Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,424
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 2, 2017 10:28:32 GMT -5
When I got my Tumbler on Christmas, I was very excited to get started and produce some results from my own Local Finds. But when I mention my new Rock Tumbling/Polishing hobby to my friends and coworkers, all i get are Blank Stares without reaction. So after a week of this I finally asked a small group about why I was getting such a mediocre response. One of the guys said that it was like saying that I had a New Lawnmower. I guess I had not realized that tumbling was not very interesting unless you are holding out some Polished Rocks or showing off a freshly cut yard.
I guess I'll stay quiet about it till I have some results to brag about . . .
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Jan 2, 2017 10:34:18 GMT -5
Nobody but me was interested in it around here until I had a bowl of shiny rocks. They were interested in taking some of the rocks home but when I tried to show them the tumbler I got a, "maybe later" response.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jan 2, 2017 10:39:47 GMT -5
Sorry but that is par for the course for many hobbies. But you have us to dazzle and amaze, and sometimes confess your boo-boos.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,176
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Post by jamesp on Jan 2, 2017 10:43:37 GMT -5
Give some of your tumbles away when you complete some. To people to share with their kids, people with rock interest, people you run into day to day. You will get some 'wows' and 'ewws' then.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 2, 2017 10:45:31 GMT -5
I'm excited! I bring my rocks in to show my eighth grade students. Some are interested, but most are not. They tease me about it, but that's ok, I tease them too. I think the fun of rock tumbling is the process more than the end result. That's how it is for me, anyway.
I have found that more people are interested in rocks than I realized. I have talked to several people who were very interested in lapidary stuff even if they didn't do it themselves. A couple years ago, I had a deaf girl in class who had an aide who came with her every day. She was VERY interested in my tumbled rocks. I made her a Kona dolomite pendant for Christmas and she wore it about four times a week for the rest of the year.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 2, 2017 10:58:34 GMT -5
LOL,you need new friends!!! Just jokin'!! Most of my friends are rockhounders,they get excited,as I do about tumblers and rocks.. As said,share some tumbles rocks,hopefully their minds will change about rocks!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 2, 2017 11:28:26 GMT -5
Lots of common experiences here. Last time I changed jobs I got those blank stares when rock tumbling came up. Then I brought in some favorites from a batch. Ohhs and Ahhs and "can I have this one?". I ended up bringing in 8 or 10 folks a little bag-O-rocks.
Then there's my wife ... not in a nagging way ... who insists that I should "do something with all my rocks". Like turn them into jewelry or crafts. Not my thing though. What I like is the process, more specifically how it changes a rock. Taking an ugly lumpy bumpy pock marked rough agate and seeing it turn into fortified mossy banded eyeballed beauty cannot be beat!
But hey! We got this board and we can rock geek all over this place!
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Post by captbob on Jan 2, 2017 12:36:18 GMT -5
The Little Red Hen syndrome?
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 2, 2017 13:12:40 GMT -5
A mate of mine asks if I've 'made any sand' recently ...
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 2, 2017 13:25:38 GMT -5
Then there's my wife ... not in a nagging way ... who insists that I should "do something with all my rocks". Like turn them into jewelry or crafts. Not my thing though. So what do you do with them all? My family accuse that my rocks are 'all over the house'. Of course I deny this. They are mostly in the utility room. 'Cept I called it "the cutting room" by mistake the other day. Of course, that was picked up on!
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Post by Pat on Jan 2, 2017 13:50:00 GMT -5
You are safe here to show and ask and brag about your tumbled rocks.
I don't even tumble rocks. We tried it years ago. Neither of us liked the process, but do admire the results. We know it takes a lot of skill and time to produce those little beauties.
So, yes, show us your stuff!!
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Post by MrMike on Jan 2, 2017 13:59:59 GMT -5
I feel you brother Wooferhound. The wife unit ( captbob term) gives me grief and frequently states that I'm playing with rocks. Chaps my butt...
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jan 2, 2017 15:05:23 GMT -5
Funny thing along the lines of this thread, for some reason all of my daughter's boyfriends lately have been fascinated by my rock hobby. She even asked me "why do guys like that stuff?" Like I had been passing out the koolaid or something :-)
FWIW: both my wife and my daughter like to rockhound with me. But after that, not much interest.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 2, 2017 15:24:06 GMT -5
Then there's my wife ... not in a nagging way ... who insists that I should "do something with all my rocks". Like turn them into jewelry or crafts. Not my thing though. So what do you do with them all? My family accuse that my rocks are 'all over the house'. Of course I deny this. They are mostly in the utility room. 'Cept I called it "the cutting room" by mistake the other day. Of course, that was picked up on! For the largest part I give them away. Last year I'd guess I gave away between 20 and 25 pounds worth. Sell some here and there too. think I took in about $75 on that front. Rest are hoarded by "species" in plastic containers and zip lock bags which reside in my rock room downstairs. I have big plans to make some sort of display for them but never seem to get time and motivation all at once.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 2, 2017 16:05:42 GMT -5
So what do you do with them all? My family accuse that my rocks are 'all over the house'. Of course I deny this. They are mostly in the utility room. 'Cept I called it "the cutting room" by mistake the other day. Of course, that was picked up on! For the largest part I give them away. Last year I'd guess I gave away between 20 and 25 pounds worth. Sell some here and there too. think I took in about $75 on that front. Rest are hoarded by "species" in plastic containers and zip lock bags which reside in my rock room downstairs. I have big plans to make some sort of display for them but never seem to get time and motivation all at once. I've thought about making a coffee table with a glass top and a box beneath to put rocks in. I think that would be an interesting coffee table. Something like this:
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Post by tims on Jan 2, 2017 16:06:46 GMT -5
I use it as a test, sort of like if your dog likes someone you figure they're probably ok. If someone walks through my yard and seems distressed by the piles of rocks, fine, but if they can't make it down the sidewalk because they have to stop every 2 feet and ogle something then yeah, they're probably ok
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jan 2, 2017 18:48:35 GMT -5
This sounds very familiar , something most of us deal with . I at least try to act interested in friends money pit waste of time hobbies , they could try to be considerate and do the same . After all , we all know rocks are not a waste of time .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,424
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 2, 2017 19:08:42 GMT -5
I am very unusual in that I have about 10 hobbies, a couple of these hobbies have universal appeal. The first one is Homemade Renewable Energy. I am very involved with this and I am a moderator on a renewable energy site and have made a wind generator and solar power system. The other hobby is Sound and Lighting systems, almost everyone has some interest in these subjects. I have a lot of other hobbies and they all draw some interest, was just taken aback a bit when it became obvious that there was not much interest in Rock Polishing in general.
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Post by spiceman on Jan 2, 2017 19:13:53 GMT -5
That would be cool. The many ways to display the rocks... Ideas are flying.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,176
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Post by jamesp on Jan 2, 2017 20:51:11 GMT -5
Land owners that have fine rocks like tumbled rocks from their own property. Permission to collect in trade for tumbles is a win win
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