Batch 80, the neglected Papatotara coastal collection batch, has been patiently waiting in the Papatotara Coast ready for Stage 3 drawer for a wee while now. Having completed Stages 1 and 2 in the 6lb Tumbler, the readies after Stage 2 weren’t enough to warrant continuing in the 6lb Tumbler. That’s why they’ve been sitting in the readies drawer – waiting for a smaller tumbler to come free.
The coast stones have been collected from the beach out front of our BnB (and house). Along with Batch 80, there were a few Papatotara Coast stones (103 to be exact) that also once tumbled in the 6lb tumbler too. These ones came out of the 6lb tumbler on 19 September and have also been patiently waiting to be added to a batch for redoing at Stage 3 (400grit).
BTW, if you see it and were wondering, LGITW means “life got in the way !”
Batch 80: 6lb Tumbler 1
Stage 2: 220grit
Number of Stones: 182
Weight in: 2166g
6 Tbspns of F60grit
1 Tbspn Borax
No ceramic media added
Days Tumbling: 14 (LGITW)
Weight out: 1698g – loss of 468 grams
60 stones needed redoing in 220grit again.
119 stones are ready to move onto Stage 3 but not enough to stay in the 6lb tumbler. Placed in Readies Drawer.
Papatotara Coast stones are a lot rougher than Gemstone Beach stones and appear to be mostly granite. For that reason, the Pap Coast stones will always have the 600grit tumble stage added to the process.
Transfer to 4lb Tumbler 1
Stage 3: 400grit
Number of Stones: 119+103=222
Weight in: 1765g
4 Tbspns of 400grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Plastic pellets added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 1604g – loss of 161grams
No stones added or removed.
Stage 2: 600grit
Number of Stones: 222
Weight in: 1604g
4 Tbspns of 600grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Plastic pellets added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: g – loss of grams
Pre-polish Clean
2 tspns of grated sunlight soap + water.
Ceramic media added
Days Tumbling: 24 hours
Batch 80: After Stage 2
Batch 80: Combined Stage 3
Ready to Polish – 6lb Tumbler 2
After combining the 119 stones from the original Batch 80 with 103 readies from 4lbT1, I needed to switch this batch back to a 6lb barrel. Using a new polish mix (7 Tbspns of tumble polish mix + 450mls of clean water, Batch 80 was away polishing for 10 days.
Stage 4: Polish Mix
Number of Stones: 103+119=222
Polish Mix (1st use): 7 Tbspns of polish mixed with 450mls of clean water.
Ceramic media added for cushioning
Days Tumbling: 10
Stage 5: Burnishing
2½ Tbspns of borax + water for 4 days.
Polish Complete
Polished Stones of Interest: Batch 80
Batch 80 | 6lbT2 + 4lb Tumbler 1 | Papatotara Coast | Early August – 22 November 2024