Tumble as is or cut/break first?

[time2rollsomerock]

I've been finding and tumbling rocks for my wife because she's been ill. I've only searched our little farm because, well I have a sick wife.  I just pick up and Tumble anything that looks good. 

These two I didn't expect to find. The smaller one has windows but I don't see bands. I don't have a saw yet so should I just tumble it or wait to  cut it?

Should I break the bigger maybe red and green jasper and tumble or wait for a saw? 

Pics taken wet..

[vegasjames]

I would start by chipping off those crusts with a hammer. Especially that caliche crust so when you do go to tumble them that you are down to hard, solid material.

Then, if you are going to tumble them, break them up. Wear protection because they will create sharp, flying shards that can cut. I put a metal plate in one of those produce boxes with a lip around the top, so the box catches most the flying pieces. Then put the rock on the metal plate and smack it with a sledge hammer or rock hammer.

Save the rock chips for tumbler fill.

[time2rollsomerock]

Sept 22, 2024 15:06:26 GMT -5 vegasjames said:

I would start by chipping off those crusts with a hammer. Especially that caliche crust so when you do go to tumble them that you are down to hard, solid material.

Then, if you are going to tumble them, break them up. Wear protection because they will create sharp, flying shards that can cut. I put a metal plate in one of those produce boxes with a lip around the top, so the box catches most the flying pieces. Then put the rock on the metal plate and smack it with a sledge hammer or rock hammer.

Save the rock chips for tumbler fill.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking of doing but thought I better ask.

[chaosdsm]

Personally, I would not break the rocks, doing so can add fractures that may give you trouble during tumbling.

If it were me, I would toss it in my 11lb rotary with 36 grit for a week, then evaluate them to see of they need some hand cutting or grinding.

[lordsorril]

I would also tumble them in coarse grit for a week and see what they look like. 
But, if you are running small tumblers-then I would definitely break them up as recommended above.

[chris1956]

The larger one looks like it might be a good one to slab with all the veins going through it (assuming you can wait for a saw).