megan528
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Post by megan528 on Sept 15, 2020 19:29:34 GMT -5
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Post by Bob on Sept 15, 2020 22:00:50 GMT -5
No. I collect at Lake Superior every year, with experience in all sides but east half Canadian side and am somewhat familiar in general with what you have gathered. The porous ones throw away. Take a dental pick or sharp nail and scratch any that aren't shiny and if indeed scratches, throw away. Click them together until you come to recognize the higher distinct click of a Mohs 7 with a softer, or fractured rock. The higher pitched the click, the more tumbleable the rock. All that will save time. But you can also throw them all in and learn firsthand the results. Where did you collect? I'm guessing in MI.
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Post by Bob on Sept 15, 2020 22:03:11 GMT -5
Or near Two Harbors, MN?
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megan528
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Post by megan528 on Sept 16, 2020 5:30:27 GMT -5
Collected from Michigan. Thanks for the advice, I'm trying to get good results and skip the trial by error routine, although I'm sure some of that is inevitable. So it is all about hardness. I'll sort through them all again, nail in hand and giving them the "symbol test" 😊 My grit hasn't arrived yet, so I have time. I'm also going rock hunting again this weekend so I'll be more selective as to what I bring home. Thank you!
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Post by Bob on Sept 16, 2020 10:28:25 GMT -5
Trial and error is part of the fun and learning process and I did it a lot and learned a lot. You will also see experienced tumblers licking rocks in the field, especially at shorelines where the rocks are clean. If the rock is dry, and your saliva soaks in quickly, it almost always means it would not tumble and polish. But if the saliva stays wet on the surface for 5 secs or more, it almost always means a non-porous rock and of sufficient Mohs to tumble and polish. Of course how this plays out also depends upon the air temp and the wind, but you will learn by doing. This isn't always true, because some great rocks can have a "weather rind" on them that after tumbled off, can reveal a good surface. But that is very rare on beach rocks because they are pre-tumbled--so if what you see has problems, they are not likely to go away in your tumbler unless it's just to grind out a pit or fracture or ding.
I love collecting around Lake Superior and have about 1,300 lbs in storage from there. Some are rather large and already done and I will be posting photos of them over time. If you can share with me the approx. part of the Lake you are within reach and visit, I can perhaps share some location tips. Most of the part I work is between Duluth and Thunder Bay on the N shore.
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bdport67
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Are you licking that?!
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Post by bdport67 on Sept 16, 2020 13:44:28 GMT -5
at the very least move the sandstone to another batch. Those will cause you the most hassle Never tumbled sandstone, but I doubt it will even smooth...let alone gloss of any kind
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Post by Bob on Sept 16, 2020 13:48:51 GMT -5
I view sandstone as a form of grit for the rough grind. Used to toss a few pieces in on purpose just to sacrifice to help clean rough rocks found in the field. But don't bother anymore as 50 or 60 grit seems to do better.
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megan528
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Post by megan528 on Sept 17, 2020 9:56:54 GMT -5
Bob, I usually go up between Grand Marias, MI. and Whitefish Point.
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Post by Bob on Sept 17, 2020 10:38:05 GMT -5
Have no special tips other than have not had as good of luck in that part as west of there between Munising and Marquette and further W. I have not yet explored between WF Point and Sault Ste. Marie.
Don't pass up some of the very colorful granites. They won't polish, but if you take them up through 600, 1,000, or 1,200 silicon carbide, you can get a gorgeous satiny finish and they are just beautiful, especially if you after treat the rocks with a special sealer to make the colors pop. There are products that can do this w/o putting on an artificial looking coating like with lacquer and varnish. Granites are in so many colors around this lake on the shoreline.
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bdport67
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Are you licking that?!
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Post by bdport67 on Sept 18, 2020 14:49:20 GMT -5
One of the biggest "tricks" to rock tumbling is classifying the rocks by hardness and only batching rocks of similar hardness.
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megan528
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Post by megan528 on Sept 18, 2020 16:39:51 GMT -5
Have no special tips other than have not had as good of luck in that part as west of there between Munising and Marquette and further W. I have not yet explored between WF Point and Sault Ste. Marie. Don't pass up some of the very colorful granites. They won't polish, but if you take them up through 600, 1,000, or 1,200 silicon carbide, you can get a gorgeous satiny finish and they are just beautiful, especially if you after treat the rocks with a special sealer to make the colors pop. There are products that can do this w/o putting on an artificial looking coating like with lacquer and varnish. Granites are in so many colors around this lake on the shoreline. I've been leaving the granite because I've heard it doesn't tumble, but maybe I'll bring home a few nice ones this time. On the road now for a weekend rock hunt. Another couple hours on the road and I'll be in "Paradise". (Litterally).
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Post by Mel on Sept 19, 2020 11:42:17 GMT -5
Keep us posted how it goes!
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megan528
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Post by megan528 on Sept 19, 2020 17:13:40 GMT -5
Found a nice agate today. Picked up some more Unakite to tumble. Hopefully my grit will be waiting for me when I get back home so I can put a batch in.
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megan528
off to a rocking start
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Post by megan528 on Sept 23, 2020 19:35:39 GMT -5
Well I have my first ever batch of rocks rolling! Decided to do all unakite and epidote, nothing else. My husband has a batch of his own in too. So glad he’s into this as much as I am. I think he’s ready to buy a Lot-O 😊. We’ve been watching tumbling videos about every night now lately. I’m enjoying getting older .. haha 😂 I will update Tuesday evening! Might be ready for more help by then.
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