hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 18:24:50 GMT -5
Yeah the only drawback is this one has a 7/8" arbor. Gotta find good 7/8" bore blades. But I can take the arbor to work and turn it down to 5/8" if I have to.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 16:17:01 GMT -5
OK Got most of the pellets out. Going on two days now. Pulled a few out and no more sharp edges so it's working! All the quartz is getting rounded edges and the water is now milky with specks of grit in it. Not what I'd call a slurry yet but I guess it's coming. I'm gonna have to get more than one tumbler! It'is just too tempting to peek in! I need something to keep my time occupied!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 15:20:26 GMT -5
Is the shaft that the big pulley is on the only one driven or you got then hooked up at the other end?
I think a MUCH smaller one is doable on my budget. I've already got an old motor and I can get the used pillow block bearings from work for free, and possibly a shaft too. The tolerances on the machines at work have to be really close, so the bearings still have a LOT of use left in them when they change them!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 15:05:29 GMT -5
Well, wether tile saws are worth it or not, I got a new one on EBay for 37 bucks new, shipped. It is prob. a cheapie but it will work for this newb!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 7, 2008 8:47:07 GMT -5
I agree with Mark. You guys got me started and as we speak I got my first batch going on the first stage! No Book Needed! This site IS a BIG INTERACTIVE BOOK with information that you could never read about IN A "COMMERCIAL" tumbling book. Thanks a lot guys and gals for getting me and my boy into a hobby we BOTH can enjoy on the same level!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 6, 2008 20:30:16 GMT -5
Wish our tracks had rocks like that! All we got it crushed granite!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 22:05:51 GMT -5
LOL That makes sense. Just like the pellets carrying the grit did when I first heard/read it. I'll take them out I guess. Maybe they meant in the later stages it cushions and helps carry the grit!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Bot
Sept 5, 2008 21:45:20 GMT -5
Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 21:45:20 GMT -5
No, it stands for body odor, like all those that went to Arizona rock hunting when it was 90 outside. Kinda like us at The Hogg Mine on Labor Day! I told George not to get too close because my Old Spice had left me. He said"Oh really, I thought it was me!" Now that is cool! I guess that is a Bot!!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 18:55:26 GMT -5
Thanks man! I figured that's what had to happen. But I'm afraid not opening it is out of the question with a 6 yr old. LOL Maybe I can cut it back to once a day! Like your avatar!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 18:31:28 GMT -5
My boy wanted to see the rocks while it was running so we took the lid off, pretty cool! I noticed that the grit was accumulating towards the back and sticking to the back wall. Is this normal at first with the Covington having the slanted barrell? Or should I be putting some sort of agent in there to help disperse the grit?
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 18:03:16 GMT -5
OK! ;D We finally got my used Covington 250 loaded with Rose Quartz only 10 minutes ago! My 6yr old son said we have to wait HOW long!?!?! LOL I just thought I'd start this thread mainly to keep track of what I was doing. But if you guys/gals wanna make suggestions, comments, tips, etc. by all means please do! I put 5 to 6 lbs of Rose Quartz in. Added water til only the tips of the rock were above it. Added 5 tblsp of plastic pellets (someone said it helps carry grit?) Added 5 or 6 tblsp of 80 grit, put the lid on and started it up!! Did I do it right?
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 5, 2008 15:00:46 GMT -5
I need the 7/8. That is the size of the arbor on the saw. Just looking for suggestions on a good blade that has a 7/8" bore.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 4, 2008 18:22:08 GMT -5
I've seen plenty on ebay. Just didn't know which ones worked on rock. There were a few that said tile and marble. I guess they'd work. I'm not going to be doing any heavy cutting, just cutting and trimming some shapes to tumble.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 4, 2008 16:29:06 GMT -5
Can anybody recommend a good 7" wet tile saw blade with a 7/8" bore? Got a used saw from a buddy but it is not the "normal" 5/8" bore. Thanks
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 4, 2008 15:02:50 GMT -5
I lost a piece of aqua about the size of a pencil eraser! I saw it about the time I hit the dirt with my little garden rake and it tumbled down into a pile of loose dirt I had already dug through! I never spotted it again!
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 3, 2008 9:49:27 GMT -5
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 3, 2008 9:26:56 GMT -5
WOW didn't know there were that many! None of it is "CLEAR". All the Star Rose Quartz has a bit of "foggyness" to it. Some more than others. I think someone told me that is what makes it "Star" like Star Sapphire when it's polished.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 3, 2008 7:33:26 GMT -5
Yeah I'm proud of that one! I'm kinda scared to clean it up, in fear of it breaking or something. I might leave it as is.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 2, 2008 20:42:38 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that I also picked up my tumbler and will begin my first batch later this week! I've got about 35# of Rose Quartz to pick through and will tumble some of it first, then I'll do some of the green and blue peices of Beryl.
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hodgehound
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 82
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Post by hodgehound on Sept 2, 2008 20:13:09 GMT -5
Just a few finds from the MAGMA dig at the Hogg Mine on Labor Day. Beryl and Black Tourmaline Tourmaline in matrix Rose Quartz Beryl peices and 2 whole crystals My best finds of the day! A tiny beryl crystal and a larger one with gemmy Aquamarine inside! Gemmy Rose Quartz Gemmy Rose Quartz A different shot of the tiny Beryl and Aquamarine bearing crystal
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