Six or seven weeks, running 24/7. Usually two weeks on coarse grind -- a silicon carbide grit -- but sometimes it takes three weeks if the stones are particularly rough. Then a week each on medium and fine grit, followed by a week on a silica pre-polish and a week on polish (aluminum oxide). And if any step doesn't produce the desired results, it gets done over. It's a hobby that requires extreme patience. Kinda like writing! ♥
PERFECT! That last shot exactly answers what I was curious about (although I loved reading about all the others too). It's amazing how much the tumbler can bring out the beauty of a stone and I personally like the smoother edges and contours, though I can appreciate some of those slices in the raw too.
Thank you for taking the time to do this. It's appreciated and I love learning about it. :)
Thank you for taking the time to do this. It's appreciated and I love learning about it. :)