New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Gotta Good News Story - General Gold Discussions

East-Auck-Fossicker		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 8:30:30 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 12/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 84 Location: Auckland Thanks: 10 times Was thanked: 21 time(s) in 11 post(s)		I brought a rock tumbler 2 weeks ago to polish and shape some quartz with little flicks of gold in them. ( yes I know a vib machine is quicker, but it doesn't shape it ) So now I'am playing with different abrasives. I heard you can use ceramic which is supposed to be very hard and cuts well. So I thought I'll just pop into a few op shops and buy some broken or chipped plates ect. I walked into a Salley's shop and just as I walked up to the counter a Lady carrying a pile of plates dropped half of them. I laughed and said to the lady behind the counter. "Your not going to believe me, but I came in to see if you had any broken plates ! Naturally she didn't believe me. I gave the staff a hand to clean up the mess and put it all into a box. Then I placed the box on the counter and put a half handful of small coins on the counter. The Lady still didn't believe me and said "You really want to buy that "! So I explain about my rock tumbler and how I was going to smash them up even finer with a hammer. I guess you could call it "Devine Intervention !"
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Metal Kiwi		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 9:04:02 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: East-Auck-Fossicker I brought a rock tumbler 2 weeks ago to polish and shape some quartz with little flicks of gold in them. ( yes I know a vib machine is quicker, but it doesn't shape it ) So now I'am playing with different abrasives. I heard you can use ceramic which is supposed to be very hard and cuts well. So I thought I'll just pop into a few op shops and buy some broken or chipped plates ect. I walked into a Salley's shop and just as I walked up to the counter a Lady carrying a pile of plates dropped half of them. I laughed and said to the lady behind the counter. "Your not going to believe me, but I came in to see if you had any broken plates ! Naturally she didn't believe me. I gave the staff a hand to clean up the mess and put it all into a box. Then I placed the box on the counter and put a half handful of small coins on the counter. The Lady still didn't believe me and said "You really want to buy that "! So I explain about my rock tumbler and how I was going to smash them up even finer with a hammer. I guess you could call it "Devine Intervention !" Good story. Be keen to hear how well the plates work for you. MK
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ocarlier		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 2:58:51 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 31/07/2012(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Massey East Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		That's awesome! I have started looking at ways to clean coins up - any one know if pumice would be any good?
		Fisher F2, Fisher F75 LE and Garrett Infinium LS

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 3:02:32 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: ocarlier That's awesome! I have started looking at ways to clean coins up - any one know if pumice would be any good? Pumice is extremely abrasive. Probably scratch the ones you want most. :-) MK
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Shilo		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 4:43:10 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Originally Posted by: ocarlier That's awesome! I have started looking at ways to clean coins up - any one know if pumice would be any good? For use in a rock tumbler? I would imagine pumice will be too soft/brittle and it will just break up into a floury gungy mess, a very small amount of crushed pumice (flour grade) might work on one of the burnishing cycles when used on rock but wouldn't use it with coins. The cheapest option is white (plain) aquarium gravel but I have found the commercially sold media to be much better and faster. I haven't heard of broken plate being used but if the pieces are small enough it should work, I'm also interested to see how it turns out! The 2 sorts of tumbling media I use are Ceramic Pyramids and Stainless Steel Shot. This media can be brought from http://www.rotorualapidary.co.nz/. I have just picked up the shot today to use on some of my worst coins and it is working well. The ceramic pyramids do an Ok job but are not as harsh and take longer. I haven't tried quartz rock yet but reckon the same will apply, apart from the fact that some sort of polishing compound will be needed on the last cycles after rounding off to get the pieces shiny. Pick below of the commercial media.
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oroplata		Posted : Tuesday, 19 February 2013 11:24:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Great story. Are ceramic plates harder than quartz? You might just have to run quartz with other quartz and be very patient :)
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East-Auck-Fossicker		Posted : Wednesday, 20 February 2013 9:49:36 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 12/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 84 Location: Auckland Thanks: 10 times Was thanked: 21 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Ceramic is supposed to be harder, but I guess there is one way to find out . Pumice does brake down very quickly. I found that one out. I'am using silicom carbide pyramids at the moment. I don't think they are cutting as well as they say it should do.
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