rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Apr 15, 2010 21:32:53 GMT -5
Impressive! I've never had stones show anything but a matte finish after pre-polish. -Don
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yaygems
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 41
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Post by yaygems on Apr 15, 2010 22:24:56 GMT -5
Thank you Paul. I am excited And thank you, Don, I was super happy to see that kind of shine on them dry. In the previous week's photos they were very matte-looking. I was given a tip to do a burnish between every grit stage and I think that has really helped. That one step will be a must-do for my future batches!
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Post by Toad on Apr 16, 2010 8:14:46 GMT -5
They are looking great.
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karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
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Post by karock on Apr 22, 2010 21:57:24 GMT -5
I was going to chime in but all of the pro's here have given good tips. The only think I do is some time pre- round the stones with a 40 or 60 grit wheel or flat lap, it can save weeks on the harder stones. Karock
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yaygems
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 41
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Post by yaygems on Apr 24, 2010 18:55:56 GMT -5
Hi Karok, thank you. I have no idea what the equipment is. Still learning and totally not opposed to learning about what the machinery is and how to use it. I just wonder if I have room for it! I have a T-O-N of photos for my results. The rocks have been tumbling in Cerium Oxide with plastic pellets and leather scraps from April 14th to April 24th. (10 days) On the 24th I rinsed them out and put them through a final burnish with Ivory soap along with the pellets and leather scraps that were in the barrel initially for the polishing phase. The final burnish was about 20 hours. Photographed dry. I am very pleased with the high shine they are displaying. There are certainly some things I would do differently if working with the fossil agate next time. Brazilian Amethyst This piece either acquired an internal fracture or already had an inclusion where, under direct sunlight it displayed a gradient rainbow in the shape of a star!!! I picked out a specimen that had some beautiful veils under the sunlight that also displayed rainbows. They say this is very good luck when your quartz shows rainbows. I wish the camera could pick up just how spectacular this specimen's veils spun through. Again, photographed dry. I loveeee the polish these got. *claps wildly* And now for some specimen highlights for this rock type out of this batch: Hard to photograph but this piece has some really beautiful intricate marbling throughout, and the fossil not quite on the surface makes them look almost like they are hiding in shadows. Here a specimen with a shell on the surface. I have had my eye on this specimen from the start. It somehow has rich rust color woven through the rock. I am unsure what exactly it is but it swirls beautifully. Another angle: This piece is flat, long, and curvy perfect as a worry stone, only it is very thin: There are parts that you can see through if you hold it up to he light and it is the color of amber. A display of the best specimens showing heavy fossil density on the surface. This specimen has a geode-like cut with drusy crystal formation. Final photo. I am so happy to see these finally done. I will be checking my batch of labradorite tomorrow. I have batch #3 going that I will post about. They are moonstones. Thank you for looking!
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 24, 2010 19:39:05 GMT -5
Your batch turned out beautifully. I just love Turitella. Love Ammy too! Jo
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Post by Roller on Apr 24, 2010 20:11:48 GMT -5
Really nice batch ... Good work !!! I like the one with the drusy and the orangey ones ..
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dmharrisn
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2010
Posts: 14
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Post by dmharrisn on Apr 30, 2010 16:24:32 GMT -5
My 9 year old and I are just starting all of this. We love, love the turritella and are wondering where you can get it? We currently have a batch of mixed rocks, with lots of amethyst in...
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yaygems
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 41
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Post by yaygems on Apr 30, 2010 16:45:18 GMT -5
Thanks all! I sure wouldn't mind another go of the agate but 11 weeks is just on the edge of grating my patience having only one tumbler. With another it wouldn't be so tough I think. DM I got my stock at therockshed.com The rough I have received from there has been quite impressive. I totally recommend the store for its stock of rough and other supplies. Otherwise, I have made one purchase from eBay and that has been all so far.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 30, 2010 21:18:44 GMT -5
Those turned out great, beautiful batches!!
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on May 3, 2010 4:32:35 GMT -5
fantastic , this is the first time I saw your very detailed post thanks,and a super batch of gems you should be doing heaps of clapping ang cheering for. well done... ppork
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styles24
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 21
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Post by styles24 on Jan 8, 2011 7:58:17 GMT -5
I gotta say those turritella look amazing. I got 1lb of them from the rockshed.com for my dad for christmas and cant wait until they are done. Good job!!
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yaygems
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 41
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Post by yaygems on Jan 8, 2011 13:17:03 GMT -5
Hi Styles. Thank you! I hope yours does well for you. This is one rock I would love to keep trying to tumble and tumble to get just a perfect few specimens out of several batches that would be amazing for display.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 9, 2011 10:34:28 GMT -5
That's pretty much what I do, save the perfect ones for my wooden display box. I haven't tumbled anything since the summer, I'm ready to get my tumblers going again. My garage isn't heated but I do have a space heater that I sit next to me to do a few cabs once in a while (until the water freezes my hands). I also pre-shape everything, this speeds up the first stage a bit and adds to the amount of perfect stones in the final stage. Since I do all of my grinding outside (and it's freezing temps) ,,,, lol
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yaygems
starting to shine!
Member since February 2010
Posts: 41
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Post by yaygems on Jan 9, 2011 11:25:24 GMT -5
It wasn't until after the first couple of batches I had go to polish that I discovered the dremel sets to help with shaping. I didn't realize they were that affordable. (I'd only seen the big fancy stuff at the hardware stores until I looked online) For sure when I'm up and running the barrels again and especially with the turritellas, I'll be doing some pre-shaping. Can't wait!
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jasperblue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Diggin' This
Member since August 2010
Posts: 140
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Post by jasperblue on Jan 11, 2011 1:07:21 GMT -5
Hi, welcome. As you can see, this is the place to come for the best and most variety of tumbling advice. Heed Susan24224's message...this is a full blown addiction (but a very healthy one) that you're getting into. Your first batch is looking good. Keep going with em'. It normally takes hundreds, sometimes thousands of years for nature to polish rocks like the pros here at RTH do. Patience is defiantly the key. Even after you successfully finish 50 loads, you will get a load that just wants to give you trouble. And it will take you back to the beginning again. Keep asking the members here specific questions and you will surely get the answers you need. -Chris
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