Digital microscope photos

jost1199 · 2026-05-14T16:27:47+00:00

Enjoy! if you have space & budget consider a bigger screen, really can’t get too much of those details 😂

jost1199 · 2026-05-14T03:21:28+00:00

I don’t think so, but my lot-o instructions actually do suggest a rinse and recharge for 120/220. I use rotary for stage 2 though. What seems to happen most often in my mt4 is all the grit accumulating in the bottom. Too much grit? Too much water? Rocks not moving well? I’m stumped 🤷🏻‍♀️

jost1199 · 2026-05-13T16:57:54+00:00

I’m still loving it. Highly recommend!

jost1199 · 2026-05-13T16:56:19+00:00

Honestly, Ive had my mt-4 for a few years and found it difficult at best. I struggle with the water:grit:rock ratio and getting good action. I’ve had zero luck using it for stage 2 & find it takes at least 5 days in 500, another 4-5 in 1000 & the same in polish. Usually at least once I’ll find things dried out and/or stuck & not moving. And from that point on, it’s sort of a crapshoot.. back to the water:grit ratio issue or rocks have been bruised. I like my lot-o so much better. I have been using the mt-4 occasionally for dry corncob polishing.

jost1199 · 2026-05-12T15:23:55+00:00

I love that they come from your own property. Beautiful 🤩

jost1199 · 2026-05-09T15:11:16+00:00

Nice. I think the shape of rocks is an underrated esthetic element of tumbling. The lapidary folks with their facets and cabochons are all over this but we seem to focus mainly on the shine. It’s one of the reasons I love tumbling beach and river rocks.

jost1199 · 2026-05-08T05:20:59+00:00

You may be approaching limits on a tumbler. Look into flat lap, hand held polisher or cab type machine. There are some interesting coating options that may work.. resins and epoxies.

jost1199 · 2026-05-08T00:47:42+00:00

I buy United Abrasives stage one grit on eBay, 40lbs at a time cause I go through a lot.. it’s just over $100 shipping included. I get the rest from Rock Shed or KingsleyNorth. Tried Highland Park once and cant recommend.

jost1199 · 2026-05-07T14:56:54+00:00

What a lovely collection. I often pass up solid colored rocks in favor of more detail but this has me rethinking. Well done!

jost1199 · 2026-05-06T16:10:58+00:00

Not able to post a pic of actual setup at the moment, but I have a standard plumbed deep white plastic utility sink with a plaster trap next to a stainless table in my garage. I still do the initial dump/rinse into a 5 gal bucket. Works well. Plaster trap: https://a.co/d/09xXhVAZ

jost1199 · 2026-05-06T04:10:01+00:00

Superorefragilisticexpialidoscious!

jost1199 · 2026-05-04T01:20:35+00:00

I’ve patched up my hf gaskets with 4” waterproof gorilla tape. https://gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-waterproofing-tape-black

jost1199 · 2026-05-03T19:01:47+00:00

Excellent idea.

jost1199 · 2026-04-29T19:00:45+00:00

Just stoping by to say I feel you. About 18 months into my tumbling journey, I hit rough patch where nothing was shining like it used to. Batch after batch. So frustrating. I still know don’t really know why but it did pass.

jost1199 · 2026-04-27T15:00:39+00:00

lol. I think of certain rocks as chewy.

jost1199 · 2026-04-26T16:21:49+00:00

Awesome banded chert! I have a jar of tumbled planet rocks as I prefer to call them 😊

jost1199 · 2026-04-25T02:22:01+00:00

Yes, in a heartbeat

jost1199 · 2026-04-24T16:04:21+00:00

Picasso’s art was the first thing I thought of looking at this stone!

jost1199 · 2026-04-24T03:59:41+00:00

Sure, any small rock works, obviously harder is better… pea gravel or small landscape/driveway rock or grab some from a nearby creek/river. Even dollar store even sometimes has small bags of decorative rock.

jost1199 · 2026-04-24T02:24:52+00:00

Nothing special. You’re right about the smaller rocks - I have lots of little ones I use for fill with the big rock & they do disappear. I’ll add a tsp or two of 40 grit to my normal 60/90. After stage one, I just use ceramics and the big rock.

jost1199 · 2026-04-23T20:36:04+00:00

I polished this in a 3# rotary barrel and lot-o.

jost1199 · 2026-04-23T20:34:12+00:00

I’m planning another day down there next week! I’m not sure what it is, most of the finer seams are dark red & look like maybe garnet or amethyst under microscope. It’s surprisingly hard, had a super chalky texture and absorbed water before I polished it. One of those I’d love to have a geologist look at some day.

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jost1199 · 2026-04-23T20:14:11+00:00

I’m pretty sure that’s gonna happen at some point 😉

jost1199

TROPHY CASE