Jasper-hound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 208
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Post by Jasper-hound on Jul 10, 2011 16:57:07 GMT -5
I just had to share this beautiful stone with you. I ran it through the vibe that contained my moonstones, and it turned out perfectly. I feel that quartz (rose, smoky, rutilated) is better suited to tumble with feldspars than with jaspers and agates. I think the same is probably true of tiger eye as well. Pretty awesome piece, huh? My girlfriend Kate claimed it immediately. She has good taste. I had tried tumbling this stone in a previous run of jaspers and agates, and the edges got all frosted. I suppose you could say that this piece is smoky rutilated quartz, as it has sort of a light smokiness to it. Nice golden crystals of rutile within.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 10, 2011 19:38:27 GMT -5
Nicely done! I probably have the least expertise of anyone on this forum, but yeah. I think you can put Green Quartz (Aventurine) in that category as well. Either make it all Quartz - Rosy, Smoky, Green, maybe some Amethyst, or a bit of feldspar won't go down too harshly. I'm putting Jasp/Agates separate. I'm going to all rotary though, I can't tolerate the noise of the vibes any longer now that I've discovered how quiet the rotaries are. Back in the day, I don't think I even knew anyone who had a rotary. In the late 80s/early 90s, it was all about the "get rich quick" nonsense.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 11, 2011 18:31:42 GMT -5
beautiful piece of rutilated quartz, i have a weak spot fot that particular stone.
KD
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Post by paulshiroma on Jul 11, 2011 23:52:28 GMT -5
That is an awesome looking piece! Was that the same batch you found the piece of labradorite in?
Sorry, Peachfront but I'll challenge you for the "least" experience category. Your posts (the picture frame, some of the slabs) are awesome. I'm still trying to figure out which end to open off the barrels LOL! I end up keeping the rocks separated since I don't know which will tumble well together, consequently, it takes me forever to get to the "next" batch.
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Post by tanyafrench on Jul 12, 2011 7:54:25 GMT -5
Beautiful piece of Rutilated Quartz. You really did a great job in that Vibe. All I have are rotaries and I would love a vibe tumbler. It seems forever to go from the coarse to the finished stage, especially when someone is waiting for a specific piece.
Tanya
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Jasper-hound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 208
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Post by Jasper-hound on Jul 12, 2011 10:02:13 GMT -5
Tanya, my typical run is for two months in rotary w/ 60/90, recharged every two weeks. At that point, the stones go into the vibe with either 600 SiC or 1000 AO, depending on my mood. That step takes only two days. Then I wash for a day in the vibe full of water, with a little borax. Then I polish with AO in the vibe for two days. TAke the step and get the vibe! I do need the rotary for rough, and that takes a long time indeed, but the finishing stages go very fast in the vibe.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jul 13, 2011 0:41:20 GMT -5
My that is a awsome piece
Lovley
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