habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
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rocks
Feb 28, 2011 14:17:42 GMT -5
Post by habbie on Feb 28, 2011 14:17:42 GMT -5
new to all this!!!!!!! I was wondering what type of rock do the railroads use on their tracks? Has anyone ever tumbled it?
one more stupid question, I have to tiger eye but it is pretty big, I don't have a saw what is a good way of breaking it up so I could tumble it?
As you can see I'm totally stupid about this stuff lmao
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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rocks
Feb 28, 2011 14:31:03 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Feb 28, 2011 14:31:03 GMT -5
Hey your not stupid- we all started at the begining! Railroads can be an interesting place to hunt (PLEASE NOTE: IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE ON THE BED OF AN ACTIVE RAILROAD!!!!!)as they often truck in the ballast from FAR FAR AWAY! The railroad companines will usually use what ever is cheap and consistent in size. However if your near the UP in MI you could easily see some interesting material. Out west I imagine the beds could also be interesting. Here on the east coast we see a lot of crushed limestone, but there are usually interesting fossils in that so you never know. As for breaking up tiger eye, well a good rock chisel and a small crack hammer (also refered to as a mini sledge- usually around 3Lbs) are a must (as is gloves, and safety glasses). The best thing to do is look for any natural fractures, cracks, or indents, and start there. Don't be afraid to give the rock a good hit. by working the natural flaws you will get better results in your tumbling rough. The other thing you can do is send the rock to someone with a saw. They will cut it up for you and send it back (minus a small cutters fee- I usually charge a couple slabs and an endcut). Have fun and don't be afraid to ask questions, it's the only way we learn!
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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rocks
Feb 28, 2011 22:19:11 GMT -5
Post by NDK on Feb 28, 2011 22:19:11 GMT -5
I agree with Stefan, the only stupid questions are the ones not asked.
One easy method of figuring out if a rock will polish nicely in a tumbler is to scratch a piece with a pocket knife. If the blade only leaves a mark, sorta looking like a pencil marked it, it should work out. If the blade actually scratches the stone, it could still polish, but is softer and may be harder to tumble successfuly.
As far as the tiger eye, if it's not too big, but just larger than you want to tumble, you can get diamond cutting wheels for a dremel or similar moto tool. These are quite inexpensive at Harbor Freight tools, and work pretty good.
Welcome, Good Luck, and keep asking those questions!
Nate
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rocks
Feb 28, 2011 23:19:20 GMT -5
Post by gr on Feb 28, 2011 23:19:20 GMT -5
Nate, If he cuts that with a dremel, Is it an asbestos issue. Should wear a mask anyway gary
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habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
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rocks
Mar 1, 2011 9:54:27 GMT -5
Post by habbie on Mar 1, 2011 9:54:27 GMT -5
Good info, thank you
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Jason
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 216
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rocks
Mar 1, 2011 10:15:25 GMT -5
Post by Jason on Mar 1, 2011 10:15:25 GMT -5
Never hurts to wear a mask. Like the others posted a dremel will get you by in these early stages of rock cutting. $60 for a dremel and like $12 or less for diamond blades. Make sure and use water when cutting
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rocks
Mar 1, 2011 10:19:03 GMT -5
Post by gr on Mar 1, 2011 10:19:03 GMT -5
habbie, since you are new to this hobbie, there are some don't do's. do a search on tiger eye and learn the properties of it and how to properly work it. Safety first gary
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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rocks
Mar 1, 2011 10:19:36 GMT -5
Post by stefan on Mar 1, 2011 10:19:36 GMT -5
PM Sent. And do watch out when cutting Tiger eye- only cut wet and wear a mask
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