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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 8, 2015 12:57:35 GMT -5
Nice looking crap, Don.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 6, 2015 10:42:33 GMT -5
Most of the dino pies from UT will have a bumpy surface rind. The inside is really distinctive and random in nature. My father had a bola tie he wore. Anytime anybody asked him what kind of pretty rock that was he would say Dino poop. They would ask how he could tell? He would say "lick it", which he would do. We had a young girl drop a nice polished dino pie at a show when we told her what she was holding. People are funny.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 5, 2015 12:01:10 GMT -5
You don't say what polish you are using or pre polish for that matter. If the pre polish is 1000 or 1200 AO or tripoli powder you should have a satin finish at least. Then a good polish (optical cerium, AO 3-4 micron or even sub micron) should work. If the pre isn't giving a satin finish you may have material that isn't going to polish. Another issue I hear about (especially in desert areas) is hard water leaving rocks with a haze after polish. If that is the case use distilled water in the polish mix. It sounds like hard material but maybe a softer filler like ceramics would be good too.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 4, 2015 12:20:21 GMT -5
I've met the owners from Eloxite at Denver show. Very nice people and a well respected and long time business. They were buying inventory at Denver show in Sept.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 4, 2015 12:17:54 GMT -5
That was the one.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 4, 2015 12:15:21 GMT -5
You can tumble the outer rind off too. Patterns are very random and inclusions very thin. Most people cut them very thin and cab them flat or nearly flat. You have to cab around fractures too. Pretty stuff though.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 3, 2015 20:45:25 GMT -5
What was the outcome?
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 3, 2015 11:59:31 GMT -5
Very interesting. What is the name for wood that is covered when green and shrinks (or dries out) before replacement? Usually it ends up with clear or other limb cast type material where the void is left.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 2, 2015 12:10:11 GMT -5
Snowmom nailed it. Too expensive to run "brick and mortar" business and try to compete with the internet only "remarketers". Many of the old shops were in seasonal locations too (like Shirley's in UT and the Fallon shop) where majority of business was summer rockhounds traveling through. Then there is the sales tax advantages of selling online to other states (so far).
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 28, 2015 12:36:44 GMT -5
Speaking of rock shops gone, I just heard Eloxite closed. Anybody from WY or regular customers know what happened? I heard Kingsley bought up the jewelry findings and supplies and "someone out west" bought up the rest. Very curious to know the story.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 27, 2015 19:04:51 GMT -5
Great find. Once while hiking up one of the Indian palm canyons above Palm Springs I came across a boulder out cropping with 6 or seven ground holes for mortars. I could picture the ladies grinding their mesquite seeds, pine nuts, etc. while gossiping about their men. Once while at Demming show a neighbor had bags of fossils (crinoid stems and other marine fossils) labeled from $.50 to $2. I was figuring what each bag would cost at $.50 to $2 each fossil and planned on making an offer for all. Found out it was $.50 to $2 per bag and jumped all over it. Sometimes great deals just find us.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 19:57:09 GMT -5
Does it bother anyone else that JB's blade ad shows great prices in large print with small print "prices low as..."? Advertised prices are for 10 or more blades. Also, added charges for credit card purchase. How else would you order from a website? Maybe it is just me. There used to be a company years ago with terrific prices. People would call and want me to match their prices. I would not. Several called back to order after finding out they added a hefty credit card charge, handling charge, and inflated shipping charge.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 19:49:33 GMT -5
He buys them at Graingers. He has to cut off the mount screws and shorten shaft. I don't know if he adds the cord or not.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 13:14:54 GMT -5
You can buy the Gy-Roc motors directly from Graingers if you are willing to cut shaft and mounting screws as needed. The Fasco number is on the motor housing. Manufacture bumped all motors to $200 last year.
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Hello
Feb 24, 2015 13:06:53 GMT -5
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 13:06:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Better vibe tumblers work for both rock and metals. The lighter duty ones only handle lighter dry metal loads. Check specs before buying. As a beginner tumbler I would advise mastering a rotary tumbler first.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 13:00:10 GMT -5
So they sell both Lortone and knock off. The Cab King maker (Reentel) made the knock offs for Kingsley and included them in the Reentel catalog last year available to all dealers. Not surprising Lortone hasn't cut KN off. KN really pushes Cab King units which are Genie knock offs. He still sells Genies too. Most American manufacturers don't protect their products from Chinese copy. Either DP or BD once told me they don't patent their products because they don't want to supply detailed drawings for the Chinese to copy. Of course in this day and age they can copy anything.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2015 12:41:37 GMT -5
The Lortone is a good choice. In my opinion, the Thumler's motor and shaft bearings are superior but Lortone barrels are much easier to deal with. Keep the shaft bearings clean and oiled. Check regularly and change shaft bearings before shafts are damaged. Older Lortones were notorious for stretching drive belts. They adjust easily and are easy to replace when needed. I used Thumler's belts on used Lortones I bought for resale. I don't think they would stretch as easily and are same diameter. I know on the Thumlers you can run only one barrel so assume you can on Lortone too.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 23, 2015 15:11:48 GMT -5
Maybe that explains why the Baldors are having problems. I'll have to check the data plates and see.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 23, 2015 13:36:32 GMT -5
Depends on budget. The belt driven Kingsley units seem to work fine. The direct drive Cab King or Genie will have more power but I doubt a beginner would notice. The belt driven unit motor will cost a lot less to replace than either Cab King or Genie. I have a Genie myself and would not trade it for any other 6" machine. Maybe the Barranca Diamond GP6 6 Wheel but price is astronomical. I agree on the Diamond Pacific wheels. The Galaxy wheels are the best electroplated wheels and nobody can duplicate the Novas for performance or longevity.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 23, 2015 13:14:04 GMT -5
If it is one of the old notched rim blades follow the 301 instructions. If the core is shiny metal with rim a gold color follow 303S specs. Guessing notched rim by your description.
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