ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 17:38:41 GMT -5
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 9, 2016 18:20:00 GMT -5
You're a good student, Dave. You get an A on your first try. Those look really great. The hardest part of the whole process is that first step. You have the patience to wait until they're done properly in the first stage, the rest is easy.
One small suggestion. I used to run borax in the 220 stage until Chuck convinced me not to. It just dries things out even faster in the first Lot-O stage, so I don't use it there anymore.
Good job on your first batch!
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Post by MrMike on Oct 9, 2016 18:36:40 GMT -5
Beautiful batch Dave. Really like the blue quartz. The one clear quartz looks flawless. Awesome. Are these Rock Shed material?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 18:51:48 GMT -5
Beautiful batch Dave. Really like the blue quartz. The one clear quartz looks flawless. Awesome. Are these Rock Shed material? Yes, everything is from The Rock Shed.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Oct 9, 2016 19:14:50 GMT -5
Well done Dave.
A few dibits
Does your blue quartz have little pits? I've struggled with it.
Your picture jasper has much more shine then I'm able to get with a Lot-o.
Most importantly, are you Cub crazy? My first beer with my dad was a Dog Style in left field bkeachers in 1985 - I waa 16. Cubs lost to the Expos. I used to have a "No Lights at Wrigley" shirt. Wore the stitches off that shirt.
Nice role man,
Colin
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 19:53:16 GMT -5
napoleonrags, the quartz has very tiny pits. You have to look at the right angle. They are very obvious on the 10x loupe. There are also weird whit patches that I've seen some people refer to as bruising. I don't actually feel anything there so I just moved the material out of the rough stage and onto the next. The picture jasper at the 10 o'clock position did not shine up like all the others. It almost looks matte. And there are quite a few of these "micro pits" in that material also. Not sure if that is the nature of the material or I did something wrong. And finally, I grew up in Cincinnati so the Cubs are a divisional rival. However, I'm rooting for them to win!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 19:54:12 GMT -5
You're a good student, Dave. You get an A on your first try. Those look really great. The hardest part of the whole process is that first step. You have the patience to wait until they're done properly in the first stage, the rest is easy. One small suggestion. I used to run borax in the 220 stage until Chuck convinced me not to. It just dries things out even faster in the first Lot-O stage, so I don't use it there anymore. Good job on your first batch! Thanks for the suggestion on the Borax. I felt like I was adding water every few hours in the 120/220 stage. I'll try that on my next batch.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 9, 2016 20:05:29 GMT -5
You're a good student, Dave. You get an A on your first try. Those look really great. The hardest part of the whole process is that first step. You have the patience to wait until they're done properly in the first stage, the rest is easy. One small suggestion. I used to run borax in the 220 stage until Chuck convinced me not to. It just dries things out even faster in the first Lot-O stage, so I don't use it there anymore. Good job on your first batch! Thanks for the suggestion on the Borax. I felt like I was adding water every few hours in the 120/220 stage. I'll try that on my next batch. You'll still have to add water more in the first stage, but not quite as often without borax in the mix.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 9, 2016 20:11:35 GMT -5
Awesome first batch. It is exciting to see some new faces stepping up to the plate and hitting home runs. Looks like you have a good process already.
Chuck
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Rockandroll
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 52
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Post by Rockandroll on Oct 10, 2016 0:03:53 GMT -5
Wow, those look great!!! I'm still working on when and where to use borax in the loto outside of burnishing... I'll have to give that recipe a try. Really really love that breciated jasper from the rock shed. I've got a couple pounds of it slowly tricking through my batches, and can't wait to get some more. Beautiful stuff!
Certainly curious what the bottom left (green) stone is on the last picture. Very cool.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Oct 10, 2016 1:30:00 GMT -5
So glad to see these, they look great! All that patience really paid off
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,169
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Post by jamesp on Oct 10, 2016 2:04:59 GMT -5
Fine set of tumbles. Quartz can be a tricky.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 10, 2016 8:27:57 GMT -5
Rockandroll, I think that green stone is Kambaba Jasper.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 10, 2016 13:20:56 GMT -5
Very nice, Dave! So glad everything worked out with the Lot O and you're back in business. Great first effort, look forward to seeing more!
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Post by captbob on Oct 10, 2016 13:26:27 GMT -5
Might bear repeating as we have so many new folks here -
Borax will kill vegetation. Probably not so good for pets either. Many of us dump slurry outside in our yards as there are few good options on what to do with the stuff. Be careful where you are dumping Borax!
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Post by paulshiroma on Oct 10, 2016 21:27:07 GMT -5
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Oct 10, 2016 22:04:56 GMT -5
Very nice I like pictures of them all together reminds me of a dish of Christmas candy,
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 11, 2016 17:36:26 GMT -5
Got a PM asking how I took the pictures so I thought I would show everyone my professional setup. I've spent quite a bit getting this studio setup. All photos taken with my high end DSLR Iphone. And since someone might ask, that IS an exact 1/4 scale picnic table made from a single 1x8x8' (competition item from my previous woodworking hobby). Enjoy!
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Post by captbob on Oct 11, 2016 17:41:13 GMT -5
see 'em... gettin' all high tech on us! la di da Ansel Adams Dave ETA - like your picnic table. You must not have a daughter or there would be teddy bears sitting at it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2016 19:42:30 GMT -5
ETA - like your picnic table. You must not have a daughter or there would be teddy bears sitting at it. Exactly!! Bob you nailed that one.
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