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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 7, 2014 13:24:25 GMT -5
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 3, 2014 19:22:56 GMT -5
Nice stuff. You're right, they will cab well. I've got a bunch I need to candle and slab.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 3, 2014 19:20:36 GMT -5
Cool material, thanks for sharing. I never would guess the inside from the outside.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 3, 2014 19:10:39 GMT -5
Nice James! It would be fun to have that steady supply of coral. No doubt you have to work for it, but that's part of the fun!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 2, 2014 19:24:32 GMT -5
On my vise I can flip the jaws around by removing the screws; the other side is smooth.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 30, 2013 13:59:40 GMT -5
Hey Ed, yes, that's Thomsonite in basalt matrix. Both the Thomsonite and basalt are soft. I have about a 40 lb. boulder like that sitting in my garage, along with lots of other chunks and some loose specimens. Most Thomsonite in the U.S. comes from Thomsonite Beach on the north shore of Lake Superior. There are no public collecting areas and the they're found on only about 1/4 mile long stretch. I collected some with my rock club this last summer from a homeowner who owns a section of the beach adjacent to the Thomsonite Beach Inn, which is the best known location.
We generally try to work the Thomsonites out of the matrix and polish them. It's very time consuming and difficult to get them out without breaking them. They're really beautiful when done properly!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 29, 2013 15:55:15 GMT -5
Wow, Sheltie, that is a CLEAN saw. I think that a sheet is apt to clog with the muck and not actually filter. I think the oil will run off the top. For my 18" saw I use a 4" drywall knife to scrape the stuff loose off the bottom and suck it out with a shop vac. I suck out the vast majority of the muck (not nearly as clean as Sheltie's), pour in the oil while splashing it on the dirty surfaces to wash them down and start it up again.
James, aren't you effectively reducing the size of your sump by using a dam?
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 28, 2013 9:33:38 GMT -5
That's what I do. How long do you leave them in the kitty litter Tom? I leave mine in for days and sometimes weeks. I'm sure you know this, but just to be sure, it has to be traditional clay kitty litter, not scoopable.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 25, 2013 21:31:48 GMT -5
Wow, that sounds (and looks) good!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 25, 2013 21:29:42 GMT -5
Nice shots James!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 21, 2013 22:27:52 GMT -5
I remember 22LR at a penny a round. The current prices are dumbfounding (when they're in stock).
22 mag seems to be a little easier to find around here than 22LR.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 21, 2013 22:22:58 GMT -5
Nobody does freeforms like Stoner. Nice batch and great polish.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 21, 2013 22:13:31 GMT -5
I would guess a lot of people here make their own cabs, hence the lack of sales. I don't have experience selling them, so take this for what it's worth. It appears that a lot of people have etsy shops and others sell on ebay; I don't know how successful people are there. Bikerrandy and others sell at craft shows.
Hope that helps a little.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 20, 2013 17:08:39 GMT -5
Just to be clear, vinegar is also acid (acetic), just diluted.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 20, 2013 16:40:47 GMT -5
It looks like a big chunk of banded iron formation to me, especially with the last pic showing the bands. Hinckley is in the Iron Range, so the location is right. It's liable to be heavily fractured. BIF is abundant and not worth much.
Nice curiosity, but I wouldn't pay anywhere near that. His best bet is to try to sell it to a company that deals in landscaping rocks.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 20, 2013 16:26:27 GMT -5
It seems appropriate that a Laker would lead to a discussion of fish...
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 20, 2013 14:11:06 GMT -5
I buy white mineral oil, but it's the same price as the Crystex above.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 19, 2013 19:58:19 GMT -5
In my experience, you can build a high capacity (greater than 12-15 lbs.) tumbler for less than you can buy one. Chuck's part list is a good one.
The hardest part is the barrel. I got a scrap piece of 10" pvc for free and built plywood caps for it with a 4" plumbing test cap for the clean out. Large PVC fittings are outrageously expensive for me. James seems to have a supply.
I've also found that my big barrel (holds 50+ lbs.) grinds much faster than my 12-15 lb. Star Diamond (same as Thumler's).
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 19, 2013 19:01:34 GMT -5
LOL Rich!
I would guess the Dynasty and A&E are laughing all the way to the bank. They've got product in craft stores, Walgreens, Home Depot...
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 19, 2013 19:00:08 GMT -5
Personally, I would not want oil mist in my basement coating my walls or getting into the air I breathe (especially with suspended rock particles). Granted it's food grade, but that doesn't mean it's good for your lungs.
Chuck
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