|
Post by JoMammie on Oct 15, 2004 19:23:06 GMT -5
When I was much younger, probably around 8 or 10, my parents got a rock tumbling setup for me. I don't think we ever actually used it... Now I am 31 years old. I have found the rock tumbling setup and just put my first batch of rock in. The set came with 5 jars of tumbling compounds. I am not sure what one of the compounds are and have not been able to find anything out on the internet. It is marked "Stanoxite" and is a fine white powder.
My parents bought the setup from a rock shop that has since closed in San Leandro, California. A really nice older man owned it, and gave them everything we needed in the setup. A nice 1.5 lb Loritone tumbler, and these five bottles of compounds.
He also hand wrote a list of what order to use the compounds. Here is the list:
1: #100 grit 2: #400 grit 3: #600 grit 4: Stanoxite 5: Cerium Oxide
I have done lots of reading and know the processes to go through and the pitfalls, etc. So I was more so just wondering if someone could tell me more about the Stanoxite!
When my parents bought this set (1986-1987), we had taken a trip to Canada and rockhounded all the way up the beaches. We had a large number of agates that we collected. I know some were from agate beach in Oregon. Maybe the man sold them this powder with agates in mind. I am not sure.
Thanks for any information on that!
On another note:
I am very excited to get into the hobby, and love the website and message boards. Thanks to everyone here on the message board for all the great information and pictures. Thanks also to the webmaster, for an informative site.
I will post some pictures later of my first trial! I have mostly white translucent rock, which I think is quartz in there. I just put it in two days ago. Checked it after 24 hours... kind of foamy. I added a tiny bit of water, and turned it back on! Will keep you posted!
|
|
|
Post by docone31 on Oct 15, 2004 19:55:51 GMT -5
If memory serves me, Stanoxite is a trade name. Back then, grits were available but, not widely used like they are. Is your tumbler tan coloured? Stanoxite is about 900+. With the advent of the computer in the household, concise language has become common. For us, this has really helped in selecting grits, media, formula. I really hate our silicone brained antithistical antichrist but I would never have been able to participate like I can with the flick of a button. Irony.
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Oct 15, 2004 21:26:15 GMT -5
Hi Jo, Welcome to the forum! Sounds like your hooked already, be sure to leave those rocks in the coarse grit until they get nicely shaped. Doesn't work to be impatient and move things along to quickly.
Cher
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Oct 15, 2004 22:23:23 GMT -5
Hey Jo, are you still living in the Bay Area? I'm in San Jose. Welcome aboard, enjoy the hobby, and feel free to ask questions-someone will will have answers.
Ed
|
|
|
Post by JoMammie on Oct 15, 2004 22:38:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses!
Docone - thanks for the info on stanoxite. I am definately going to use it as a prepolish, so I will let you know how it goes.
Rosebud - I am definately hooked! I can't wait to see the end results... I will definately take my time though! I want a good shape!
Stoner - I still live in the Bay Area! Do you know anywhere to buy tumbling supplies locally? How about any rockhounding spots? I know of a few cannabis clubs in the bay area to help you with your name!!!
Would still love to hear anymore info anyone has on the Stanoxite.
Thanks, JoMammie
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Oct 15, 2004 22:50:25 GMT -5
Hey Jo, 20yrs ago, there were no cannabis clubs, and yet, I knew where to find it in many places. These days, Stoner is in reference to this very addictive hobby. The only rock shop I know of is Wenric's, here in San Jose. As far as rockhounding goes, Anderson Lake in Morgan Hill is a really nice place to pick up some colorful Jasper and there is also supposed to be some blue/white agate there. If there is a creek where you are, you'll probably have some luck finding something there also. Still in the east bay?
Ed
|
|
jomammie
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2004
Posts: 2
|
Post by jomammie on Oct 15, 2004 23:15:09 GMT -5
Ed,
Still in the East Bay... living in San Leandro in fact! Thanks for the heads up on the rockhounding tip. I will have to visit Wenric's next time I am in the Southbay.
I ride my bike in the oakland hills, like around Lake Chabot and in the Berkeley hills. I am hoping when rain seaon hits, maybe I will find some stuff. Lots of runoffs, and creeks get started up in the hills there, and there are some creeks. Its also on the fault line!
|
|
deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
|
Post by deepsouth on Oct 15, 2004 23:57:51 GMT -5
Welcome to this exceptionaly nice club Jo , I'm sure you will love it as much as most of us do...99.9%...I believe the score is.
Stanoxite, no , never heard of it . But according to your description it must be a pre-polish.
Have fun tumbling and being patient.
Jack
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Oct 17, 2004 0:56:06 GMT -5
Hey Jo. I haven't seen anything in my books about rockhounding spots in the east bay, but I'm sure you'll find something. Are there ant rock outcroppings around Lake Chabot? I haven't been there in years, but it seems I remember going out in a boat and seeing a rocky area. Well, good luck and keep in touch. It's nice to have fellow rockhounds in the same area. Redwoodrocks lives in the Santa Cruz Mtns. and we have gotten together to shoot the breeze and exchange ideas, so when you make it to Wenrics, let me know, I live about 5mins. away from them.
later, Ed
ps. Stay away from the faultline tomorrow, 10/17
|
|
RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
|
Post by RedwoodRocks on Oct 17, 2004 2:21:12 GMT -5
Hi Jo,
Welcome to the message board. I live up in the Santa Cruz mountains. I heard there is still an old time rock shop in Mountain View. I haven't been there myself, but heard that it is one of the last in the Bay Area, due to the high cost of living.
Again, welcome to the board.
Cal aka RedwoodRocks
|
|
jomammie
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2004
Posts: 2
|
Post by jomammie on Oct 18, 2004 11:46:42 GMT -5
Thanks again for the nice welcome! The hospitality in this forum is unheard of! I am going to do a bit of rockhounding around Lake Chabot today. I don't know... maybe just scouting out the area on my mountain bike to see whats around. It's funny, I have ridden my bike around the lake hundreds... maybe even in the thousands of times. But only now have I yet to really pay attention to the rocks. I checked my tumbler on Saturday... it had been going for three days. Its the smallest Loritone they sell... the little 1.5 lb tumbler. It had been going for three days, and I accidently spilled the whole thing! Oops... they did look good however. Starting to get rounded! Very exciting for me!!! So anyways, I recharged the tumbler and away we go. It seemed like maybe I had used too much grit... the slurry was very thick and foamy. The instructions said to use 4 tablespoons... this time I used 3. Sounds like they are tumbling better... a more steady sound of the rocks churning. I don't know... I am still too new to know what I am listening for. Thanks again for the local welcome Stoner and RedwoodRocks! It is nice to talk to some fellow bay area folks. Stoner, I definately need to visit Wenric's in the next two to three weeks, as I don't have any plastic pellets. Seems like I should pick some up for the prepolish and polish stages, from what I read from everyones postings! I will give you a few days heads up and see if we can't get together for some rock-talk! Thanks again, Shaun = aka JoMammie (Shaun's my real namer)
|
|
llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
|
Post by llanago on Oct 18, 2004 13:06:40 GMT -5
Welcome jomammie. Always glad to see a new face on the forum. Hang around here for long and you will be seriously addicted to this hobby. Tons of great info that has saved me a number of disasters! Best get a BIG backpack and saddle bags for your bike! And whatever you do, DON'T wear pants with an elasticized waist or you might wreck trying to keep your pants up after filling all the pockets with rocks! llana
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Oct 18, 2004 20:38:13 GMT -5
Hey Shaun. As far as plastic pellets go, you can go to a fabric store and get them cheaper. They are sold as a filler for making dolls' arms and legs. They are polyproplene pellets. I think Micheals also sells them. But hey...Come on down. Wenrics has some really nice Brazillian Agate for $3/lb. I forgot about the rock shop in Mt.View. Never been there...yet!
Ed
|
|
WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
|
Post by WilliamC on Oct 19, 2004 12:13:59 GMT -5
Greetings All, Well the greek name for tin is stannum, thus the elemental symbol for tin is Sn (see www.chemicalelements.com/elements/sn.html)So I'd bet that stanoxite would be a trade name for tin oxide. WilliamC
|
|
deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
|
Post by deepsouth on Oct 19, 2004 23:01:37 GMT -5
Hi all, I think that Wiiliam C is on the right track. I have done some more searching on the net and found this page. It shows the different synonims for Tin as such:"tin (IV) oxide tin dioxide tin oxide stannic oxide The last one looking very much like the original question i.e. what is Stanoxite?. www.webelements.com/webelements/compounds/text/Sn/O2Sn1-18282105.htmlHope this helps all those enquiring minds. Jack
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 19, 2004 23:27:30 GMT -5
Welcome Shaun! Glad to have you aboard. Very, Very soon you will be graduating up to bigger/better tumblers. Might I suggest a vibe for pre polish/polish. Works Really fast and efficiently. I use it for all stages, bui thats just me ;D. Dang, I am SO jealous of people who don't have to BUY thier rocks on Ebay!
cookie
|
|
phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
|
Post by phoenix1647 on Oct 20, 2004 13:46:31 GMT -5
Hi JO...sorry..could not find any information on Stanoxite..even checked google which has info on almost everything and nothing turned up. My used to live in San Leandro two yrs ago and is now living in San Jose. One thing you realy need to be carefulf about while working the rivers and creeks around Calif....is mining claims. If there is a mining claim on the spot you are working in...everything is protected..even the pretty rocks...just a word to the wise..I don't think any of the claim owners would mind you picking up pretty rocks but they will get a bit upset if you pick up any gold........ Just a little something to think about...and you can contact the GPAA to see if they can help you with finding who owns any claims in the area you want to work...(909)699-4749. Good hunting and welcome aboard.
Pho
|
|
|
Post by sandsman1 on Oct 20, 2004 18:09:59 GMT -5
hi all i see people still looking for pellets why dont ya ask tom (connrock) if he has some left maybe you can do a trade or buy some,, i got a big bag from him awile back and they where just like the ones i bought ---thats if he still has them never hurts to ask right hahaha
|
|