lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Jun 4, 2017 12:14:36 GMT -5
OK, I realize this is a very subjective question. My thought was to be sure every flaw, crack, pit, and hard-to-polish place was eliminated before I moved the stones from coarse to the next standard step. (Next step is the grit that comes with the Lortone kit, 120/220) But I wonder if I'm being too aggressive. The problem is that the rocks are disappearing. I'm currently tumbling the Worldwide Tumbling Contest rocks, and most of them are quite soft, but still have flaws. They are pretty well shaped, and I've taken out any with major flaws, but.... how much does medium grit eliminate flaws, and how much does it just prepare the surface? If I keep going like this, I might end up with just a tub of slurry.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 4, 2017 12:40:14 GMT -5
All the tumbling stages use abrasive grit and will grind the rocks to a degree . 120/220 is not very aggressive so it won't remove as much of the rock , meaning it won't remove mush of the flaws either . But with softer material , depending on what the flaws are , it could reduce them .
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Jun 4, 2017 13:56:46 GMT -5
I think I'd better pull some tonight. I suppose if the next grit doesn't get them where they need to be, I could back up a step, but that's a lot of hassle with only one tumbler. Aha! Light bulb moment! What I need is -- a second tumbler! Right, you bunch of enablers? Except, not gonna happen anytime soon, as I pretty much shot the budget with the woolly rhinoceros jaw half I bought this week....
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 4, 2017 14:10:44 GMT -5
If (when) you decide to get another tumbler , maybe look at the double barrel rollers . Get a big one so you can keep up with the vibe you will be getting next . Feed the addiction .
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 4, 2017 15:35:08 GMT -5
I think I'd better pull some tonight. I suppose if the next grit doesn't get them where they need to be, I could back up a step, but that's a lot of hassle with only one tumbler. Aha! Light bulb moment! What I need is -- a second tumbler! Right, you bunch of enablers? Except, not gonna happen anytime soon, as I pretty much shot the budget with the woolly rhinoceros jaw half I bought this week.... Maybe someone will trade you another tumbler for the rhino jaw.. You coud get a second mortgage. Can you sell children ? Need another tumbler. It will stop the shaking and the tremors.. for a while.. Then you'll need another tumbler of course. hehehehe
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Jun 4, 2017 21:44:43 GMT -5
Not the answer you want but you have to get the rocks almost perfect in the coarse run or you will not be satisfied with the result. No cracks, divots. flaws, rough spots, fractures etc.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,553
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Post by jamesp on Jun 7, 2017 4:01:23 GMT -5
It takes good rocks to get good tumbles. Crap in = crap out. Look at each rock you put in your tumbler as if it were a chunk of glass with no cracks, divots, pockets. No different than a diamond with no flaws. The less flaws the more the value. Agates and jasper and pet wood(any rocks used for tumbling) no different. Tricky part is finding quality rocks. This is coral I hammered out of bigger stones. Most were ground on diamond cup. Probably removed half of the rock getting rid of cracks, pits, divots. Many more were tossed because they did not make the cut. For instance, if the left half of the rock has cracks or porosity it was ground off prior to tumbling. If it was left to the tumbler it would have had to tumble to nothing. Call it selective removal of defects.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2017 18:10:03 GMT -5
Smoother than the inside of a watermelon.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 8, 2017 1:42:43 GMT -5
From the original post: "but.... how much does medium grit eliminate flaws, and how much does it just prepare the surface?"
Answer: It only prepares the surface, it does not eliminate any remaining flaws. The stones you move on from coarse grind will not change before final polish, except for getting a lot shinier. Fine grind (120/220) in a rotary tumbler won't remove any remaining blemishes, pits, or cracks -- that kind of shaping can only be accomplished in coarse grind, or with mechanical means like a grinding wheel, saw, or Dremel tool.
I realize you want perfect stones to move to the next stage, but sometimes the material just won't allow that. I'm tumbling a bunch of Botswana agates right now, and I try to remove the pits and flaws and cracks as best I can, but in the real world sometimes you can never remove them all, and you just have to move the stones forward when you feel they are the best that you can make them.
-Don
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 5:49:28 GMT -5
Not the answer you want but you have to get the rocks almost perfect in the coarse run or you will not be satisfied with the result. No cracks, divots. flaws, rough spots, fractures etc. PLUS 1 brother..
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 5:56:42 GMT -5
It takes good rocks to get good tumbles. Crap in = crap out. Look at each rock you put in your tumbler as if it were a chunk of glass with no cracks, divots, pockets. No different than a diamond with no flaws. The less flaws the more the value. Agates and jasper and pet wood(any rocks used for tumbling) no different. Tricky part is finding quality rocks. This is coral I hammered out of bigger stones. Most were ground on diamond cup. Probably removed half of the rock getting rid of cracks, pits, divots. Many more were tossed because they did not make the cut. For instance, if the left half of the rock has cracks or porosity it was ground off prior to tumbling. If it was left to the tumbler it would have had to tumble to nothing. Call it selective removal of defects. Thanks James for telling the reality. So many people who sell you a set of grits,tumblers or tumble rock just sell you the fantasy and the really successful people like RTH family folks dig deeper and help the newer family to get it right if they really want to do a good job. Just grind all your good parts of the rock to rock mud if you don't clean them up and do a gppd job prepping. Just getting this figured out now. Thanks Jim Have a low humidity day. Have extra room in the house if you guys want to sneak away to the cool mountains for a week, month... C
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 5:58:52 GMT -5
From the original post: "but.... how much does medium grit eliminate flaws, and how much does it just prepare the surface?" Answer: It only prepares the surface, it does not eliminate any remaining flaws. The stones you move on from coarse grind will not change before final polish, except for getting a lot shinier. Fine grind (120/220) in a rotary tumbler won't remove any remaining blemishes, pits, or cracks -- that kind of shaping can only be accomplished in coarse grind, or with mechanical means like a grinding wheel, saw, or Dremel tool. I realize you want perfect stones to move to the next stage, but sometimes the material just won't allow that. I'm tumbling a bunch of Botswana agates right now, and I try to remove the pits and flaws and cracks as best I can, but in the real world sometimes you can never remove them all, and you just have to move the stones forward when you feel they are the best that you can make them. -Don Yep Real good advice from experience. Cant always have everything perfect and accept what you cant.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,553
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Post by jamesp on Jun 8, 2017 5:59:10 GMT -5
It takes good rocks to get good tumbles. Crap in = crap out. Look at each rock you put in your tumbler as if it were a chunk of glass with no cracks, divots, pockets. No different than a diamond with no flaws. The less flaws the more the value. Agates and jasper and pet wood(any rocks used for tumbling) no different. Tricky part is finding quality rocks. This is coral I hammered out of bigger stones. Most were ground on diamond cup. Probably removed half of the rock getting rid of cracks, pits, divots. Many more were tossed because they did not make the cut. For instance, if the left half of the rock has cracks or porosity it was ground off prior to tumbling. If it was left to the tumbler it would have had to tumble to nothing. Call it selective removal of defects. Thanks James for telling the reality. So many people who sell you a set of grits,tumblers or tumble rock just sell you the fantasy and the really successful people like RTH family folks dig deeper and help the newer family to get it right if they really want to do a good job. Just grind all your good parts of the rock to rock mud if you don't clean them up and do a gppd job prepping. Just getting this figured out now. Thanks Jim Have a low humidity day. Have extra room in the house if you guys want to sneak away to the cool mountains for a week, month... C
The good part of pre-grind. Perfect tumbles in only 2 weeks of coarse grind. That is about how long it takes to remove the grind marks.
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 6:03:24 GMT -5
I think I'd better pull some tonight. I suppose if the next grit doesn't get them where they need to be, I could back up a step, but that's a lot of hassle with only one tumbler. Aha! Light bulb moment! What I need is -- a second tumbler! Right, you bunch of enablers? Except, not gonna happen anytime soon, as I pretty much shot the budget with the woolly rhinoceros jaw half I bought this week.... Wooly Rhino Jaw.. Haven't heard that expression since I had a mother in law and she was always jawing on about her facial hair. grin.. If you wont sell the jaw to buy another tumbler maybe you can sell the car, the kid's bicycle, its a long time until the kids will need that college fund too... Hope that helps..
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 6:11:15 GMT -5
Thanks James for telling the reality. So many people who sell you a set of grits,tumblers or tumble rock just sell you the fantasy and the really successful people like RTH family folks dig deeper and help the newer family to get it right if they really want to do a good job. Just grind all your good parts of the rock to rock mud if you don't clean them up and do a gppd job prepping. Just getting this figured out now. Thanks Jim Have a low humidity day. Have extra room in the house if you guys want to sneak away to the cool mountains for a week, month... C
The good part of pre-grind. Perfect tumbles in only 2 weeks of coarse grind. That is about how long it takes to remove the grind marks. What profile of diamond cup wheels do you prefer for this and for all purpose useage? Turbbo, double row? etc. Who has the best value from vendors?
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Jun 8, 2017 9:20:20 GMT -5
My grinding capabilities are quite limited at this time. However, combined with hammer and chisel I have been able to make some positive changes. I looked through everything last night, added some more coarse grit, and let her roll on. Got a nice slurry going and I was pleased to find most had made good progress. I pulled some the last time that were getting greatly reduced, but none this time. Some will never be perfect, but since these are the contest rocks, ya gotta go with what you got. Some of the filler rock (mostly beach-tumbled quartz)I put in last week is coming along nicely. Took out one of those that looked in danger of breaking up, and added some others in.
I could sell my collection of dust bunnies... they seem to be multiplying rapidly.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 8, 2017 9:50:24 GMT -5
I could sell my collection of dust bunnies... they seem to be multiplying rapidly. I would be willing to donate a bucket or so of dust bunnies to help support the tumbler dilemma .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jun 8, 2017 11:40:12 GMT -5
How many Dust Bunnies does it take to polish a pound of rocks ?
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 8, 2017 11:46:10 GMT -5
How many Dust Bunnies does it take to polish a pound of rocks ? All of them
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 8, 2017 12:09:24 GMT -5
Thanks James for telling the reality. So many people who sell you a set of grits,tumblers or tumble rock just sell you the fantasy and the really successful people like RTH family folks dig deeper and help the newer family to get it right if they really want to do a good job. Just grind all your good parts of the rock to rock mud if you don't clean them up and do a gppd job prepping. Just getting this figured out now. Thanks Jim Have a low humidity day. Have extra room in the house if you guys want to sneak away to the cool mountains for a week, month... C
The good part of pre-grind. Perfect tumbles in only 2 weeks of coarse grind. That is about how long it takes to remove the grind marks. Don't you worry about losing a body part when you are cleaning up the rough before coarse tumbling by using a diamond cup wheel?
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