South Dakota ‘Prairie Agate’

4 September 2022 4

💎 Rock-hounds never die we just slowly petrify ❗️ (day II)

Mixed assortment of rocks

𝕀 𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 yet.

But they sure look neat in my display case between the Superior Agates and the Rose Quarts 😉

ℂ𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕋𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕒 𝕃𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕒𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 ❓

National Geographic stage #4 Si O (silicon oxide 1800 grit ) is cool but not sufficient. I use AL O ² ( aluminum dioxide 2200 grit ) and it even feels waxy for shining 🙂

3 March 2022 0

Tumbling Stones 💎

rough Mambamba Jasper (crockadile stone)

Leopardite after stage 2

Finished Apache Tears (still need some enhancements)

9 January 2022 0

Tumbling Stones 💎

Leopardite Jasper from Peru 🇵🇪

Leopardite after stage #1 without flash flash

25 December 2021 3

𝕋𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤 💎

I am still at it after 2 warrentee replacement tumblers from National Geographic since March plus a freebie Pro model.

I crushed tumbler size stones from rough Turritella Agates

From SE Wyoming

After 6 weeks and 5 stages of grit (60, 220, 500, & 950 course silicon dioxide then 1200 aluminum oxide polish then ‘Gem Foam’® for burnishing)

𝔾𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕪 😉

I have never seen a cat smile before today 😸

10 December 2021 2

just started last batch of stage #3 (pre-polish grit) 𝕋𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤 ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝔾𝕖𝕞𝕤 💎

After 8 days then Stage #4 (polishing grit) is next for 10-12 days (3 batches)

𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕧𝕖 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕠𝕗 ‘𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕠𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤’ running across the laminated dining rm & kitchen floor these kitties in Tennessee call it the ass and tail slide, taking the rugs with them before slamming into the oven or fridge 😽

17 June 2021 4

After Second Stage of Four Stages Stone Polishing

24 May 2021 0

Tumbler (not the social site) stone polishing 💎

Mixed assortment of Aventurine, Sodalite, Dalmatian Jasper, Rose Quartz, & Agate

These are after 5 days of the coarse grinding grit (stage 1) removed the rough edges.

I have 5 batches ready for medium grit (stage 2) {7-8 days each}

26 April 2021 7

Rock Tumbling grits (Silicon Carbide) milled variations there of 90/75 coarse then finer variation for polishing ;)

Silicon carbide is one of the hardest-known materials with a Mohs Scale hardness of 9+. This hardness gives it the ability to cut tumbling roughs such as agate, jasper and petrified wood, which have a Mohs hardness of about 7.

Angular Particles: When crushed, silicon carbide breaks into angular-shaped particles with sharp points and edges. This gives it an effective cutting and grinding ability when it is caught between tumbling rocks in tumbler barrel.

Inexpensive: Silicon carbide is inexpensive, selling for just a few dollars per pound as a screened and packaged product.

The combination of hardness, angularity and low price make silicon carbide an excellent abrasive for rock tumbling, gem cutting and lapidary work of all kinds. Silicon carbide granules are also used for sand paper, sand blasting, water-jet cutting and many other purposes.

via: https://rocktumbler.com/blog/what-is-silicon-carbide-grit/