jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jan 3, 2017 7:02:55 GMT -5
Yes I need to learn to identify the solid stones. I seem to have a great talent for picking out ones with deep fractures and tiny bubbles... I need 6 rotary and 2 vib. I have two rotary tumblers now. One six pound and one three pound so I guess I had better get pretty motivated about being picky about what I feed them. It would be pretty great if I could get my tile saw running again. I don't know if that will ever happen. It is the $100 one from Home Depot and the inside is all burned up. On the trip to the Rio Grande I found rocks that would dazzle anyone in terms of colors and patterns. Many were soft woods, rhyolites, colorful moss agates with pits, etc. Used a small hammer to knock a corner off to see the innards. If they were not solid for tumbling they pretty much got left behind. The higher quality agates, jaspers, palms and woods were easy to window because they were glassy. Chipped smooth. Or may have been grainy but solid with out any porous crap. Be particular if collecting for a tumbler. My tile saw is a similar Home Depot special. It has stayed out in the weather for almost 10 years. Still runs like a charm. The diamond blade had been sitting in the water tray and had seriously rusted, shameful treatment. If it cooked your motor you would probably be best to buy a new one. New motor and installation probably not worth it. I always ran a 7" saw blade in mine. I installed the 5 inch tuck wheel and was way surprised how much horsepower those little saws have.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 5, 2017 17:09:07 GMT -5
Damn fine batch, Richard! Doing justice to those San Jacinto finds & the photography is fantastic!!!!
As far as Pits & Cracks go, it's just a part of the hobby. Especially with the petrified wood, sometimes you just have to embrace the "natural beauty". A lot of the jasper found in the river gravels is naturally pitted and the faster you can recognize it and move on, the better.
Looking forward to the next batch!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jan 5, 2017 17:25:37 GMT -5
Yup, the pet wood is most always going to show little imperfections. Angling away from anything major and flash positioning can help hide flaws. I did it all the time as a portrait photographer. Have you settled on an exposure range yet? Depending on the flash output I've chosen, distance between flash and subject and which lens I'm using, my range is between 1/250-1/320 sec. and f11 to f13.
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