honey
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2022
Posts: 1
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Post by honey on May 2, 2022 12:39:11 GMT -5
Hi All, new to the forum and been rockhounding for a few months now in BC for Fraser Valley agates. I've tumbled a few batches and they are super shiney with Lortone tumbler & 4 stage grits. I have a lot of smoother smaller agates which are in much nicer condition. Should I still start them with Stage 1 (60/90 silicon carbide) or skip onto Stage 2 (silicone carbide 220)?
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Post by rockjunquie on May 2, 2022 13:12:54 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to RTH from Virginia. I can't answer your question, but someone will.
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Post by stonemon on May 2, 2022 13:42:41 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from western Oregon!
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on May 2, 2022 13:51:04 GMT -5
Could you post a few photos of the ones you're thinking of skipping stage 1? My guess would be unless they are already smooth without cracks already, a stage 1 round will benefit them.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,975
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Post by victor1941 on May 2, 2022 16:05:34 GMT -5
Experiment- do one batch by each method and compare the final product.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,487
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Post by rockbrain on May 2, 2022 16:11:39 GMT -5
A lot of the rocks I collect can skip stage 1. If they've already tumbled in a river or ocean there may not be any reason to do the course step. If you want to round off any corners much or there are imperfections that you want to grind away, you'll need stage 1. Smaller rocks will be affected quicker than larger rocks.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 2, 2022 18:03:37 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! It truly is hard to give a definitive opinion about skipping stage one without pictures. Someone mentioned experimenting doing it one way and the other. If it were me, and they're already kind of small, I'd go ahead and experiment with starting them in stage 2...worst that can happen doing it that way is you'd lose some time and have to start them over in stage 1 if skipping doesn't work.
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on May 2, 2022 20:18:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from Western New York. You've already received some sound advice, good luck.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 2, 2022 22:01:21 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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phixer
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 69
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Post by phixer on May 7, 2022 8:06:09 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from Massachusetts
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on May 7, 2022 15:28:02 GMT -5
Hi All, new to the forum and been rockhounding for a few months now in BC for Fraser Valley agates. I've tumbled a few batches and they are super shiney with Lortone tumbler & 4 stage grits. I have a lot of smoother smaller agates which are in much nicer condition. Should I still start them with Stage 1 (60/90 silicon carbide) or skip onto Stage 2 (silicone carbide 220)? I would never skip stage 1. At a min do a full week even if smooth. It preps the surface of the rock for the next size of grit.
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Post by amygdule on May 8, 2022 2:06:11 GMT -5
Hi All, new to the forum and been rockhounding for a few months now in BC for Fraser Valley agates. I've tumbled a few batches and they are super shiney with Lortone tumbler & 4 stage grits. I have a lot of smoother smaller agates which are in much nicer condition. Should I still start them with Stage 1 (60/90 silicon carbide) or skip onto Stage 2 (silicone carbide 220)? You can skip stage 1 and 2 Go straight to Polish If you don't like the way they turn out Run them through again with more Grit It would be nice to see some pictures please Thank you
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Post by amygdule on May 8, 2022 3:14:50 GMT -5
Some Ocean tumbled Blues That I started in AO Aluminum Oxide polish
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Post by vegasjames on May 8, 2022 3:40:55 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 8, 2022 16:46:19 GMT -5
@amygdue , I’ve never seen those before, they’re beautiful…wish I knew where to find some.🤗🤗🤗
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Post by drocknut on May 11, 2022 15:18:31 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from south central Arizona
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