Glass in a Rock Tumbler?

afrodite · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 16

hi.
is the aforementioned possible? i want to tumble bits of glass for a project. would they come out shiny and smooth like the rocks? frosted like beach glass? or would i be looking at a visit to the emergency room if i even tried?

do tell!

your (creative, yet cautious) pal,
afro d.

lizzymahoney · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 804

Okay, afro D, you know from rock tumbling? Use a 400 grit, tumble for a few hours max before checking. It will be frosted like beach glass.

If you put the broken glass in with parts of labels attached, some times the label or adhesive will still be there in part. That can make it look even more beachy in my eye, but it's not something I do intentionally. I break the glass with a rubber mallet under a heavy tarp over a bucket. And still get shards everywhere.

If you wanted the glass smooth edged and shiny, I understand it will never get that 'glassy' again, but you can get close with a satiny finish as you move into finer grits and then polishing agents. I've never tumbled them for that purpose. I want the odd colored mermaids tears, like cobalt blue.

afrodite · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 16

you rock, lizzy.
(pun was not intended, but i just woke up, so i'm rolling with it. eep. there i go again...)

your (excited) pal,
afro d.

deborahthecraft · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 364 Location: California

Yeah what Lizzy said.
I always wanted to make jewelry with my 'manufactured' sea glass.
After an old thread on the old Get Crafty I did the tumbling but never made it into jewelry,it ended up in the fish tank.

afrodite · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 16

i am truly inspired now.
thank y'all for sharing. when i either find someone who will let me use their tumbler (yay! Stitch n' Bitch at Deborah's house :) ), or get one for my birthday, i will be off and running.

your (optimistic and ambitious) pal,
afro d.