ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 17, 2020 11:06:01 GMT -5
Hello fellow rock lovers!
Another new tumbler here. I've been tumbling since November in a Convingtion triple quart tumble. Perhaps dumb of me to start timing in the winter but here I am! (Actually I've only been doing coarse and then setting those "finished" rocks aside, I'll deal with all the washing and rinsing in the spring, outside. This business of a slurry bucket at the kitchen sink needs to be kept to a minimum! =)
Anyway, I would love to here from any newbies or anyone experienced users, especially Covington users. Not sure why I was drawn to this big green tumbler and now that I've used it a little while, I feel it's a little faster and maybe "rougher" than some others? I'm not have much luck with some fire quartz in it right now
My future plans include finding ways to touch up "problem" spots, without grinding so, so long in coarse. Will also be scouring these boards about homemade PVC barrels as well as vibe tips, as I see many start in a rotary and finish in a vibe.
The only thing I feel truly accomplished at already is hoarding rough! In fact, the thread that encouraged me to finally sign up was about rhyolite. I am eyeing some online right now ...
Happy tumbling!
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Post by knave on Jan 17, 2020 11:14:07 GMT -5
Welcome to the board from Wisconsin!
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,652
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Post by Tommy on Jan 17, 2020 11:32:31 GMT -5
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Post by manofglass on Jan 17, 2020 11:51:44 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from Michigan
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Post by Pat on Jan 17, 2020 11:57:25 GMT -5
Welcome from California. I’m not a tumbler. However, you’ve come to the right place for tumbling help. Many tumbling experts here.
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Post by aDave on Jan 17, 2020 12:19:00 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum from CA. Sounds like you've done some looking around, as you've touched on some topics that have been discussed here. I'm not too familiar with your tumbler, but from the photos I looked at, it's pretty nice looking. I don't mean to derail your introductory thread, but I'm a bit concerned about your statement below. You're not pouring your slurry down the kitchen sink drain are you? This business of a slurry bucket at the kitchen sink needs to be kept to a minimum! =) If I've misunderstood or read into this too much, my apologies. However, if you're pouring slurry down the drain, you could really wind up with plumbing problems if that stuff sets up. Other than running in coarse for your "problem spots," the only productive remedies are to cut off with a saw or to grind them. Some have used a dremel, but it turns out to be cumbersome since the rock needs to be wet to keep down the dust and heat on the bits, and it takes a long time since the bits are so small. Enjoy your stay!
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jan 17, 2020 12:30:41 GMT -5
Hello fellow rock lovers! Another new tumbler here. I've been tumbling since November in a Convingtion triple quart tumble. Perhaps dumb of me to start timing in the winter but here I am! (Actually I've only been doing coarse and then setting those "finished" rocks aside, I'll deal with all the washing and rinsing in the spring, outside. This business of a slurry bucket at the kitchen sink needs to be kept to a minimum! =) Anyway, I would love to here from any newbies or anyone experienced users, especially Covington users. Not sure why I was drawn to this big green tumbler and now that I've used it a little while, I feel it's a little faster and maybe "rougher" than some others? I'm not have much luck with some fire quartz in it right now My future plans include finding ways to touch up "problem" spots, without grinding so, so long in coarse. Will also be scouring these boards about homemade PVC barrels as well as vibe tips, as I see many start in a rotary and finish in a vibe. The only thing I feel truly accomplished at already is hoarding rough! In fact, the thread that encouraged me to finally sign up was about rhyolite. I am eyeing some online right now ... Happy tumbling! Welcome........good choice with Covington's equipment, great quality and reliability, great customer support. One of my clients offices is only down the street from Covington's shop, so I often stop by there and to chat and purchase media, diamond discs and compounds, mostly their Covington Gold Polish #2 and Old Miser. They custom CNC'd a few Disc grinding backing plates for me awhile back........excellent work..! Like with all Rotary tumblers, it takes awhile to get the process down, at least you won't have to worry about mechanical failures or barrel failures. Their equipment is made for commercial use and may be a little over engineered and bulky, but it will take a beating and keep on rolling for a very long time. I have a buddy who owns a couple of their tumblers.........they are nearly 20yrs old now and with good maintenance, they run continuously like new. Anyway, you've come to the most friendly and informative rock hobby forum on the Net........!.....Not much about this hobby is forgotten, "no stone unturned here".......Enjoy...!
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Post by knave on Jan 17, 2020 12:31:48 GMT -5
“No stone unturned here” hmmmmmmmm that’s a groaner.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Jan 17, 2020 12:40:44 GMT -5
“No stone unturned here” hmmmmmmmm that’s a groaner. Ya.....I hear them stones "groaning" alot..........even in my sleep......LOL
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EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Jan 18, 2020 10:46:46 GMT -5
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 18, 2020 10:50:40 GMT -5
Welcome! I don't have a Covington tumbler, so I can't help you there. jamesp is the go to guy for PVC barrel information.
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Post by RocksInNJ on Jan 18, 2020 14:04:54 GMT -5
Welcome from New Jersey.
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MommaGem
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 312
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Post by MommaGem on Jan 18, 2020 14:45:47 GMT -5
Hello, hello my friend!! Great to see you on the RTH forum! I hope you love it and get lots of great useful info!
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 18, 2020 18:04:07 GMT -5
Welcome! I don't have a Covington tumbler, so I can't help you there. jamesp is the go to guy for PVC barrel information. Nice, thank you so much!
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 18, 2020 18:07:13 GMT -5
Hello, hello my friend!! Great to see you on the RTH forum! I hope you love it and get lots of great useful info! Hello friend!!! Nice to see you here too (just saw your green calcite on IG - it looks amazing! =)
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ataraktos
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 140
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Post by ataraktos on Jan 18, 2020 18:16:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the Forum from CA. I don't mean to derail your introductory thread, but I'm a bit concerned about your statement below. You're not pouring your slurry down the kitchen sink drain are you? This business of a slurry bucket at the kitchen sink needs to be kept to a minimum! =) If I've misunderstood or read into this too much, my apologies. However, if you're pouring slurry down the drain, you could really wind up with plumbing problems if that stuff sets up. Watch, I bet I broke this quote. Thanks for watching out for my plumbing! Luckily I knew about the slurry and plumbing. If not, I'd've been rolling right along with no problem, winter tumbling! ;-) For a little while at least. Then the plumber and divorce lawyer fees would've really cut into my rough money! Think I'm going to try a Dremel. I've seen "agate dad's" set upon YouTube and if he can flatten a whole side, maybe I can grind out a tiny spot here and there? If not, husband gets a new power tool! Win-win. (And I'll be super-paranoid and careful about silicosis too! =)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 18, 2020 23:12:47 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 1, 2020 11:00:22 GMT -5
Howdy from Oregon
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Post by TheRock on Feb 23, 2020 18:04:06 GMT -5
from Duke in SW/Michigan ,
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johnlernert
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2020
Posts: 3
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Post by johnlernert on Feb 25, 2020 10:18:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the board from Wisconsin!
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