ontherocks
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2017
Posts: 76
|
Post by ontherocks on May 20, 2017 18:55:15 GMT -5
Hello, I am new to this forum, although I have been lurking for a while. I have been tumbling rocks for just a couple years now. I have a Thumblers Model B, and a Lot-o. I have learned a lot by reading these forums and of course by trial and error. Here are some things I have learned:
1. I love this hobby, but it is much harder than I thought it would be. I was surprised at the amount of art, vs. science there is. I just thought you would simply add grit, tumble for a while, and end up with perfectly shiny rocks. Ha! There is a lot of experimenting, and adjusting, and trying out new things. And often times, no matter what you try, the rocks just don’t come out that well. The biggest lesson I have learned is that if you want nice rocks coming out, you have to make sure you have nice rocks going in.
2. It is addicting. It is very, very, very difficult to not buy pounds and pounds of rocks to tumble. I see interesting tumbles on here and I just want to buy more, even though I have a bunch already.
3. My biggest problems is filling the tumbler to full. I always want to add just one more, but I think it is slowing down the tumbling. Also, I never take out rocks that aren't doing well. Once they go in they either come out when they are ready for polish, or until they get ground to nothing. I think this also slows down my tumbling.
I am really enjoying this so far. I will post some pictures of rocks I have polished in a bit.
|
|
|
Post by vegasjames on May 20, 2017 19:01:38 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH.
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on May 20, 2017 19:27:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the RTH from Wisconsin . Sounds like you have stage one of the hobby ( addiction ) down pat . It only gets better , or worse , depending on how you look at it .
|
|
|
Post by morerockspleaz on May 20, 2017 19:33:40 GMT -5
Welcome from Texas. We all have the same addiction to rock. Lot of good info here and tons of great people. Not everyone tumbles so welcome to the tumbler club. BeLinda
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on May 20, 2017 21:00:44 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan. Can't wait to see the pictures.
|
|
|
Post by pauls on May 20, 2017 21:53:26 GMT -5
Welcome from Australia
you have the hardest bit for newbies figured, that is Garbage in = Garbage out.
Tumbling can take a seriously long time for some hard rocks, good that you let them run until done.
I sort my tumbles close to the garden, anything that's never going to make it gets flicked in there. Occasionaly fished out of the garden and touched up with the saw or grinder to get them going again. Grandkids often find them as well and want them polished, sigh.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on May 20, 2017 22:28:51 GMT -5
Howdy and a big welcome from Colorado... To solve your biggest problem. # 3.... buy a another tumbler. grin.. yep addictive.
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on May 24, 2017 12:16:10 GMT -5
Hi, for problem #3, you could get a scale and make yourself weigh the rocks before you put them in. That way it is harder to cheat. If you very carefully go over the rocks before you put them in, and don't put in any questionable ones, that would also reduce the problem.
You could also "go bigger" (hi, Cliff)and fill any unwanted remaining space with ceramic media. But of course the temptation is still there to just put more and more stones in until the dang thing can't move.
|
|
richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
|
Post by richardh on May 24, 2017 15:42:30 GMT -5
Wow your thoughts are so close to mine I could have made the same post!
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 24, 2017 16:02:11 GMT -5
Your discoveries are a great part of the reason we aren't tumblers. We were advised to start at tumbling. Didn't last long!!
Then I discovered stone setting, carving, metalsmithing, and cabbing and faceting. I'm happy without the tumbling.
My little vibrating tumbler is used to polish silver jumprings. Good job!
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 24, 2017 16:02:40 GMT -5
Welcome from California!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,161
|
Post by jamesp on May 24, 2017 21:29:00 GMT -5
Welcome from Georgia.
|
|
rebeccaink
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2017
Posts: 190
|
Post by rebeccaink on May 26, 2017 10:25:05 GMT -5
Welcome from Florida. Haven't even got my first tumble done and already addicted!
|
|