cut/polish? dremel?

[tompahpe]

Have amassed a ridiculous collection of mostly unknown material & want to see what some of it looks like polished.

Can I achieve any results using my dremel?

Thx!
JK

 

[EggyOG]

If you want to see what it looks like polished, just dunk it in water.

 

[tompahpe]

Have done that already which is why I think going further is worthwhile.

Might help to explain the majority of these rocks came from glacial till deposited in Kansas. Read somewhere there could be anything in the mix that occurs between here & Hudson Bay.

Known materials include Lake Superior Banded Agate (hard to find, not nearly as abundant as in MN, but a favorite!), & chalcedony (in every color of the rainbow, from fingernail size to guessing 5lbs).

Thanks
JK

 

[Calworks]

dEFINITELY SOME NICE SPECIMENS POF aGATE, LOOKS LIKE A SMALL GEODE IN THE LOWER LEFT, . aLL WOULD LOOK GREAT CUT AND POLISHED

 

[tompahpe]

Those are shell fossils in that corner, including the geode-like one. Have some nice brachiopods & horn coral. Also know of a primo spot to collect 'death slabs' if anyone is interested!

Do have several buckets of 'regular' geodes from central Kansas. They're not very colorful but the crystal formations inside are still pretty cool.

The LS Agates are my favorite finds. Have a lot of jasper, red & picasso & who knows what else.

Best find is this Fire Agate. Was on a Kansas River sand bar exactly as pictured (the polished area was that way when I picked it up). Not sure I'd do anything to this piece; it's a sweet specimen.

 

[MEinWV]

The Dremel could grind and polish small windows so that you could get an idea, but If you want to do any slabbing and cabbing, you will need to get lapidary unit. There are always plenty of used machines on the market(The new units are $$$$$), so go used if you want to go that route.

I have done some rocks with "wet or dry" sandpaper. Sand them underwater in a bucket and go from coarse to fine. You have to dry the rock to see how you are doing. Using a water worn stone is best. You may be able to start one with a finer grit.

Good luck!

 

[Atticus Finch]

Read the directions. Always always always wear a mask. Or you'll end up with COPD.

Try tumbling some rocks after you've ID them and done your research.

Good Luck

Cappy Z.

 

[Seamuss]

Have amassed a ridiculous collection of mostly unknown material & want to see what some of it looks like polished.

Can I achieve any results using my dremel?

Thx!
JK

A dremel is great for grinding and carving figures in rocks. I tumbler would work well for polishing if that's all you want to do.