Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 20, 2018 17:56:19 GMT -5
Hi everyone.
I was looking for something interesting for my 9 year old Grand-daughter, who likes to create things (needle craft, drawing, sewing etc) and found rock tumbling.
i did a bit of research and was hooked.
I have ordered my tumbler (National Geographic Pro) with a selection of rough rock, grits, polish and jewellery fixings and I am looking forward to getting going and producing my first batch?
As for my grand-daughter, she can stick to sewing.
I'm Joking. I can't wait to show her the rough rocks, get her to help me set it up, help me change the grits and then open it up at the final polish, without telling her what she can expect. ( I'm not sure who will be more excited)
Daimon
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Post by Pat on Jan 20, 2018 18:07:07 GMT -5
Welcome from California! This is the best hobby. We have another member from England --- metalsmith.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 20, 2018 23:07:49 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 20, 2018 23:38:37 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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Post by gmitch067 on Jan 21, 2018 0:03:41 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern California Daimon!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 21, 2018 7:55:24 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan!
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Post by rmf on Jan 21, 2018 8:09:17 GMT -5
Welcome from TN. It is my understanding in the Dover chalk there are flint nodules. Is that something that can be hunted and tumbled?
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 21, 2018 16:56:43 GMT -5
Hi ref.
I'm new to this subject and have no idea where to go in the UK to find rocks. The chalk cliffs at Dover are (in UK terms) a long way from Liverpool. However, I will endeavour to find the answer to your question.
So far I have ventured to a field near to a sandstone ridge and found a number of stones. I have no idea what they are or if they are suitable for tumbling.
Any help in identifying them or advice as to their suitability would be appreciated.
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 21, 2018 16:57:40 GMT -5
Oops. Auto correct wins again. Sorry rmf...... not ref.
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 21, 2018 16:59:20 GMT -5
These are the rocks from the field near the sandstone quarry. Can anyone identify them and are they suitable for tumbling? Thanks.
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 21, 2018 17:05:27 GMT -5
These are the other stones I found.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 22, 2018 18:37:17 GMT -5
Welcome from Fresno Ca
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goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
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Post by goatgrinder on Jan 22, 2018 18:56:15 GMT -5
Welcome to our latest Liverpudlian from Atlanta, Georgia.
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Post by rmf on Jan 22, 2018 20:23:59 GMT -5
Daimon Those rocks are quartz pebbles. Yes they will tumble but it is my experience that people get bored with just white rocks. The cracks have red and black which are most likely Iron stains (both black and red), possibly some manganese stains (black only). Become familiar with mohs scale of hardness. Rocks in the 7 range are widely available and good to tumble. Hardness of 6 and softer take more care so start with the hardness of 7 then branch out. Mohs scale is a relative hardness scale. Remember: Tall girls can flirt and other queer thing can do. As we were taught many years ago. 1. Talc 2. Gypsum 3. Calcite 4. Fluorite 5. Apatite 6. Orthoclase 7. Quartz 8. Topaz 9. Corundum 10. Diamond you can crack one of those quartz pebbles and get a sharp edge and use it to test rocks for hardness for tumbling. A good pocket knife is about 6. your fingernail is about 2.5 on the scale.
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Post by aDave on Jan 22, 2018 21:32:58 GMT -5
Welcome from California. While your question might be best suited for the tumbling forum, I'll offer this here. You want to start tumbling rocks that are very hard...usually (at least) 6.5 or so in the Mohs scale. They offer the best chance of success. A mixed batch isn't normally a problem as long as hardness is close with all of your rocks. Here's a primer about hardness testing. www.rocksandminerals.com/hardness/mohs.htmI am not an expert by any means in rock ID, but what you collected looks to be quartz of some type. Those should tumble well. Best regards. Dave
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Post by TheRock on Jan 23, 2018 17:44:03 GMT -5
to RTH Forum Daimon from ~Duke in SW Michigan
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 23, 2018 18:08:02 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your kind welcome, your sound advice and patience with my lack of knowledge of forums. I will get used to this social media and will post in the right places eventually. Please bear with me as you are communicating with a man who still uses a Nokia C2. My tumbler arrived today and I will make a start this weekend. Rmf, once again thanks for you advice. I did the scratch test and it blunted the nail.
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Daimon
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
Posts: 20
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Post by Daimon on Jan 23, 2018 18:14:15 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your kind welcome, your sound advice and patience with my lack of knowledge of forums. I will get used to this social media and will post in the right places eventually. Please bear with me as you are communicating with a man who still uses a Nokia C2. My tumbler arrived today and I will make a start this weekend. Rmf, once again thanks for you advice. I did the scratch test and it blunted the nail.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 7, 2018 18:21:40 GMT -5
Hi Diamon Sorry for the delay in replying. I've been a little quiet of late due to some personal issues but looking forwards to resuming activities when things get resolved. Until then I will be checking in on occasion so copy me in and I'll keep a lookout for your posts.
Yes your quartz should tumble. Are you looking for uk rocks / minerals specifically? Alternatively there are some lapidary suppliers. It appears uk lapidary is looking up.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 8, 2018 10:30:50 GMT -5
Welcome Daimon...................
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