017 20:08:07 GMT -5
Ok, vayank, those are your marching orders. No need to look further. That is what you do for results you want. Splurge on some agate or jasper too. Throw those in with her finds, she won't mind that you bought them.
And stage one takes as long as it takes. Not one week.
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Post by spiceman on Apr 6, 2017 20:22:31 GMT -5
Ok, another task. Take pictures of the rocks before tumbling. Some rocks don't polish good, someone will let you know if they are worth tumbling. Post before tumble pic....
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Post by aDave on Apr 6, 2017 20:41:17 GMT -5
I think you had the grits dialed in...at least in terms of the different varieties that you have on hand. FWIW, I think your main issue might be the rocks themselves. Do as Garage Rocker and rollingstone suggested and get some rocks, specifically jaspers or agates. They are the easiest to work with. When my son was younger, and we first tried tumbling, I went with the "one week for each stage" regimen as noted in the instructions. While the stones weren't perfectly shaped, we were still able to get a shine out of them - enough of a shine to where we were happy. Those stones were agates and jaspers; none were self collected rocks from the yard. I'm just curious, as I haven't read it anywhere, but how many rpm's is your barrel turning at, and is it the 2 lb barrel? ETA: Just so there's no confusion I don't do the one week coarse grind any more. I was simply trying to illustrate that rock quality can make a difference. Dave
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vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
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Post by vera on Apr 6, 2017 22:30:54 GMT -5
And stage one takes as long as it takes. Not one week. This is really important when using small rotary tumblers. I started some petrified wood the first week of January and they are all still in 60/90 grit. I finally got to move some softer stones from three other 3 lb barrels to 220 grit yesterday. I have been taking out single stones that were totally smooth each week from these barrels until I finally had enough for a single barrel of rocks that was ready to move to the finer grit. At least these rocks will move along faster now that they are finally smooth. Hope that helps a little.
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 7, 2017 14:50:57 GMT -5
Here is a picture that shows a pretty good selection of the types of rocks we have been finding in my immediate area, and are trying to tumble. I have no idea what any of them are, but would suspect at least some of them to be granite. Hopefully, one of you can tell me if some of our troubles are due to rock selection? IMG_2631 by Michael Aldrich, on Flickr
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 7, 2017 14:55:07 GMT -5
I'm just curious, as I haven't read it anywhere, but how many rpm's is your barrel turning at, and is it the 2 lb barrel? Dave I cannot find any specs for the original tumbler we got for her from National Geographic, so I am attaching a pic. It is a 1 lb barrel. rock_tumbler_hobby_3 by Michael Aldrich, on Flickr Our other tumbler is a Lortone 33B with two 3lb barrels.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 7, 2017 14:59:00 GMT -5
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 7, 2017 17:38:06 GMT -5
Are you referring to the tutorial on identifying rocks for noobs?
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Post by nowyo on Apr 7, 2017 18:00:02 GMT -5
Nothing exotic there, but some of them should take a decent polish. After you do this for a while you'll get a feel for what to throw in the tumbler. I've never run a tumbler that small, but like others have said the coarse step takes as long as it takes. I have some running in 46/70 that has been going for months. Rollingstones recipe looks pretty good. Run the coarse until the rocks are as round and smooth as you want them.
Russ
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 7, 2017 18:08:51 GMT -5
Nothing exotic there, but some of them should take a decent polish. After you do this for a while you'll get a feel for what to throw in the tumbler. I've never run a tumbler that small, but like others have said the coarse step takes as long as it takes. I have some running in 46/70 that has been going for months. Rollingstones recipe looks pretty good. Run the coarse until the rocks are as round and smooth as you want them. Russ Thanks, Russ. I/we are learning to put rocks back into the coarse stage after a week running. Also, napoleonrags has been kind enough to send us some local pet wood, jasper, agate, and quartzite from Colorado, so we started them in the 3lb Lortone barrel last week!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 7, 2017 19:24:46 GMT -5
Are you referring to the tutorial on identifying rocks for noobs? No. I was referring to the link to the PDF that takes you to an 11 page "how to tumble step-by-step with pictures" document.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Apr 7, 2017 21:21:00 GMT -5
All of the stuff I sent you was mohs 7. If I remember correctly some of it was partially through stage 1 but not all the way. A lot of that jasper isn't too spectacular, but it rounds out well and takes a good shine. Good fun and have luck,
Colin
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Apr 7, 2017 21:46:25 GMT -5
So glad to hear that you got some proven rough. When I was getting started several members here offered to send me some and I took Garagerocker up on his offer and it made a big difference. I knew if something didn't turn out it was something I was doing and not the material.
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notjustone
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 426
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Post by notjustone on Apr 7, 2017 22:51:47 GMT -5
So glad to hear that you got some proven rough. When I was getting started several members here offered to send me some and I took Garagerocker up on his offer and it made a big difference. I knew if something didn't turn out it was something I was doing and not the material. ohh man here I been buying boxes full all the while this garagerocker could have just sent me some free ones??? just kidding
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 8, 2017 9:03:36 GMT -5
So glad to hear that you got some proven rough. When I was getting started several members here offered to send me some and I took Garagerocker up on his offer and it made a big difference. I knew if something didn't turn out it was something I was doing and not the material. ohh man here I been buying boxes full all the while this garagerocker could have just sent me some free ones??? just kidding Ha!!! Imagine that, a guy in Kentucky, the land of limestone, sending tumbling material to a guy in Texas, rock hounding heaven!? Doesn't seem right, does it? richardh must have said all the right things. Truthfully, he was heading in the right direction and I knew he'd get it, he just needed some proven materials to see promising results. That sort of thing happens a lot around here. It's not coordinated, expected or even publicized, it's just the right thing to do. Whether it's materials or knowledge, they are both freely given to newcomers so they can advance in their new hobby. That's what is great about this collective membership. If you fell through the cracks and never got a 'welcome' package, let me know and I'll send you a batch of rough like Richard got.
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 8, 2017 9:08:49 GMT -5
Are you referring to the tutorial on identifying rocks for noobs? No. I was referring to the link to the PDF that takes you to an 11 page "how to tumble step-by-step with pictures" document. Very good information in here. Thank you!
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notjustone
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 426
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Post by notjustone on Apr 8, 2017 9:31:35 GMT -5
ohh man here I been buying boxes full all the while this garagerocker could have just sent me some free ones??? just kidding Ha!!! Imagine that, a guy in Kentucky, the land of limestone, sending tumbling material to a guy in Texas, rock hounding heaven!? Doesn't seem right, does it? richardh must have said all the right things. Truthfully, he was heading in the right direction and I knew he'd get it, he just needed some proven materials to see promising results. That sort of thing happens a lot around here. It's not coordinated, expected or even publicized, it's just the right thing to do. Whether it's materials or knowledge, they are both freely given to newcomers so they can advance in their new hobby. That's what is great about this collective membership. If you fell through the cracks and never got a 'welcome' package, let me know and I'll send you a batch of rough like Richard got.
I was just messin but thanks for the offer. I bought or won about 150 lbs of rough and a uv-10 in the past couple months at cheap prices on this board. great selection of rocks though. major kudos to you my fine sir. I shall not wear out your generosity and let it slide to one of the other members who is more deserving or in need.
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vayank5150
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 118
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Post by vayank5150 on Apr 8, 2017 16:12:25 GMT -5
I know there is no jealousy here, so I thought I would share a bit of the rough that napoleonrags sent to us. We have what we could fit into a 3lb tumbler tumbling now. IMG_2633 by Michael Aldrich, on Flickr
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