Polishing a HUGE SEAM AGATE on a Covington Engineering 10" Vibra Lap | Polishing Rocks #6

[@WaltHaas]

70 yr old prospector here love your videos...ROCK ON !

[@tulazaz]

What a beauty!!! Thank you for the very informative step by step. My 16” Covington arrived tonight!😃. I have quite a few big chunks of Potomac Marble, a beautiful conglomerate, which is found here in parts of northern Virginia and some of the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The pillars, in Statuary Hall of our nation’s capital, were made from Potomac Marble mined in Maryland. Can’t wait to try it out tomorrow.

[@RockhoundingLife]

That soumds like fun! Enjoy your new tool!

[@michaeltrimble7680]

Truly beautiful work polishing on that! Like a slice of gem lasagna! Thank you for sharing, I’m acquiring large rocks and new to lapidary, and this kind of machine would help tremendously!

[@WaltHaas]

I've had a homemade one for few years now. I made beanbags using copper shot 2lb an 5lb. They looked like those corn hole bean bags. Lays right on top works great.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Great idea!

[@thorluger]

very cool

[@ritadickson5356]

Beautiful agate with a wonderful shine. Thank you for sharing

[@RockhoundingLife]

Many thanks!

[@alanmc6715]

You wanted to get rid of that spot. If it sat on my shelf, you would never see that dull spot again. Loved it

[@RockhoundingLife]

100%!!

[@tott3457]

Your patients paid off!!! That piece is absolutely beautiful ❣️❣️❣️

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thank you!!!

[@joanramonborra7380]

Nice, i enjoy!

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks!

[@kylaabegglen1275]

Wow! Gorgeous job on an amazing display piece.✌🤠

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@terrydoucette6037]

Turned out real nice J.I’m impressed

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks bud! We have to go back and get more!

[@loricrossnoe6855]

Going to invest in a polishing machine. I think you just sold me on a vib lap! That agate is gorgeous! ❤

[@kimdedominicis6893]

Nice! I love the tape and how the amount of it kept increasing!

[@RockhoundingLife]

HaHa! Had to keep it secure!

[@mattgohlke8216]

Small sand bags for weights 👌 can even make your own

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

Very nice! I bet that left over crescent partial circle spot was some grit stuck in the rock in those tiny pockets that got out. Just shows how important it is to clean well between each step

[@RockhoundingLife]

Actually there were hardly any fractures or cavities in this piece. One of the nice things about it. I suspect the dull spot was due to the weight. I may have had too much weight on it. It's a fine balance between too little and having the edges turn out dull and too much and having the center turn dull.

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

@@RockhoundingLife I see. Very nice in the end though! 🤘 good stuff

[@smyatt1]

Curious whether you think metamorphic processes might have been involved in the final appearance of this agate... That final product is just amazing. Wow!!

[@RockhoundingLife]

I don't think so. It came from a pretty linear seam in the bay of fundy basalt. Silica can be deposited so many ways in those seams.

[@smyatt1]

@@RockhoundingLife Makes sense. What an amazing variety of agates and jaspers we have coming from the North Mountain. Mind blowing!

[@danielkarczewski2467]

Very Nice makes me want to buy that machine LOL...

[@ericadobrenski4477]

Very nice piece. Marble agate is a good term for it. I’ve been trying to find a way to describe what seam agate looks like. You nailed it! Can’t wait for the end of the video, bet it’s spectacular!

[@RockhoundingLife]

If it's a new material i've never seen or heard of before I usually go with what comes to mind first when I see it. Marble came to mind on this one. Thanks for watching!!

[@arendgerritsen5681]

Real beauty!! slicing could be also nice!

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks! I may slab more of it in the future but for now I want to keep it as one big piece.

[@sandmaker]

That looks like the perfect machine for what you are doing. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful shine. Be happy, safe and stay healthy!

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thank you!! It's my favorite machine to work with right now. Same to you!!

[@jimlancaster6120]

That turned out great so glad you keep to your standards, its always so much better in the end.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thank you so much 😊

[@philhey4239]

Amazing peace. Would love to visit your area to rock pick. I do not live in a good Rock picking area. You and your kids are so lucky. Keep up the videos

[@RockhoundingLife]

Yes we are very fortunate to live in a great rockhounding region! Thanks for watching!

[@johnny0253]

is that machine loud?? will it rattle the house in the middle of the night?

[@RockhoundingLife]

Its very quiet actually

[@vickygoodwin9771]

Beautiful! Thanks for doing all the work. I could look at that for hours, no years!

[@RockhoundingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@eliasarellano6887]

Muy bonito trabajo

[@CityRockhounding]

Very well done. This vibrating polisher is pretty awesome!!! Turned out incredible! Love your channel!

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesscott1932]

Truly, that is “So Kool!” Many advantages to a vibrating flat lap. I wish you had an email so I could send a pic of my 40# piece of Seam agate from the Plomosa Mountains in Arizona.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks! And yes we do have email. Our email address is listed in the description.

[@senorlaverg6667]

Lol how do you keep your tape from peeling away? I absolutely wrap my stuff in a cocoon of heavy duty duct tape and it still falls off half the time. Maybe I’m using too much water in my slurry.

[@ambkbero2]

The end result is absolutely stunning. Patience is everything in the lapidary world. Where you beach combing at Lobster Hole?

[@chiropracticplus1]

Pan life will vary depending on specifics, of course. Generally, what is expected life? Thanks...

[@RockhoundingLife]

Its not long unfortunately. A year with consistent use

[@bobbob-vp7qc]

nice work where do you buy your grit and supplies?

[@RockhoundingLife]

I buy most of our grit and supplies from Kingsley North. You can find them online.

[@mray8519]

Thanks for sharing, nice work. I’m guessing Covington sells a ton of those cheap aluminum pans.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Not sure but they are not cheap!! Each one cost about $100!

[@brendonbakker4498]

Quick question when you are done with the polish stage do you wash out your polish pad or do you store it wet

[@KT-rl1dy]

Are vibrating lap used in the same way a regular flat lap is used?

[@RockhoundingLife]

No. Its totally different.

[@Ken_G.]

I notice that there's a small fissure in that piece. Do you have to be as careful cleaning out something like that between stages in the vibratory lap as you do with a rotary tumbler? If so, what do you use, a water pick? Came out great man. Keep em coming and thank you for sharing.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Yes, but hardly any grit got in it. I got most of it with water pressure. I used a small pin to get the rest out.

[@KT-rl1dy]

Can you make cabachons with it? Or just flat surfaces?

[@RockhoundingLife]

This machine is just used to polish flat larger surfaces.

[@bryansiachua]

Will that machine flatten Stainless parts? if I want to remove 1/8 from 8 inch diameter plate how long it takes?

[@RockhoundingLife]

Yes it will grind stainless parts. I have done it. Stainless steel is not that hard. If your interested in the machine use our affiliate link in the description and use the code RHLIFE at checkout to get 10% off accessories.

[@Elizabethmay08]

Any ideas how to polish one twice the size of that? 😬 I have no idea how to gring and polish it with the size it is

[@RockhoundingLife]

Yes! Watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6G2mJp6Z9SNe9E

[@keykey1401]

How long takes polishing with these? Until job is fully done ✅?

[@RockhoundingLife]

The whole process takes a few days

[@KT-rl1dy]

Where did you buy your vibrating flat lap from?

[@RockhoundingLife]

I bought it from the kingsley north website.

[@MarlainaAtkins]

Wow! I had to bust out the shades for this one😎 what a brilliant shine. I really love all the different colors in this masterpiece... A unique stone indeed. Thanks for sharing. And Happy Holidays to you and the family✨

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks Marlaina! It's definitely a cool and unique seam agate. Only found one seam of it so far. Happy Holidays to you and your family as well!!

[@stuartkeithguitars4251]

where can I buy that material? the agate first wetted?

[@RockhoundingLife]

You can't buy it. It's only found in one place.

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

I've not seen anyone use a vibra lap yet. Man, you got all the coolest toys 😁. What are those weights you were using? Hahaha, kind of a funky rig you had, but looks like everything worked great. You do amazing work!!! I really like how you explain everything and share tips. That is a beautiful seam agate and polished up amazing!!! Take care and keep on rockin' 🤘

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks! The metal weights I was using are press blocks for my drill press. You can use anything really as long as you can secure it to the top without it falling. Thanks for watching!

[@saaamember97]

Is the motor attached directly to the pan? I have an older model 16" Texas Rocks vibratory lap, and the motor is attached to the pan (No quick-disconnect). This makes it a pain to clean! Gotta find a way to keep the motor and cord dry, while spraying the pan with a hose.

[@RockhoundingLife]

No. The pan is detachable from the base unit. Easy to clean.

[@dumore1]

Great job showing the complete process. What kept me watching till the end was learning what is working and not working to your expectations. Those details are A+

[@RockhoundingLife]

Thanks!! I'm glad you found it interesting!

[@mattrichards1492]

That agate is amazing stuff. I'm debating on a vibra flat lap, high tech, or just building my own. Seems like there is no one perfect machine and no shortcuts for polishing.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Each method has it's own advantages and applications I find. You really just need to go with what would suit your needs most.

[@WaltHaas]

I just noticed all those cords plugged into one outlet 😂😅

[@RockhoundingLife]

This is an old setup.

[@wayneholt2473]

What kind of new pad? Leather, canvas, or what?

[@wayneholt2473]

I got a used machine with only one pan. Looks like I need another.

[@RockhoundingLife]

My pan is worn now as well. I need to replace it.

[@BirdWhisperer46]

I wonder how long that waffle top on the vibe will hold up?

[@RockhoundingLife]

Its already but the dust.

[@seanlarabee6300]

@@RockhoundingLife How many hours did you get out of the one you use for rough grinding? Just ordered my first replacement pan with the original lasting maybe 30 total hours running 60/90. trying to figuring out if this is the just the price of admission or if I have a flaw in my own processes. (did have a few rounds of not checking in a timely manner and letting the slurry get wayyyy too thick)

[@RockhoundingLife]

I got about 48 hrs out of it before the wear started affecting my polishes.

[@castherman396]

El agata no es manchado, que le pasa,

[@keykey1401]

Jumping from 1200 to 14000??😮

[@RockhoundingLife]

Yes sir! And some of the best shine i've ever got!

[@ThomasCrusan]

Ok video but your narrative is way, way to long. Work more-talk less.

[@RockhoundingLife]

Its an instructional and product review. I have to talk

[@darrengillesdarrengilles8336]

This video assured me that despite my massive inherited lapidary rough collection and artistic desires spending a week making a rock shiny is the very last thing in this life I want to spend my time doing. OMG

[@RockhoundingLife]

Sounds like you should sell that lapidary rough collection to someome else.

[@10thletter40]

​@@RockhoundingLife Well you tried for the good of society 😂