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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 26, 2023 10:42:33 GMT -5
I guess I didn't realize petoskys were only Lake MI - good to know. I'm Ohio so definitely closer to there. Maybe another trip is in order Petoskey stones are in Lake Michigan AND Lake Huron.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 26, 2023 10:40:34 GMT -5
Step Five: 500 AO Polish tumble for three days and maybe a couple days more if I'm not satisfied Is this a typo? Do you mean AO polish, rather than 500 AO? I'm really surprised that you get good results with such short tumbles. I understand pre-grinding the rocks to eliminate most of the first stage, but I am interested in how you get good results from the shorter runs at the end of the process.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 25, 2023 10:57:11 GMT -5
Agates are really hard to find. There are not many, most are really small and if you're not used to looking for them, they're hard to spot. I've been looking for a few years and I'm still not great at spotting them. I'm not sure what most of those are. I don't think there are any Petoskey stones in Lake Superior, they're in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. I have found puddingstones, but not many. I found one at Crisp Point Lighthouse (I think) and I'm sure I found a couple farther to the east at Point Iroquois Lighthouse. The source is toward the east end of Lake Superior, so that's the most likely place for them to be. Lake Huron is a better place to look for puddingstones.
Here's a video on Lake Superior rock identification done by a couple of geologists. It might give you a clue about what those might possibly be. It's always easier to tell in person, but I'm still not great at identification. I'd guess that some of those are granitoids.
47 Lake Superior Rocks Identified:
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 25, 2023 10:46:49 GMT -5
So, new question, how far up in the barrel do you consider 3/4 full in a 3 pound barrel? I'm wondering if maybe another problem is I'm over filling my barrel. Just started my first batch of second stage, so I'm pretty excited for that. I measured my barrel to find out. Just measure the inside from the bottom of the barrel to the bottom of the lip that the inner lid sets on. Then find 1/4 of that. I made a spacer when I was first starting to measure how much empty space there should be. I think I got the idea from the book "Modern Rock Tumbling" by Steve Hart. I made my spacer from a piece of PVC pipe. I used 1/4 of the inner barrel height and then added the height of the lip at the top of the barrel. I cut the PVC to that length. So then I could just set the PVC pipe into the barrel with rocks in it and if the pipe was level with the very top of the barrel, I knew it was filled to 3/4 full. I just measured my spacer and it's 3.6 cm or about 1 7/16 in. It also makes a great stand for my Lot-O tumbler barrel. Now I just guess. It's not a critical thing if it's a little too full or a little too empty. Too full will result in a gentler tumble for your rocks, which might be desirable fi you're trying to protect some rocks that are prone to chipping or bruising. Too empty allows the rocks to bang around more and is a waste of space. It doesn't usually hurt anything, but I can't think of a good reason to run a tumbler at something like 1/2 full.
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Hello
Oct 13, 2023 10:54:33 GMT -5
Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 13, 2023 10:54:33 GMT -5
Welcome to Rock Tumbling Hobby forums, radfort66. Looks like you're off to a good start on your tumbling. Those look great!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 2, 2023 10:12:13 GMT -5
Welcome from Alpena, Mike.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 10, 2023 21:28:47 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 6, 2023 16:20:47 GMT -5
Do you think other acids would work? I’m thinking white vinegar. Thanks. Vinegar works too, it's just slower.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 6, 2023 16:19:46 GMT -5
Muriatic. Bought a gallon at Home Depot for about $8. I have enough to last a long, long time. I get muriatic (hydorchloric) acid at the pool supply. Two gallons for about $6 and it is supposed to a lot more concentrated than the hardware store stuff. Then I dilute it with water to control the reaction better when sin git to clean rocks or remove fossils from limestone or to create relief with fossils. Not a lot of pools here in Michigan. We have a hot tub store here, so I'll check there next time I get some.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 4, 2023 16:53:43 GMT -5
Here I was wondering if Jugglerguy had made a video on this important subject and lo ...he did !!! Something else to thank him for ! So, Viewer discretion advised.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 30, 2023 11:48:08 GMT -5
So, I think the difference is the barrel that the grit settled to the bottom had more large and medium rocks vs a variety of sizes. My process was I filled my barrels, bigger rocks on bottom. Filled with water so just the tops of the rocks were exposed. Then because I am using a 3 pound barrel I put in 3 heaping tablespoons of 60/90 silicone carbide grit from the Rock Shed. Shake up the barrel. And put on the tumbler. Then because I am impatient, halfway through I took a little peak at a couple of rocks. But I did that same process with both barrels. The only difference I can think of would be is the size of the rocks, and then they didn't get as much tumble action. I have opened up barrels to find all the grit laying on the bottom on several occasions. For me, the cause is usually too many smalls in the barrel. When I first started, I made the mistake of putting plastic pellets in the first stage. That always resulted in very little grinding and grit left over. I don't use ceramics in the first stage because it wears them out too fast. I do often use small saw scraps as filler in the first stage, which would be similar to your pea gravel. If I put too much in, I almost always have grit left over. I showed this happening in my video on top rock tumbling mistakes. It's #4.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 28, 2023 16:40:10 GMT -5
I'm glad to see you have a new buddy, Jason. Jonathan was here a couple weeks ago and I said something about you returning your dog and he informed me that you went back for him. I'm really glad it's working out for all of you!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 28, 2023 16:36:14 GMT -5
Welcome from Alpena!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 16, 2023 16:27:32 GMT -5
I'm not sure what that is, but it sure is cool.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 10, 2023 16:20:37 GMT -5
From what I've heard, National Geographic stands behind their two year warranty. I have also heard that they replace broken hobby tumblers with the professional version. The Harbor Freight tumbler doesn't have a great track record either. Make sure you turned out the little tab at the end of the machine that keeps the barrel from rubbing on the end to the base. It should only rub against the little tab which reduces friction.
Good luck!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 9, 2023 15:45:53 GMT -5
Sorry, RockyBeach, I don't own either of those machines, so I don't have a video about how to use them.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 8, 2023 18:47:55 GMT -5
sh that's a very interesting post. I, and most everyone I know calls all Hexagonaria "Petoskey Stone". After reading this post and many similar things on the Internet years ago, I figured that most of what I was picking up was not the actual Petoskey Stone, but I also figured that almost no one knew the difference or cared. It's nice to know that all those were actually Petoseky stones. Thank you for such a great post!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 5, 2023 15:35:57 GMT -5
Hey TexHex, glad you made it here. If you think I've been helpful, then you're really going to like it here. Birdwatching and camping make great companion hobbies to rock hunting. I guess genealogy sort of fits too since you got introduced to the hobby by your ancestors.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 22, 2023 16:03:17 GMT -5
Mine does not have very much vibration at all. I really like it. Here's my review of it: I'm talking about a totally different machine Jugglerguy I gave up on the idea for this, instead just going to spend the cash on supplies for what I have, especially after looking at blade prices. Yikes. Oops, I missed the word "handheld" in your original post.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 22, 2023 16:01:32 GMT -5
Those are some really nice ones, chris1956, and a great polish too.
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