Post by stefan on Mar 21, 2011 10:04:27 GMT -5
Well I was inspired by Tom's Apache Tears tutorial so I decided to do one also! The material I chose was Woodward Ranch Agates. So First a little background. This rough was from the first WWR RTH fieldtrip oh so many years ago. Blarneystone collected it for me. It is ALL sawed endcuts or broken slab chunks. I started it on Wed. March 9, 2011. I only have rotary tumblers so thats what it will run in. I started it in a Chicago Electric 3 Lb barrel with 3 tbsp. 60/90 grit, about 3 tbsp. of old dried 60/90 slurry, a little under 3 pounds of rock, and water up to the bottom layer of the rock (barrel 3/4 full). After 4 days the Chicago Electric tumbler started acting up again (that's it I'm done with them!) so I switched everything into my Thumlers 3Lb barrel and continued on. Now because of the SLOW progress of the rotary I also tossed 3 or so Lbs of the same rough into my 12 Lb Thumlers that I normally use for course (along with a bunch of lakers, and ammy). I will use that in the later stages to "fill up" the lost rock.
So here is the course cut rock (taken wet)
After 10 days I decided to check- this was an alteration from my normal 2 week course runs and I realized why I never check a course run befor 2 weeks- there was still grit in the barrel- and I HATE wasting grit! But here they are after 10 days. All went back into the barrel with a recharge of 60/90 grit. I open the 12 Lber this weekend so I'll get some shots of that rough also. As always comments, questions, observations, or ridicule are always welcome...
After 10 days 60/90 (shown wet)
Here is some of the rough out of the ar12 after 2 weeks in course. This machine really shapes rock so much faster than the 3 lb barrels
And a few that are as good as they are gonna get
Hopefully next weekend will give me some more that are ready to move on. I also wanted to note that this being endcuts and such it is the WORST of the WORST as far as Woodward material goes. You should notice a lot of pits, and such as this rock can be pretty rough on the outside. My basic plan is to tumble it until I'm sure that more time won't improve it. I will then move it on. Stay tuned....
Ok here is the stuff out of the 3 lb barrel. Some shaping but progress seems slower so I'm gonna move this to the 12 lber next weekend.
And a couple that are ready to move on
I figure at least 4 weeks before we have enough to start 120/220
THings Progressed better these past 2 weeks. I pulled out enough to make almost a half load (1.5 of the 3 Lbs needed) Still a lot of pits and vugs- but that is the nature of this material.
The pile:
The ones that appear ready
Might be ready to start the next stage in 2 weeks.
Well Here is the batch out of 120/220. So far lots of pits and cracks- but that is the nature of these beasties! Did a double rinse on these to try to avoid contamination. They are in 500 now.
OK out of 500 and into prepolish. also bought a new laptop so i can tether my phone and actually go online and upload pix from my real camera Enjoy
Thanks for viewing.
So here is the course cut rock (taken wet)
After 10 days I decided to check- this was an alteration from my normal 2 week course runs and I realized why I never check a course run befor 2 weeks- there was still grit in the barrel- and I HATE wasting grit! But here they are after 10 days. All went back into the barrel with a recharge of 60/90 grit. I open the 12 Lber this weekend so I'll get some shots of that rough also. As always comments, questions, observations, or ridicule are always welcome...
After 10 days 60/90 (shown wet)
Here is some of the rough out of the ar12 after 2 weeks in course. This machine really shapes rock so much faster than the 3 lb barrels
And a few that are as good as they are gonna get
Hopefully next weekend will give me some more that are ready to move on. I also wanted to note that this being endcuts and such it is the WORST of the WORST as far as Woodward material goes. You should notice a lot of pits, and such as this rock can be pretty rough on the outside. My basic plan is to tumble it until I'm sure that more time won't improve it. I will then move it on. Stay tuned....
Ok here is the stuff out of the 3 lb barrel. Some shaping but progress seems slower so I'm gonna move this to the 12 lber next weekend.
And a couple that are ready to move on
I figure at least 4 weeks before we have enough to start 120/220
THings Progressed better these past 2 weeks. I pulled out enough to make almost a half load (1.5 of the 3 Lbs needed) Still a lot of pits and vugs- but that is the nature of this material.
The pile:
The ones that appear ready
Might be ready to start the next stage in 2 weeks.
Well Here is the batch out of 120/220. So far lots of pits and cracks- but that is the nature of these beasties! Did a double rinse on these to try to avoid contamination. They are in 500 now.
OK out of 500 and into prepolish. also bought a new laptop so i can tether my phone and actually go online and upload pix from my real camera Enjoy
Thanks for viewing.