Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 10, 2015 19:44:28 GMT -5
Howdy. Just thought I'd take a moment and say hello. I'm a newbie located in south Alabama. I can't call myself a rockhound, for sure, but I've always picked up the odd, nice looking rock and dropped it in my pocket. I know there's rocks strewn from where I grew up at to where I'm living now...folks probably wonder "how did that rock get there?". When I was a kid riding a 20" bicycle I tried to fashion me a tumbler from a coffee can and drag it behind my bicycle...that didn't work out to well, but it was a shot.<grin> But, not being a lot of rocks down this way I never really got into "rock hunting"...unless it was arrowheads. Anyhow, time passed and when my daughters were young (I did say time passed!) I bought them a Thumler's Model T 3# tumbler. We tumbled a batch of rocks and I thought it was pretty neat...they, well, they didn't catch the bug.<sigh> The tumbler was carefully placed in the top of my closet...until now. Now, I have GRANDDAUGHTERS <GRIN>. So, I'm gonna drag it out and try it again!!!! I know these girls will get a kick out of it...they are *way* smarter than their mother or aunt! They're both either gonna be rocket scientists or either ride in the rockets....I'll let them figure that part out...something tells me they'll like rock tumbling. The 2-week old granddaughter...well, I'll keep the Model T in working condition for when she a bit older. So, my daughters got me to purchase a tumbler 20+ years ago...and my granddaughters are stirring up my old coffee can dreams of tumbling rocks. I've got a couple of small "grit pack accessories" but I'm not so sure what they consist of...it doesn't look like much grit to it and I'm thinking I need to find somewhere to buy some grit. As for rocks, there's not a lot of rocks here in my area of south Alabama...50 miles south of Montgomery, so I may just end up going out to the cement company and see if they mind me scratching through there rock piles. And, if something crazy happens and the granddaughters decide it's not exciting enough for them...well, that little Model T sure beats a coffee can pulled behind a bicycle. Ed
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 10, 2015 21:09:27 GMT -5
Hi Ed, welcome to RTH. I love your story of dragging a coffee can behind your bike to tumble rocks. If you need grit, The Rock Shed has some great prices on quality materials. When you order, you'll need a lot more coarse grit (60/90 or 46/70) than the other, finer grits. Most of the time tumbling is in the first stage. They also have some nice rocks for sale there. Start with something hard, like agate or Jasper, it's the easiest to polish.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 10, 2015 23:54:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome, Jugglerguy. I checked out The Rock Shed but I'm confused on how much to buy. We've got the 3# tumbler and I looked at the grit packs that would give us four 3# batches of polished rocks. I'm thinking, too, of ordering an extra pound or two of the 60/90 coarse grit.
Ed
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 11, 2015 5:35:28 GMT -5
I guess it depends on how long you think your grandkids are going to email interested. I run two three pound barrels and two six pound barrels which all do nothing but the first stage. I finish my rocks in a vibratory tumbler. I buy fifty pounds of coars grit at a time from Kingsley North. I buy all my other grit from the Rock Shed. Kingsley is just a little cheaper for really large quantities. I also run my rocks in coarse stage until they're perfect, so it takes a while.
Those grit packs come with 60/90 grit, which is what I used for years. About a month ago, I switched to 47/70 grit for my first stage and I'm really pleased with the results. Rocks get done noticeably faster. If I was you, I'd get one of those grit packs and add at least another five pounds of 46/70.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 11, 2015 9:53:01 GMT -5
Welcome Ed...............
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 11, 2015 10:13:46 GMT -5
Well, I'm not so sure that the specter of the coffee can tumbler didn't have something to do with me originally buying the Model T *for* my daughters. Working on getting the Model T tumbling has stirred up my interest again so I think that if the granddaughters bail on me that I may stay interested myself. I can't afford to get into tumbling in a big way but I think I could keep the Model T fed...maybe even come up with a little more tumbling capacity later on. I see quickly that the shipping cost really impacts pricing but seeing the note on The Rock Shed about flat-rate boxes helps out. I'll be sure and bump up the coarse grit and go with the 46/70. Thanks for the recommendations! Ed
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 11, 2015 10:15:16 GMT -5
Welcome Ed............... Thanks Fossilman. I've got a friend that resembles your avatar...we always called him "the missing link". Ed
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Sept 11, 2015 12:48:37 GMT -5
Welcome from the swamps of South Louisiana. I think the timeline with tumbling is what makes some kids lose interest. They want instant results.
That first stage make take anywhere from one to four (or More weeks). I also switch to a vibratory tumbler for the remaining stages. Fortunately, I have additional rock interests that keep me occupied while waiting for the tumbles.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 11, 2015 14:17:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome, Nancie. You are probably correct on the time factor and kids...patience, I think, is truly a learned quality. It seems that several of you use the rotary tumblers for the first, and maybe second, stages and a vibratory tumbler for the other stages...kinda makes curious about "why"...?? Ed
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 11, 2015 17:28:14 GMT -5
Vibratory tumblers are more expensive. My Lot-O cost about $200. The reason I bought one is because it does each stage after the first stage in about two days. Instead of several tablespoons of grit used in a rotary, my vibe uses 1/2 teaspoon of most grits (220 uses 2 tablespoons). Between the savings in electricity and grit, I figured it would eventually pay for itself. Getting them done quicker was a selling point too. I love my Lot-O.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 11, 2015 17:50:56 GMT -5
Welcome, Ed Intheswamp from Southern California. If you've got tumbling questions, you've come to the right place! No attitudes here, everyone is willing to share what they know their recipes for tumbling success. (Do you speak with a strong suthen' accent like jamesp? He's in Hotlanta, and is the coral tumbling king! He has to subtitle his posts so we'all can unnerstand him. Just kidding.)
I spent a year down there east of Decatur in a previous life. Land of humidity, NO KIDDING!
You'll enjoy it here. Jean
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,165
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Post by jamesp on Sept 11, 2015 18:20:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum Intheswamp. I see you met Jean from LA(lower Alabama), I mean San Diego I swear that girl is from the south. Anyway, she spoils us all, and there is a bunch more like her here. I have a rock hunter buddy from 'Slapout' AL. Guessing you have heard of it. Enjoy the forum.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 11, 2015 23:38:50 GMT -5
Rob, thanks for the explanation on the vibratory tumbler...that is some kind of increase in speed!!! Wow!!! I can see why folks use them!!! Thanks for the welcome, Jean. Naw, I ain't got no accent, but folks north of Montgomery generally do!!! If you're missing the humidity I'll cut a slab off for you snd UPS it to you. James, I know where Slapout is, it's a good piece north of me. I'm down about 50 miles south of Montgomery. I wouldn't mind a day trip somewhere to pick up some river rock or something, just not sure which direction to head in. Maybe I need to come over your way...I've got some family over in Columbus and a good friend in Atlanta...the only problem with Atlanta is that my little town has just two traffic lights...the last time we went through downtown Atlanta caused me to have to buy a new steering wheel (squeezed it too hard) and had to by a new seat, too(same reason). I've gotten a mighty warm welcome here from ya'll....thanks! I can't say I'll contribute a lot to the forum, being a newbie, but I'm sure I'll ask a lot of questions.<grin> Ed
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,165
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Post by jamesp on Sept 12, 2015 13:15:52 GMT -5
Try the shoals in and around Albany on the Flint River. There is a linear park with trails that provide access to the shoals. Or the dam just above Albany. Fossils and pretty chert pretty much everywhere. Need to hit the shoals when the river is low, usually Aug-Dec. they make spearheads out of it. Tumbles great.
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Post by drocknut on Sept 12, 2015 13:34:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 12, 2015 21:49:27 GMT -5
James, those are some nice points...someone is very skilled at knapping!!! Albany is in range for me and would be about the limit for me in regards to a day trip. The Hogg Mine and it are basically the same distance from me...the Hogg is maybe 15-20 miles closer. So, other than the mining fee at the Hogg, would you pick one over the other? The reason I ask is that there is a scheduled dig next weekend at The Hogg. I have no idea what I'm doing but I guess it could be a learning experience. I'll keep the Flint River in mind for a trip later on. I used to hunt arrowheads along the Chattahoochee and there's a good bit of chert "junk" to be found in spots...I might revisit some of those old haunts...I never thought those "junk" chunks of rock would one day be something I'd like to have. Diane, thanks for the welcome!! Ed
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Post by broseph82 on Sept 15, 2015 16:45:21 GMT -5
Warm greetings from Huntsville. There are plenty of places in the Southern AL area. Hit me up on a PM and I'll give you a good hint.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Sept 15, 2015 19:14:20 GMT -5
Thanks broseph82 for the welcome and the offer. I've sent you an PM...hint away!!!!! When I was a kid it seemed like you could find rocks *everywhere* around here....I think something ate'em!!! Ed
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