This will be an interesting batch because I have overloaded the 3lb barrel. Once again I’ve suckered myself into trying to keep stones together. I really need to get over this way of thinking and find a new way to not only share the process of tumbling, but share knowledge gained about the stones collected and tumbled as well as document my own learning about the stones that catch my eye.
All of the stones making up Batch 86 have come from the readies drawer. This means they have already done a 10 day tumble in F60grit and were ready to move to Stage 2. In this case the readies are all from a load out of the 6lbT2 (7 October).
I’ve had a few visitors, both guests in the BnB and/or friends of friends, to the stone shed recently! It’s a lot of fun to share the shed and the process of tumbling stones to interested people! Most are amazed by just how many days it takes to polish a stone – it’s around 50 days!
It can be a long process (especially for someone whom I’m tumbling their stones) so I’ve been seriously thinking about purchasing (aka: saving my pennies or selling my spare 12lb barrel) a Raytech Tumble Vibe. Mr Grit (who I’ve mentioned in several posts already) has become the NZ authorised dealer/seller for Aussie Sapphire and is now importing lapidary machines at such reasonable prices! Check them all out here!
A tumble vibe will shorten Stages 2-4 (that includes Polish) from 10 days each to 2 days each!! That’s got to be a game-changer, even if I just use it for the last grit stage and the polishing stage! I’m getting excited about the possibilities already!! Watch this space!
Batch 86: 3lb Tumbler 2
Stage 1: F60grit
The readies completed 10 days in 6lbT2
Stage 2: 220grit
Number of Stones: 71
Weight in: 964 grams
3 Tbspns of 220grit
1 Tbspn Borax
No media added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 851g – lossof 113 grams
Stage 3: 400grit
Number of Stones: 71
Weight in: 851 grams
3 Tbspns of 400grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Ceramic media added
Days Tumbling: 11
Weight out: 782g – loss of 69 grams
Pre-polish Soap Tumble: 24 hours
Batch 86: Ready for Stage 2
Batch 86: Out of Polish
Ready to Polish
Stage 4: Polish Mix
Number of Stones: 71
Weight in: 782g
Polish Mix (NEW mix): 4 Tbspns of polish mixed with 250mls of clean water.
Plastic Pellets added for cushioning
Days Tumbling:
Weight out: 756g – loss of 26grams (which is unusual as polish doesn’t grind – did I weigh wrong?)
Stage 5: Burnish
Number of Stones: 71
2 Tbspns of borax + water
Plastic Pellets added for cushioning
Days Tumbling: 4
I was curious to see if there was a noticeable difference in “shine” after complete the burnish in borax. I certainly think the photographic evidence shows there definitely is more of a “shine”. What do you think?
Polished Stones of Interest: Batch 86
I really do wish I could eliminate the “window” reflection on these stones of interest. Most of the time the sun is not shining outside so I have to take my photographs inside the stone shed. The mirror shine on the finished stones doesn’t help but I’m not complaining because I want that kind of shine!
Batch 86 | 6lbT2 + 3lb Tumbler 2 | Gemstone Beach | 29 September – 23 November 2024
Those stones look great.
You definitely need to start posting on your YouTube channel.
So excited about the vibe.
I’m so used to posting reels on insta and taking still shots for the blog that I forget to post stuff to YouTube!
I’m excited to use the vibe too!