tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Jan 10, 2018 19:59:47 GMT -5
That is so stinkin' clever!! What a great idea and great results! Thanks for posting. Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Dec 13, 2017 19:51:40 GMT -5
Beautiful and inspiring, Fossilman!
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Dec 7, 2017 23:08:19 GMT -5
Because of cost and space, I also went with the 8 inch Ameritool and am very pleased with it. I learned on wheels but didn't have enough experience to mind going to the flat lap. I would love to have both but don't have a permanent work shop space to keep all set up. So I can't do inside curves but not such a big deal. I can recommend the Ameritool. Good luck! Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Dec 7, 2017 18:19:39 GMT -5
Thanks, everybody. I think I am going to try the pull technique on my tile saw this weekend. If that works well, then maybe I will be happy to have a new "righty" trim saw. Of course now, I am trying to decide if I prioritize the trim saw or a new 150-600 mm lens I have had my eye on. I'm torn. Too many costly hobbies...
Thanks again.
Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Dec 7, 2017 0:17:08 GMT -5
I am thinking of moving to a smaller true lapidary trim saw hoping for a more precise, quieter and less drenching experience than my tile saw and noticed something in my shopping.
It appears that most trim saws are set up for right-handed people with the larger portion of the table to the right. Yes? I hold the slab with my left hand typically and it doesn't look like there is a lot of room to do that on the smaller saws.
Any lefties out there with experience with the smaller saws? Is it as tight a space as it looks? I have pretty small hands but would still like enough table space to maneuver a 5-6 inch slab. I can do some things right handed but sawing feels much better controlled with my left.
I have read several comments about pulling the slab through the blade from the back to avoid the bath. That would actually put the larger side on my left where I would prefer it. But would that be doable with a trim saw style? Haven't tried it yet on my tile saw.
It isn't easy being a lefty in a right-handed world!
Recommendations?
Thanks,
Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Jul 20, 2017 20:38:25 GMT -5
Eye popping cabs, Roger! Beautiful. If you don't mind my personal intrusion, I certainly don't know you nor your personal sleep challenge. But may I offer an idea for your insomnia. I read myself to sleep at night to prevent lying there reviewing every event of the last week and making mental to- do lists and solving world hunger. Sometimes I fall asleep in my glasses (well, a lot of times...) but it usually works the charm. It helps that I love reading escape novels and mysteries. The trick is picking something that is not too edge of your seat so that you don't drift off, but engaging enough that you don't start thinking about other things. Just a thought. I hope it helps.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 31, 2017 21:17:12 GMT -5
Sigh, indeed...... Tampa girl here.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 31, 2017 15:03:08 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone! Fossil man, half way down what mountain? ...and in what direction and rt #. We will be coming east on 90 to Livingston from Bozeman and turning south on 89.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 31, 2017 8:56:33 GMT -5
I have got to get to Texas!!
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 30, 2017 21:46:00 GMT -5
Thanks, Lynn!
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 30, 2017 21:25:24 GMT -5
Thanks Fossilman. Studying google maps isn't such a silly past-time after all! Any colorful jasper or agate to find, or mainly just the typical Montana agate? Glad to know bears aren't the big deal that they claim. That was the only thing I was a little nervous about...... well, other than sleeping on top of an active volcano....LOL
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 30, 2017 20:13:43 GMT -5
Hi Rockhounders! Hubby and I are headed to Yellowstone for a week in late May, and I am trying to get the lay of the land in terms of areas near, but outside the park where we can do a little surface rockhounding. My idea is to stop along the road where creeks are flowing (such as north of West Yellowstone, and Gardiner north of the park, and just scoop from the water or search along the bank where we find a gravelly spot. Would we find anything at all taking this approach? I don't expect to hit the motherlode but would like to bring home a small box of agates or whatever else we find. It seems that, this close to a volcano, the rivers and streams should be lousy with pretty rocks. But then, I am not an experienced rockhounder. I do my best hounding at rock shows.... I should add that we are coming in from Florida so it doesn't take much to get us oo-ing and ah-ing. We don't plan to go too far off the pavement. We are city slickers. Although we did take a side trip in Utah last year that turned into a dirt track but there was agate and jasper everywhere. It was fun. (but only about 2 miles into the desert....) Another question. I know we are not allowed to take any rocks out of the national parks, but can we at least poke around and pick up rocks in the park as long as we catch and release exactly where we find it? Oh, and is there any possibility that we would find a sapphire in a stream, or would we have to go to Helena or another sapphire hot spot? Sapphires are on my bucket list but I don't want to kill a whole day of our short trip to check it off the list. We can always come back when we retire next year. Final question. Just how much bear risk is there out in Yellowstone and surrounding areas? Do we really need to carry bear spray if we aren't going to do any back country hiking? Like I said, we are city slickers.... and one of us has a little bear phobia.... Thanks, Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Mar 4, 2017 22:31:06 GMT -5
I preform everything, since I mainly do cabbing. My main reason for tumbling is the final polish stage. The rest I do on my flat lap. So it takes me a while to have enough for a full of load.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 22, 2017 17:42:20 GMT -5
Beautiful! I especially like the crayola jasper. It's so whimsical.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 20, 2017 22:58:53 GMT -5
Never would have guessed that! Guess that retirement laker trip strategy might have to be modified a bit.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 20, 2017 22:47:53 GMT -5
Most of my tumble is cab preforms, with ceramic filler. I mainly bought the vibe to do the final smooth and polish. Sorry for the delay in responding. I didn't see your post.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 20, 2017 22:19:25 GMT -5
Actually, Michigan seems like right next door compared to coming all the way up from Florida.....LOL.
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 20, 2017 21:05:39 GMT -5
Beautiful, Chuck! Do you collect your own Lakers, being up there in the territory? If not where do you buy them?
Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Feb 10, 2017 17:44:48 GMT -5
Shiny as all get out! Beautiful! I think I like # 7 best too.
Dale
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tropidale
starting to shine!
Member since October 2016
Posts: 46
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Post by tropidale on Jan 15, 2017 18:06:43 GMT -5
Very very nice material........Liking that! Thank you, Fossilman!
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