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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 26, 2017 12:43:08 GMT -5
Batch is mostly San Jacinto's (SJ) with a few trades mixed in. Process is becoming a little more consistent...... Rotary - Run rocks in sic 30 for about 6-10 weeks (or more if needed), adding grit every 2 days and a weekly cleanout (saving as much slurry as possible). Pull out ready rocks during weekly clean-outs and move to Lot-o stages. Lot-o - Run sic 120/220 for 48-72, sic 600 for 48 hours, pre-polish 48 hours, and polish 48-72 hours. I add a tablespoon of Borax to each stage after 120/220. I also add ceramics at the sic 600 stage.
At some point I will pick up some AO 80 and try the process that osuguy0301 has posted. It would be nice to skip some stages if the results are similar!! Anyway, thanks for looking! 1. A few pieces of SJ pet wood & palm 2. 3. 4. 5. Pretty sure this is palm root? 6. Mostly agate with remnants of wood replacements 7. 8. 9. 10. A few SJ agates & jasper......A little fractured, but the pattern was too cool to pass up. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Piece of Chalcedony I picked up at Round Mountain BLM, AZ. Maybe a little fire on that red layer. 16. Not sure..... 17. Polka Dot from Garage Rocker18. Unknown that was picked up in AZ 19. More flint Ridge form spiceman20. Pretty sure this is Plumosa Mtn. 21. Chalcedony from Round Mountain BLM, AZ 22. Fourth of July Peak
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vera
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 259
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Post by vera on Jan 26, 2017 12:57:49 GMT -5
I do not normally have a problem picking a favorite rock out of a batch, but I had to actually think this time. The toss up for me was between numbers 9, 18 and 22, but after looking at them a couple of times I have decided I really love number 18.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jan 26, 2017 13:03:48 GMT -5
With batches like this , I don't even try to pick a favorite . Photo # 1 is just pretty as a picture . They are all gorgeous .
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Jan 26, 2017 13:12:48 GMT -5
Your variety of palms are off the chart. Mel said there was like 200 palms named from Texas pet palm.
Are you finishing batches every 2 days ? 600 tumblers ? How do you do that ?
I want to see #8 growing as a plant. No telling what it was. #7 too, that is an unusual one.
I am looking at a Mac iPad with a 9.7" screen. They say it has a wicked camera. Imagining composing photos with that fine 9.7" Retinal screen. You probably compose photos with your cell screen.
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 26, 2017 13:49:17 GMT -5
As usual a very nice Batch. Continue to be amazed at the variety out of the San Jacinto and almost as amazed that I have still not made the 30 mile drive to check it out for myself!!
Picked up a good bit of the Round Mt Chalcedony back in June. I know you're running those though a long rough grind as almost all that I found has that very dimpled with ridges surface. Next trip out I will be more selective about the pieces I keep with an eye for only taking those that will tumble well.
H
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Post by Toad on Jan 26, 2017 15:24:13 GMT -5
Great batch - and pics! Really like 4 and 5.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 26, 2017 15:41:47 GMT -5
I do not normally have a problem picking a favorite rock out of a batch, but I had to actually think this time. The toss up for me was between numbers 9, 18 and 22, but after looking at them a couple of times I have decided I really love number 18. Thanks, Vera! 18 is one of my favorites as well.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2017 16:10:17 GMT -5
That #8 microtube "pseudo-palm" maybe real palm or there monocot does it for me. Quite unique.
#10? Poppy? Daisy? Wth is it? Wow
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 26, 2017 16:12:25 GMT -5
Another great pile of rocks. Number #11 gets my vote. I'll take a whole barrel of those.
Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 26, 2017 16:22:35 GMT -5
Lots of different favorites so far. Mine are 5, 10, and 18. You're turning out a very impressive number of very impressive rocks lately. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jan 26, 2017 16:25:21 GMT -5
You did it again. Is the elevation dropping in the San Jacinto basin? You've about emptied out the place. Great batch! Those tubes are awesome in #3 and especially 4. #7 looks like it is full of bean bag pellets. Cool patterns in 10 and 11 is great. 18 may be the best and I like the chalcedony and fourth of July agate too. Not much here not to like. A+
Keep 'em coming! Jugglerguy took my line, word for word. Keep on rockin'!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 26, 2017 16:30:10 GMT -5
You did it again. Is the elevation dropping in the San Jacinto basin? You've about emptied out the place. Great batch! Those tubes are awesome in #3 and especially 4. #7 looks like it is full of bean bag pellets. Cool patterns in 10 and 11 is great. 18 may be the best and I like the chalcedony and fourth of July agate too. Not much here not to like. A+
Keep 'em coming! Jugglerguy took my line, word for word. Keep on rockin'!
"Juggle 'til you drop!" Didn't seem appropriate here,
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jan 26, 2017 16:38:54 GMT -5
You did it again. Is the elevation dropping in the San Jacinto basin? You've about emptied out the place. Great batch! Those tubes are awesome in #3 and especially 4. #7 looks like it is full of bean bag pellets. Cool patterns in 10 and 11 is great. 18 may be the best and I like the chalcedony and fourth of July agate too. Not much here not to like. A+
Keep 'em coming! Jugglerguy took my line, word for word. Keep on rockin'!
"Juggle 'til you drop!" Didn't seem appropriate here, ROCK GOD is entitled to say whatever he wants.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 26, 2017 17:03:22 GMT -5
Your variety of palms are off the chart. Mel said there was like 200 palms named from Texas pet palm. Are you finishing batches every 2 days ? 600 tumblers ? How do you do that ? I want to see #8 growing as a plant. No telling what it was. #7 too, that is an unusual one. I am looking at a Mac iPad with a 9.7" screen. They say it has a wicked camera. Imagining composing photos with that fine 9.7" Retinal screen. You probably compose photos with your cell screen. Still looking for that Texas Palm Picture Identification Book. I would love to know what some of these are. With 100+ lbs of rock in rough grind, I can pull enough material for the double lot-o to finish about a batch a week. Trying to dig up more info on the different species, but not too much out there..... You better be careful with that Ipad. The colors form some of your Rios might blow it up!!! But, just for the sake of science, go ahead and snap a few shots for your now curious audience!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 26, 2017 17:39:04 GMT -5
Still looking for that Texas Palm Picture Identification Book. I would love to know what some of these are. With 100+ lbs of rock in rough grind, I can pull enough material for the double lot-o to finish about a batch a week. Trying to dig up more info on the different species, but not too much out there..... You better be careful with that Ipad. The colors form some of your Rios might blow it up!!! But, just for the sake of science, go ahead and snap a few shots for your now curious audience! That is a lot of rock to sort through every week. I did that for a few months till I got burned out. Your calculations sound spot on for keeping the lotos fed. I run 36-42 pounds now just keeping one of the lotos going 24-7. Chuck
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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 26, 2017 21:22:13 GMT -5
Those are all great but #10 really makes me drool, such a cool pattern. You are cranking these out at an amazing pace!
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sdrockgal
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2016
Posts: 87
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Post by sdrockgal on Jan 26, 2017 22:04:27 GMT -5
I love #5! These are all great. It's a fun batch to look at.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2017 6:51:24 GMT -5
As usual a very nice Batch. Continue to be amazed at the variety out of the San Jacinto and almost as amazed that I have still not made the 30 mile drive to check it out for myself!! Picked up a good bit of the Round Mt Chalcedony back in June. I know you're running those though a long rough grind as almost all that I found has that very dimpled with ridges surface. Next trip out I will be more selective about the pieces I keep with an eye for only taking those that will tumble well. H Thanks, Hank! San Jacinto has produced quite a variety of rocks. When the river levels get back to normal, you definitely need to make the trip! With the river being up from last weeks rains, you will have all inventory! I use the following link for river levels - SJ River Levels. Yes, that chalcedony from Round Mountain was rolling for at least 12-14 weeks! I picked up 3 buckets of material in about 4 hours. Never looked at a piece as I threw them in the buckets. I would do the same and be way more selective! Did find some fire agate out there. Did you find any?
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 27, 2017 8:08:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the info on the River level. Of course the river being up just means new stuff is being turned over.
Did find some pieces that had traces and hints of Fire. I suspect that exploring more away from the vehicle would have turned up some better pieces. The folks I was with were not up to much up-hill or out of sight of the vehicle wandering so out of politeness I stayed within view so they would not worry about me. I have kept about 15 pieces of the Chalcedony that had attractive swirls and patterns cleaned them good with Iron Out and set them in their own tray and spared them from the saw or the tumbler. To me they are really cool looking.
Being Tumbler selective is a must out there, and with so much material it should still be possible to fill a bucket in a day.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2017 9:39:53 GMT -5
Still looking for that Texas Palm Picture Identification Book. I would love to know what some of these are. With 100+ lbs of rock in rough grind, I can pull enough material for the double lot-o to finish about a batch a week. Trying to dig up more info on the different species, but not too much out there..... You better be careful with that Ipad. The colors form some of your Rios might blow it up!!! But, just for the sake of science, go ahead and snap a few shots for your now curious audience! That is a lot of rock to sort through every week. I did that for a few months till I got burned out. Your calculations sound spot on for keeping the lotos fed. I run 36-42 pounds now just keeping one of the lotos going 24-7. Chuck It is a lot to go through, but I'm still having fun with it. Burn out is a definite possibility, if it becomes more of "have to" than a "want to". Right now, It takes about 2-3 hours to do a full clean out and my schedule can accomodate it. That could easily change. The only downside of the double lot-o, is that it doesn't really allow you to scale down. It's either running 2 barrels or it's off. Thanks for the info Chuck!
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