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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 20, 2022 20:46:00 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 20, 2022 20:45:11 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I'm glad my videos have helped you out. It's fun to hear that they're doing what I hoped.
Rob (Michigan Rocks Guy)
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 14, 2022 17:17:53 GMT -5
That’s your first batch? You did an awesome job!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 10, 2022 12:26:15 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan, Shari!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 25, 2022 13:37:10 GMT -5
My homemade Rock Scoop in action (modified design from Jugglerguy 's creation). Thanks Rob! You're welcome, but that's hardly my design. Lots of people were making rock scoops of various types before I even started rock hunting. Yours looks good. I see a lot of people using that same end.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 20, 2022 17:16:12 GMT -5
A water level experiment could be interesting; I see various opinions/methods with anecdotal experiences, but I have yet to see one with compelling evidence. My personal experience is that it doesn't really matter all that much, as long as the slurry doesn't get too thick (a thin slurry seems to work just fine). However, I have never set up a controlled experiment to find out. Perhaps there is a thread or Jugglerguy/Michigan Rocks video on this topic, but I haven't found one. This experiment is not on my YouTube channel, although it's something I should consider doing.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 20, 2022 17:14:44 GMT -5
After reading through this whole thread I'm leaning more towards Cleanout vs Recharge. I can see the logic for both ways, but ultimately I just want to find the fastest method possible to move rocks beyond Stage 1. I also like to check up on my rocks in Stage 1 and remove those that can be moved to Stage 2, before I lose too much mass on them. The one missing variable that wasn't explored enough I think was the water level in the barrel. Most say fill to just below the tops of the rocks, but I'm finding that going to 1-1.5" below the tops seems to produce a quicker grind with 80 Sic. Perhaps a water level experiment is in order for my immediate future. I found the comparison between using Sic or AO in the year long run interesting. The shine was definitely better with AO, but I wonder if the results would be the same in a 6, 3, or 1 month comparison tumble. If not, then it's pretty safe to say that for me I won't be doing any year-long runs and for now I will just stick with Sic 80 grit in Stage 1, then on to 220, 500 and polish in the vibe. Jugglerguy, how many Stages do you tumble in the rotary, before moving to the vibe? I'm sure that the majority of the grinding in that video was done in the first couple of months. I ran them for a year for a couple reasons. For one, I was trying to make a video that would get a lot of attention and therefore a lot of views. The other reason was that I want to be absolutely sure that I had run them long enough that I wouldn't have to wonder what would have happened if I had just done them a little longer. After a year, I can be pretty sure that those rocks in the silicon carbide were never going to get shiny. I sure don't recommend that anyone run rocks for a year. I go one week at a time the first, coarse grinding stage. I only run the first stage in a rotary tumbler. I use 46/70 for the first stage. After that, I move to the Lot-O with 220 silicon carbide, then 500 aluminum oxide and finally aluminum oxide polish.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 18, 2022 20:57:36 GMT -5
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 18, 2022 12:25:14 GMT -5
My wife and I really enjoyed watching this video too last night. I loved the excitement from your friend as she shared the initial story of how the rock came to be with her mom, and later her own thrill to see it all polished up. It's moments like this that bring back our initial excitement in rockhounding and so fun to share it with others who can appreciate it too. While we've never been to Michigan, my wife said the other day that maybe we should go and check out those beaches. The only problem we see with this, is that we would have to be extremely selective because we figure we wouldn't have to walk down the beach at all to collect, but rather just remain in one small area and check out all those "other" rocks you never pay attention to, even though I'm clearly giving you direction to do so from my side of the T.V. My wife reminds me that you can't hear me and it's only a video, but apparently I'm not the only one who does this, based on your comments. That's too funny! I agree that Thelma's excitement was contagious. I'm sort of used to seeing polished rocks now. Even though I still really enjoy it, I'm not as surprised anymore. I'm sorry about not picking up all the rocks on the beach. On one hand, it would be nice to show more rocks, but on the other hand, many of them would be boring to a lot of people. It's so hard to know what the right balance is. I just go with what I like and hope that my taste is similar to others' taste. People tell me all the time that they yell at their screens while watching. I think that's pretty funny.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 17, 2022 21:46:48 GMT -5
That was cool! You really made her happy. Her reaction really made me happy too.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 17, 2022 20:40:48 GMT -5
I just posted a video that I'm really happy with. I polished a rock for a lady who goes to my church. The rock has a great story behind it and it was fun to see how happy she was with the results. Just watch it, it will make you smile.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 8, 2022 10:05:34 GMT -5
Jugglerguy Yes, that is what I'm talking about. thanks for the info and the vid. I had a great uncle that collected brachiopods over there. They were nice, he did not know about the fish I am sure. I am thinking the oil in MI is all from the Devonian in sediments around the reef(s). If you want brachiopods, I have better locations for those. If you ever decide to make a trip for fossils, let me know and I'll set you up with some good locations.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 6, 2022 22:26:11 GMT -5
Jugglerguy Thanks for the info. I have another question for you since you list Alpena MI as location. I have heard that there are quarries there that have fossils that can be hunted. I heard this years ago when I was a kid and have never had the time to travel there to see if it is true. Any quarries that can be hunted? The active quarries cannot be hunted, but Rockport is a state park and can be hunted. There are some huge Petoskey Stones there, but in my experience, they are not good for lapidary purposes. There are literally many tons of fossils there though. The quarry is fun, the beach is fun, and the sinkholes behind the quarry are fun too. Here's one of my videos of the quarry: I have other videos of the quarry, beach, and sinkholes. In fact, this Friday's video shows gastropods that my son in law and I found on the beach.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 6, 2022 11:57:04 GMT -5
I work with Petoskeys a lot but have never done either of these things. I have heard that vegetable oil goes bad, so I’d be worried that it would stink. If I tried soaking them, I’d use mineral oil. I have cut Petoskeys in mineral oil but have never noticed an improvement to the rock other than it looking like it’s wet.
I’m pretty choosy about the Petoskeys I pick up because of what you’re experiencing. I look for rocks with really good contrast. I’m lucky enough to live in a state where I can afford to be picky.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2022 10:23:09 GMT -5
She does have good taste!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 3, 2022 17:18:26 GMT -5
Is that in my house? I think you gave that one or one very similar to Nancy. It's beautiful.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 26, 2022 19:10:09 GMT -5
Those look really good, Ashley! Congratulations!
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 18, 2022 10:09:21 GMT -5
That should hold it down.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 5, 2022 20:14:10 GMT -5
I don't have any to sell at the moment. No plans to get anymore soon, either. That spot is about six hours from home.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 27, 2022 10:30:03 GMT -5
Hey everyone! Rockoonz! I have indeed been crazy with life stuff. Still am. Anyways i came back to congratulate Rob Abrams on his successful youtube channel! Great guy! Good for him!! I forgot his username, can someone please tag him? The lady controlling this machine wanted $5000 and the machine was a basket case. $100 maybe but not 4 figures. Nope. Good to see that you still lurk... Are you CO or still CA? I'm now AZ. Jugglerguy is the Rob of YouTube fame, the star among us. Love his videos, and if I start a conversation with a new rock friend, it's amazing how Michigan Rocks comes up in the conversation so much. Rob, you are wanted as a speaker by the West Valley Gem and Mineral club. Nancy and I are hoping to go to Arizona this coming winter, but I don't do any public speaking. If people started asking questions, I think they'd quickly realize that I don't know too much!
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