oghoagie
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2011
Posts: 17
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Post by oghoagie on Dec 29, 2011 13:19:22 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have posted on this great site and got so much usefull info so I am reaching out again to you all with more new guy stuff.
1. Is there a posting or place I can find what some of the slang or wordage you more experenced rockhounds use?
I found out slabs are saw cut rocks cut like deli meat, snott is the leftover sludge after you finish a stage, and a few other ones in the last few days I have been reading this great fourm. However there are sooooo many words I have no idea what you guys are saying. Would love to print out a page reference some words when I reading.
2. I know you have to try different things when tumbling but is there a begger fourm with a good jumping off point. How long to tumble, what rocks are best for a newbie, etc.?
I found what I thought was a good starting point with the instructions that came with the tumbler and the site I picked it up on. Rocktumbler.com. But as I read here it may be way off.
3. Gas?
We opened the tumbler and there was a lot of foam. I did not think much of it but as I read here some of you mention it as if it is a bad thing. Well is it? and if so what to do about it?
I will will be asking many more newbie things that I am wondering about but I will save that for the next book. ;D
Thanks Hoagie
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oghoagie
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2011
Posts: 17
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Post by oghoagie on Dec 29, 2011 13:28:57 GMT -5
Ok found the jumping off point in the free totorial so scratch that question.
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Post by tntmom on Dec 29, 2011 13:49:10 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Dec 29, 2011 13:53:54 GMT -5
Hoagie,
1. I don’t know of any glossary of terms but it’s an interesting idea. Just keep reading & you’ll figure out the jargon as you have already begun to do.
2. The tutorials here are great. As for the instructions that come with most tumblers, they are useless at best & counterproductive at worst. I.e. they usually recommend more grit and polish than necessary and the time suggestions, especially for the course grind are far too short.
3. Some materials are more gassy than others (like some people I know). Obsidian & slag glass often produce more gas than agates & jaspers. If you’re getting a lot of gas with the latter, it’s usually due to organic matter on the stones, so wash them well before tumbling. Gas can be a problem because it can blow the lid off of the barrel creating a big mess with the possibility of getting grit into the moving parts of the tumbler.
Patience is a virtue with rock tumbling, take your time & have fun.
Peace…Rich
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oghoagie
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2011
Posts: 17
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Post by oghoagie on Dec 29, 2011 14:18:37 GMT -5
Q#4 Do I really need a barrel for every stage?
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 29, 2011 14:46:59 GMT -5
I never had separate barrels and never had a problem. Of course, if you have a dedicated polish barrel you can reuse a lot of polish and not worry as much about cleaning drums. If you have a coarse/medium drum, fine grit drum, and polish drum you can make drum cleaning a fast rinse. Do you need them? Not necessarily.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 29, 2011 14:52:59 GMT -5
Oh, and as far as foam, don't worry. You usually only see it in the beginning of a batch. If you don't open the drum for 7-10 days you may not see it at all. The old books I learned with all said to "burp" the drum by opening every 2-3 days to release gas. Better to check the drums for signs of bulging rather than opening and reclosing drums especially on Thumler's which can be a pain to reseal. As mentioned, most of the more commonly tumbled rocks don't produce gas.
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oghoagie
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2011
Posts: 17
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Post by oghoagie on Dec 29, 2011 19:18:29 GMT -5
Am I crazy? I have only been doing this for a 5 days and my daughter and I decided we need another tumbler so we can be more active and have less down time. We will now have 3 active barrels. and I picked up one extra barrel for polishing. I have over 10lbs of rough waiting to be tumbled. and we are searching the beaches everyday for more.
My wife is going to kill me. and I have you all to thank for this. If you did not have all this great information I would not have been so excited about our new hobby together.
I have lost my marbles. or rocks in this case.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2011 19:55:44 GMT -5
It only gets worse. Good luck. Get your wife involved with making the jewelry later and tell her that it is educational for the daughter. If that does not work you are doomed. Jim
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 29, 2011 22:57:21 GMT -5
Most old timers look at the 2 tons in my back yard and say "just getting started, eh?"
Lee
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 356
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Post by mjflinty on Dec 30, 2011 6:20:43 GMT -5
Yup, welcome to the heaviest hobby out there! Good to hear your daughter is digging it; we need more pebble pups!
Michael
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Dec 31, 2011 16:17:16 GMT -5
The problem is when tumbling releases gas from certain kinds of rocks. That won't necessarily cause foam at all, but it will put the barrel under pressure. If you had that problem, you probably would have described a bulging barrel and a lid the popped when you opened it. Maybe even black slurry all over your clothes.
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