Glad you all like them. The phone pics don't do them justice, if you study them a little you can see all kinds of cool stuff. You never know what is going to show up when you start with rough rock, but if you start with something that has potential, you have more success. But it depends on what you like. I have picked up beach stones that are mainly Granite, and if there is a lot of quartz in it, it will polish up very nicely.
There are rock tumbling forums that you can learn a lot from and if you google rock shops, or tumbling rough rock you will find a lot. Lapidary supply places also sell rough rock. Therockshed.com is where I have purchased stuff from. Madagascar minerals has a mine over there and a base in Arizona. Google them too.
My baby is into rocks. She really likes them. Thanks for posting them.
Any chance you could tell us how you got/get them and how you turned them into works of art?
I have no secrets; I will tell you what works for me. Maybe you can tell me what I am doing wrong. Always tumble rock of the same hardness, the only thing harder than an Agate is a diamond. If you put them in with softer stuff on the moor hardness scale, the softer rock will not shine because the harder Agate is scratching it.
I use a Thumbler B rotory for the rough 60/90 grit. Wash the rocks and ceramic media real well so I don't carry course grit to the next stage.
Then it goes to the vibrating 18 pound tumbler for 120/220 grit.
I like to use lots of ceramic filler to help and cushion them from hitting each other and cause fractures.
The big thing I did is start using separate separate bowls for each stage because the grit gets stuck in the plastic and you can't get it all out.
Saved me from scratches from corse grit getting carried to the polish stage.
Then 500 grit and clean.
Then 1000 grit polish stage. You have to watch the water in the vibrating tumbler and add some as the slurry thickens and slows down the rolling action.
Put a squirt of dawn in an hour or so before you clean and then spray with a hose. Keep then in a bucket of water in between stages so they don't dry out.
Always tumble rocks of the same hardness.
I use a tile saw with a diamond blade, water it the key to blade life and easy cutting.
