boyrock
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2014
Posts: 6
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Post by boyrock on Jun 24, 2014 10:35:27 GMT -5
Hi, My name is John, I'm 61 and live in Morro Bay, California. I really enjoy naturalizing (is that a word ?), being outdoors, fishing, hiking, camping, birding and I've found that rock collecting fits with all of these. Just have to keep your eyes open. While I've been looking at and collecting rocks for some time now, I've never done much with them other than ID them, and enjoy looking at them. Now that I'm retired I would like to try rock tumbling. I was recently camping in SE Nevada and collected some Apache Tears in Beaver Dam Wash. I borrowed a Lortone 3A tumbler from a friend to tumble them with. Followed the directions that came with the tumbler, and they looked good up until the final polishing stage was done. The concave parts have a nice shine, but the edges of most of them appear worn. Many also have a lot of chips on them. I knew Obsidian had a tendency to do that, and I used the plastic beads in all the stages as the directions said to do. Needless to say I am disappointed with the results of my first attempt at rock tumbling and am wondering what I did wrong. Advice would be appreciated, and thanks for the forum.
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junglejim
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 344
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Post by junglejim on Jun 24, 2014 11:15:55 GMT -5
Welcome John. Apache Tears from what I understand are pretty delicate and prone to chipping and frosting, a difficult tumble for a first batch. Don't be discouraged, my first batch didn't turn out the way I wanted either but the last couple batches has been much better. I think if you tumbled a harder rock like agates or Jasper you would have better results. The fact that you got a nice shine means you're heading in the right direction.
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stephent
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 213
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Post by stephent on Jun 24, 2014 11:22:13 GMT -5
Use more plastic beads in pre-polish and polish cycles....less stones. Fill to 80%-85% full. Use a cup of sugar in mix to thicken slurry. And welcome to the forum.
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boyrock
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2014
Posts: 6
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Post by boyrock on Jun 24, 2014 14:30:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. I'll keep at it.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jun 24, 2014 14:59:54 GMT -5
welcome boyrock, I tumble all the time and still have problems with obsidian and glass myself, keep at it and show us photos of how it goes.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jun 25, 2014 11:25:54 GMT -5
Welcome. Sounds like your tears are frosted. Lortone instructions say fill from 1/2 to 2/3, ignore this guideline. For obsidian you should be at 80 to 90 % full. This keeps the rocks from hitting each other too hard.
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boyrock
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2014
Posts: 6
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Post by boyrock on Jul 4, 2014 15:00:52 GMT -5
Thanks again for all the advice. This is a great forum. I've moved on to tumbling beach rocks that I've collected over the years. I don't think I have enough Obsidian for effective tumbling. I hope to get over in Nevada later in the year to do some collecting. John
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 7, 2014 8:40:34 GMT -5
Howdy John...Welcome...
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Post by snowmom on Jul 13, 2014 6:28:56 GMT -5
welcome John, I am trying tumbling for the first time after retirement too. Never had the time to learn before. you will find lots of good info on this board and lots of helpful folks. We love pictures, if you don't have photobucket or similar account, you'll want one... looking forward to seeing your posts on the boards.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 13, 2014 9:16:09 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. We've traveled all over the country and never found a place I like better than Morro Bay. Always feels like home when we go there. One thing not mentioned with plastic is you need dedicated pellets per stage. As said, the frosting is usually caused by under loaded barrels. You are close to some great beach rocks. The best beach around was closed last time we were there. The beach at the old motel at Piedras Blancas was solid beach gravel agates and occasional jade. Dead Man's beach across from San Simeon State campground has some nice rock too but more sparse. Good source for "San Simeon jasper".
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Post by columbiashores on Jul 18, 2014 1:48:31 GMT -5
Another newbie here, in southwest Washington. I found these in the Columbia: www.flickr.com/photos/wageslavery/14495280850/, www.flickr.com/photos/wageslavery/14678767221/. I'd love to know what the black one with the orangey red spots is (I'd love to find more of them, too!). That's the first lot I've tried to polish...some of them were successful, some were not, which is what led me here in search of tips. Trying out some of your ideas now on another batch, would love any additional insight on what I might've done right or wrong on these, or what that one rock is. Thanks!
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