Tumbling Lepidolite - From Start to Finish! Rotary Tumbling Tips & Techniques

[@clivethewritermadenglishma4042]

So I watched this video and decided to not try tumbling my Lepidolite. Instead I used diamond pads on a small hand held drill. I started with 50 grade just to quickly shape the stones. Followed with 200 grade and started to make flat faces on 2 or 3 three faces of the stones. I then used 400 grade disc with water and the stones started to come up nicely. I then used 800, 1500, 3000 and 6000 grade discs and the results are really very good. I think the stones look really quite good with a couple of faces nice and shiny in contrast to the roughness of the rest of the stone. The whole process took about an hour to prepare 3 stones. Very satisfying.

[@kellyemmons2690]

Did you dry polish the Lepidolite? Also have you done Orchid Calcite?

[@paulcarder5907]

Thanks for another detailed thorough tumbling video! I will improve my skills before I try this one. When are you going to start the contest stones? I;ve already got them going. Will take a lot of time and patience. Lots of difficulties to deal with. I'm sure that's why they picked this rock.

[@ReikiGemWellness]

Paul Carder Carder I just started the contest stones, so you’ll get to see it in the video tomorrow 😁👍👍

[@timcarver5492]

Thanks for sharing that tumble. Really Helpful! I do have a batch of Lepidolite half done. I was having the same trouble with the shaping. I was afraid I was loosing to much material so I set it aside a few weeks ago. Now I can see this is pretty normal for Lepodolite. When I have a free barrel I will attempt to complete it. I wonder if using only plastic beads during the polish stage would reduce the bruising along the edges? I have a similar problem with my Chrysocolla right now (not taking shape). I am just pushing it through. I thought I may have just had a bad batch of rough, but I think I just need to get a bit more clever :-)

[@ReikiGemWellness]

That Lepidolite drive me crazy :-D But in hindsight, I purchased some tumbled lepidolite and it had that bumpy look to it as well, so even commercial tumblers can only get a smooth surface by carving Lepidolite. I hope your batch finished better than mine!

[@jolenecarley3154]

Hey did you ever find out what that gemmy piece in the lepidolite was? So pretty! I'm about to dive into trying to tumble some myself! Thanks for the videos! xoxox

[@atmaramsalunkhe30]

I respect u

[@atmaramsalunkhe30]

Good looking u

[@mzcrystallover93]

Don't be creeping