This batch is tumbling stones from the Grove Burn where it comes out onto the beach about halfway between out in front of our place and the Rowallan Burn.
Stones collected from the Papatotara Coast are often very rough and much rougher than the usual specimens collected from down the road at Gemstone Beach. I’m expecting to tumble this batch several times in 80/100grit before they can move onto Stage 2.
Sure enough only 32 stones were ready for Stage 2 so those were popped in the holding box and another 29 stones from my Papatotara Coast collection were added to the barrel for tumbling again at 80/100grit.
After repeating Stage 1, 11 stones were not ready to move onto 220grit so were placed the redo holding box for Pap Coast stones. The 32 stones that only needed one tumble at Stage 1 were added back into the barrel along with 3 stones (originally B35) from the holding box for Stage 2 (220grit).
Batch 42: 3lb Tumbler 3
Stage 1: 80/100grit
Number of Stones: 48
Weight in: Forgot to weigh!
4 Tbspns of 80/100grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Pellets added to make up the load
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 699g
Stage 1: 80/100grit repeat
Number of Stones: 16 + 29 = 45
Weight in: 697g
4 Tbspns of 80/100grit
No Borax added
No Pellets added
Days Tumbling: 11
Weight out: 593g – loss of 104g
Stage 2: 220grit
Number of Stones: 33 + 3 + 32 =68
Weight in: 721g
4 Tbspns of 400grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Pellets added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 635g – loss of 86g
Batch 42: Pre-tumble (Dry)
Batch 42: Stage 1 repeat
Batch 42: After Stage 1
Batch 42: After 220grit (wet)
Stage 3: 400grit
Number of Stones: 68
Weight in: 635grams
4 Tbspns of 80/100grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Pellets added.
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 514grams (loss of 121grams)
24 hour soap tumble. After inspecting the stones closely, six were sent back for a redo at 220grit.
62 stones are now waiting in the Polish Holding Box as there’s not enough for a full load.
Transfer to 4lb Tumbler 2
This batch (42) of Grove Burn stones (62) has been combined with Batch 50 (bought stones from Temu) and Batch 43 (Kakanui). My thinking for combining different “sources” of stones (which I don’t usually like to do) is as they are quite different looking it will be easy for me to separate the stones again (for photos) once the polish is done!
Stage 4: Polish Mix
Number of Stones: 62+62+19=153
Weight in: 1191grams
Polish Mix (3rd use): Originally 9 Tbspns of polish mixed with 600mls of clean water left to settle, water tipped off and clean water added before remixing.
Ceramic media added.
Days Tumbling: 10
Stage 5: Burnish
Number of Stones: 62+62+19=153
2Tbspn of borax with
ceramic media added
Days Burnishing: 3
I have to say I was really disappointed in the finished polish and burnish from all three batches that were combined into the 4lb Tumbler 2 for polishing. There has got to be something I’m doing wrong because the stones are coming out dull and bruised. Perhaps I’m not being fussy enough with the smoothness of each stone, maybe I’m not inspecting them carefully enough before sending them on after each stage. I am feeling a little frustrated so will be doing some google research and talking to a couple of rock polishing friends of mine to see if I can get to the bottom of why my batches are turning out as shiny as I think they should be!
Polished Stones of Batch 42 & Batch 43 combined
Batch 42 | 3lb Tumbler 3 | Papatotara Coast | 16 November 2023 – 6 January 2024
4lb Tumbler 2 | Batch 42, 43 & 50 | Papatotara Coast, Kakanui, Temu Store | 16 March – 29 March 2024