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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 18:44:14 GMT -5
Hi all, Actually, one is a grit question but there's alot of grit threads right now. Anywho, I've had a load of plume (or crazy lace, not sure) agate and moss agate running in coarse for 15 days now. The Moss agate is not responding as well as the plume. The plume is smoothing out some, especialy where the viens are clear, but the moss isn't doing much. The edges are still very sharp and the main body is smoothing some but not like the plume. Why would this be? Are there different hardness of agate? Also, I'm not a very good judge of how much the grit has broken down, so I recharge ever 5-7 days. Is there such a thing as too much grit in the coarse stage?
thanks cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 12, 2004 19:02:09 GMT -5
hey cookie you use a vib machine dont ya? what iv read here is a vibe dosent shape rock very well, but there great on the finishing stages, if it was me id save up and get a rolling tumbler for 60/90 and finish in the vibe, you could prob finish batches faster because iv herd the vibe is like twice as fast with finishing i been thinking about doing that same thing and getting a used vibe to try for finishing
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 12, 2004 19:07:43 GMT -5
my first experience with moss agate it that is was tough as old boots. sharp and nasty mainly cuz what i ordered came in large lumps and i had to break them up with a hammer and chisel.....these are some of the bad boys i will toss back into the mix next time. some of the smaller pieces cames out quite nice but yes, although they purport to to be MOH 7, i think some moss agates have a definite attitude.
(agates with purpose), KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 19:08:27 GMT -5
This stuff is going to be really pretty when its done, the plume is sooo colorful. But it may be June 2005 before it gets out of coarse cookie
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 19:26:02 GMT -5
KrazyD, How long did you keep them in coarse? Did you go through the whole tumble or give up at some point? I'll show these bad boys what attitude is all about. Sandman, I saw where you had purchased some on ebay that looked just like what I got (bad memories, fron astrogallery). Have you done them yet? cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 12, 2004 19:37:12 GMT -5
i have only done a few batches (finishing my 4th as we speak). the moss agate i did with some bloodstone (another hearty stone) and the larger pieces i just set aside on the Group W bench. starting thinking about getting fish and a fishtank just to put the rejects in the tank.....reject stones, that is.
but i had those suckers in there for all of 10 days.....i'd broken a belt in the between time, so i reckoned i had some makeup time...the barrel had gone real sludgy and i had to empty it and practically start over....
i must have got lucky on my first run because i seem to have had problems with either undercharging or overcharging my barrel on the subsequent times. and of course, there are the belts and the power cuts. (i live in the woodchuck lands).
but i love it, i absolutely love the process.....with each batch of rock i complete, i feel rich! like the cat litter commercial...."diamonds! we're RICH!"
if only, huh?
KD
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Post by Harry on Jun 12, 2004 20:10:37 GMT -5
Hello. I will keep a close eye on this thread, because I am having the same nightmare with Brazilian Agate and India Agate. I have tumbled it for 5 weeks in a 60-90 sc grit and it is pretty much about the same as when I stared. I am using a rotary tumbler also. I think this stuff is harder than diamonds. I will tumble til it's done.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 12, 2004 20:12:40 GMT -5
cookie i have a few pieces floatin around in dif barrels i havent got any to polish stage yet,, it is very stubborn but a few are looking nice soon i think i bought moss agate but i think it was kim that told me what it realy was its tree agate but tough all the same
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 20:27:14 GMT -5
Sandman, As I remember it, you thought it was tree agate (which is mostly green) but it was moss (which is mostly white) I just remember that because when I went to that local rockshop the first time, that's the first thing I recognised and really lusted after till I got it.
Harry, we can do it! Let me know your progress since you are using rotary and I'm using a vibe.
cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 12, 2004 20:27:24 GMT -5
yep...we must have luck in the same hard vein, i bought some Brazilian and some Blue agate and altho it wants to be beautiful it fails with too many flaws. also i tried too big of piece. i mashed what i had left with a hammer and that is part of my upcoming batch.....(i hammer in the evening, all over this land..)
try prarie agate, that is the stone i have had the best results with and most varied colors and striations. well, so far, anyway, i am still a newbie. drills easier too.
KD
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jun 12, 2004 20:32:38 GMT -5
Cookie, John is right about a vibe not shaping. If you don't have a rotary tumbler, save up and get one.
I start my rough in the vibe and run it for a few days (or until I have a barrel available). Putting it in the vibe for a few days starts taking all the junk off, but doesn't shape. Then I put them in the rotary for shaping. It seems to make the process a little faster.
Any way you do it, though, those darn agates just take time! I have some that have been in either 46/70 or 60/90 for well over a month! BE has had some purple agate in 46/70 since April 18 or thereabouts!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 21:00:15 GMT -5
*heavy sigh* OK, I'll just be jealous of what you guys have untill mine take shape. And I'll start saving up (and look online, unless someone has a 3# they are lookin to sell) for a rotary. What about the grit? Is the frequent charging OK?
cookie
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 12, 2004 22:26:27 GMT -5
some agates are just plain tough I bought some superior agates and have tumbled them for almost 4 weeks and they still need more time. tumble until YOU are satisified with how they look. now back in the soup and tumble.
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Jun 12, 2004 23:35:39 GMT -5
Cookie, this is how I tell if the grit has broken down. I stick my hand into the barrel and run my fingers across the bottom of the barrel. (You can use a rubber glove if you want to.) I then check the slurry on my hand. If the grit hasn't broken down you will see it on your hands. You can also feel it if you rub your fingers together. If it has broken down completely then the slurry on your hands will look like hot chocolate except gray instead of brown. Experience will tell you how far the grit has broken down. Alot of grit on your hands tells you it still has lots of life yet. Very little, then it's up to you whether you want to recharge (faster grinding) or not (full use of grit). Hope this helps.
Otter
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Jun 12, 2004 23:37:27 GMT -5
Cookie, this is how I tell if the grit has broken down. I stick my hand into the barrel and run my fingers across the bottom of the barrel. (You can use a rubber glove if you want to.) I then check the slurry on my hand. If the grit hasn't broken down you will see it on your hands. You can also feel it if you rub your fingers together. If it has broken down completely then the slurry on your hands will look like hot chocolate except gray instead of brown. Experience will tell you how far the grit has broken down. Alot of grit on your hands tells you it still has lots of life yet. Very little, then it's up to you whether you want to recharge (faster grinding) or not (full use of grit). Hope this helps.
Otter
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 12, 2004 23:45:32 GMT -5
Thanks Otter, I checked it today and the slurry was still grey, but there wasn't much of it. I recharged, but used the full amount for the load, not just 3 tablespoons like I had been doing. Can there be too much grit?
cookie
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Jun 12, 2004 23:55:37 GMT -5
The only problem with using alot of grit is that if you are doing something that shapes rather quickly you may not use all the grit (i.e. it won't break down completely) and you just end up wasting some of it. However it doesn't sound like that is your problem. I would however check your barrel tomorrow. More grit means a thicker slurry. And remember that your slurry will always be grey whether all your grit has broken down or not. Just use the "feel' test.
Otter
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Jun 13, 2004 3:27:29 GMT -5
I've been running 2 different loads of agate, for almost 3 months in 60/90 now. It's normal. Agates take a long time. Be very very patient. If you rush, you'll only be disoppointed.
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Post by Harry on Jun 13, 2004 14:52:33 GMT -5
Cookie, this is how I tell if the grit has broken down. I stick my hand into the barrel and run my fingers across the bottom of the barrel. (You can use a rubber glove if you want to.) I then check the slurry on my hand. If the grit hasn't broken down you will see it on your hands. You can also feel it if you rub your fingers together. If it has broken down completely then the slurry on your hands will look like hot chocolate except gray instead of brown. Experience will tell you how far the grit has broken down. Alot of grit on your hands tells you it still has lots of life yet. Very little, then it's up to you whether you want to recharge (faster grinding) or not (full use of grit). Hope this helps. Otter I hear a lot about recharging the tumbler. Does adding more grit work better than changing out the whole load and adding new grit? When I check mine I always dump the old grit and wash them good and put them in new grit. Am I doing this wrong?
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 13, 2004 15:54:43 GMT -5
harry thats what i do i give them a fresh start again, if not the rock dust buildes up in the bottom making a thick sludge, and rock and new grit gets cought up in it and your tumbling for nothing,, but thats just my opinion hahaha seeya---john
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