waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on May 26, 2023 8:12:27 GMT -5
I tumbled some South Dakota Prairie Agates a little while back. They are very hard, so polishes up really well. I posted pictures of them here. |
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Post by velodromed on May 27, 2023 6:32:26 GMT -5
I tumbled some South Dakota Prairie Agates a little while back. They are very hard, so polishes up really well. I posted pictures of them here. Wow! All four of those rocks are beautiful. I need to look at getting some of the zebra jasper, my wife would really like the pattern. I’ve cut a couple of the Prairie agates and they are so cool. I’ll post pictures once I get them polished. |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 8:19:12 GMT -5
Here are three of the dozen or so prairie agates I put in the rebel 17. After the first 10 day course run…wow! Can’t wait for the next clean out. I just picked up some 30 grit SiC for this one. Figure I’ll add four tablespoons to each load, along with 10 tablespoons of regular course grit (60/90 I think). I figure the 30 grit will only halfway break down in 10 days, so I’ll screen out what’s left and reuse. I’m already doing that with regular coarse grit anyway. I was able to cut a few on the saw, but I put them straight into a 3lb barrel without taking pictures. So it’ll be a few more days. Those were the last rocks that I can cut for a good while. I have another back/neck surgery coming up Monday. They are absolutely beautiful though.  |
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Post by orrum on Jun 7, 2023 9:09:23 GMT -5
This is a great thread
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Post by jasoninsd on Jun 7, 2023 10:07:38 GMT -5
Those are looking great Velo!!  |
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Post by Starguy on Jun 7, 2023 10:55:33 GMT -5
Those are shaping up great.
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 11:21:59 GMT -5
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 11:28:47 GMT -5
Those are looking great Velo!! Thanks buddy! My wife and I finally had a chance to watch that Michigan rocks video with you in it. Looks like you had a blast!! So… I picked up some 30 grit SiC from highland parks. I’m wanting to use this in the rebel 17 since I mainly use it for breaking down large rocks (it has the 40 rpm motor on it). What ratios should I use? Thinking 10 tablespoons of regular course grit and then 4-5 tbs of the 30 grit? Thanks!! |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 11:29:09 GMT -5
Those are shaping up great. Thank you!! |
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Post by drocknut on Jun 7, 2023 11:50:00 GMT -5
Nice haul!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jun 7, 2023 12:02:38 GMT -5
Those are looking great Velo!! Thanks buddy! My wife and I finally had a chance to watch that Michigan rocks video with you in it. Looks like you had a blast!! So… I picked up some 30 grit SiC from highland parks. I’m wanting to use this in the rebel 17 since I mainly use it for breaking down large rocks (it has the 40 rpm motor on it). What ratios should I use? Thinking 10 tablespoons of regular course grit and then 4-5 tbs of the 30 grit? Thanks!! "Figure I’ll add four tablespoons to each load, along with 10 tablespoons of regular course grit (60/90 I think). I figure the 30 grit will only halfway break down in 10 days, so I’ll screen out what’s left and reuse." I "might" be in a couple other videos of Rob's which "might" be coming up soon!  So...I don't do a lot of tumbling compared to cabbing...but I have done some...and I've read a TON of threads on here...so take what I'm saying as "food for thought"...not gospel! It would seem to me mixing the 30 grit with the 60/90 wouldn't be as effective really as using straight 30 grit alone. They aren't going to break down at the same rate. You'd have grit in the ranges of 30 to 90...with the 90 breaking down a lot faster than the 30...so when the 60/90 has broken down to the 180 range, the 30 grit would be in the 60 range. That being said (which was all kind of "Captain Obvious" statements! LOL), I totally get that you're trying to save grit by using only a little 30 compared to more 60/90. Maybe someone who has tried this - or remembers someone else trying this - will chime in... |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 13:11:44 GMT -5
Thanks buddy! My wife and I finally had a chance to watch that Michigan rocks video with you in it. Looks like you had a blast!! So… I picked up some 30 grit SiC from highland parks. I’m wanting to use this in the rebel 17 since I mainly use it for breaking down large rocks (it has the 40 rpm motor on it). What ratios should I use? Thinking 10 tablespoons of regular course grit and then 4-5 tbs of the 30 grit? Thanks!! "Figure I’ll add four tablespoons to each load, along with 10 tablespoons of regular course grit (60/90 I think). I figure the 30 grit will only halfway break down in 10 days, so I’ll screen out what’s left and reuse." I "might" be in a couple other videos of Rob's which "might" be coming up soon! So...I don't do a lot of tumbling compared to cabbing...but I have done some...and I've read a TON of threads on here...so take what I'm saying as "food for thought"...not gospel! It would seem to me mixing the 30 grit with the 60/90 wouldn't be as effective really as using straight 30 grit alone. They aren't going to break down at the same rate. You'd have grit in the ranges of 30 to 90...with the 90 breaking down a lot faster than the 30...so when the 60/90 has broken down to the 180 range, the 30 grit would be in the 60 range. That being said (which was all kind of "Captain Obvious" statements! LOL), I totally get that you're trying to save grit by using only a little 30 compared to more 60/90. Maybe someone who has tried this - or remembers someone else trying this - will chime in... Thank you! Definitely appreciate your thoughts. That does make sense. I like saving grit but mainly I need to reduce the amount of times I have to load and unload that thing, it hurts managing the 17 pound barrel. I’m having surgery on Monday also, so won’t be able to touch it for 2-3 weeks. Based on what you said, now I’m thinking I’ll load it Sunday night with straight 30 grit and just let it run. I’ll put rocks in there that need a lot of breaking down. I’ll see if anybody has any other thoughts also. Thanks man! |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 13:14:26 GMT -5
Much appreciated! I have a bunch of other rocks in that barrel, but didn’t have a chance to take pictures yet. Will try this weekend. |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Jun 7, 2023 19:06:45 GMT -5
Look Awesome!!
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 19:15:27 GMT -5
Thanks! I’m curious what you’ll do with the ones I sent you. Tumble or cut or both? |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Jun 7, 2023 19:40:08 GMT -5
Thanks! I’m curious what you’ll do with the ones I sent you. Tumble or cut or both? Most likely tumble! I'm going to do a 6lb barrel of the Pet Wood you sent me first, then I'll do the prairie agates. I currently have a 12lb barrel of Ron Colman quartz tumbling in the 12lber. Once I can consolidate that down to a 6lber I'll be able to get the Pet Wood rolling! I also have a 6lb barrel worth of cut up Cold Mountain thundereggs I want get tumbling . . . |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Jun 7, 2023 19:44:43 GMT -5
I "might" be in a couple other videos of Rob's which "might" be coming up soon! So...I don't do a lot of tumbling compared to cabbing...but I have done some...and I've read a TON of threads on here...so take what I'm saying as "food for thought"...not gospel! It would seem to me mixing the 30 grit with the 60/90 wouldn't be as effective really as using straight 30 grit alone. They aren't going to break down at the same rate. You'd have grit in the ranges of 30 to 90...with the 90 breaking down a lot faster than the 30...so when the 60/90 has broken down to the 180 range, the 30 grit would be in the 60 range. That being said (which was all kind of "Captain Obvious" statements! LOL), I totally get that you're trying to save grit by using only a little 30 compared to more 60/90. Maybe someone who has tried this - or remembers someone else trying this - will chime in... Thank you! Definitely appreciate your thoughts. That does make sense. I like saving grit but mainly I need to reduce the amount of times I have to load and unload that thing, it hurts managing the 17 pound barrel. I’m having surgery on Monday also, so won’t be able to touch it for 2-3 weeks. Based on what you said, now I’m thinking I’ll load it Sunday night with straight 30 grit and just let it run. I’ll put rocks in there that need a lot of breaking down. I’ll see if anybody has any other thoughts also. Thanks man! I think this will work - just make sure you add some extra water so the slurry doesn't get too thick. That is the thoughts of someone who has never tried it though . . . . |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 7, 2023 21:43:51 GMT -5
Thanks! I’m curious what you’ll do with the ones I sent you. Tumble or cut or both? Most likely tumble! I'm going to do a 6lb barrel of the Pet Wood you sent me first, then I'll do the prairie agates. I currently have a 12lb barrel of Ron Colman quartz tumbling in the 12lber. Once I can consolidate that down to a 6lber I'll be able to get the Pet Wood rolling! I also have a 6lb barrel worth of cut up Cold Mountain thundereggs I want get tumbling . . . Very nice!! I kind of have all sorts of stuff tumbling at one time. It’s a bit chaotic, but works for me. Eventually it’ll all come together as I find what I like. I’ll be doing a 17 pound load of petrified wood here in 5-6 weeks or so. From the same batch that I sent you. I hope some of the ones I sent you have color underneath. They can be very beautiful. Ron Coleman quartz… I will be curious to see that when you’re done! So how did you cut the thunder eggs? You have a saw around the same thing as mine I think, 7 inches right? Trying to figure out what to do with what you sent me lol. |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Jun 7, 2023 22:07:59 GMT -5
Most likely tumble! I'm going to do a 6lb barrel of the Pet Wood you sent me first, then I'll do the prairie agates. I currently have a 12lb barrel of Ron Colman quartz tumbling in the 12lber. Once I can consolidate that down to a 6lber I'll be able to get the Pet Wood rolling! I also have a 6lb barrel worth of cut up Cold Mountain thundereggs I want get tumbling . . . Very nice!! I kind of have all sorts of stuff tumbling at one time. It’s a bit chaotic, but works for me. Eventually it’ll all come together as I find what I like. I’ll be doing a 17 pound load of petrified wood here in 5-6 weeks or so. From the same batch that I sent you. I hope some of the ones I sent you have color underneath. They can be very beautiful. Ron Coleman quartz… I will be curious to see that when you’re done! So how did you cut the thunder eggs? You have a saw around the same thing as mine I think, 7 inches right? Trying to figure out what to do with what you sent me lol. I have a 6". I usually cut them in half. If the blade can't do it in one pass I cut all the way through the first pass then "roll it" on the blade to cut the remaining bits. If I remember correctly the ones I sent you were on the smaller size, so you might be able to do them in one pass. Orientation of the cut can be tricky 1dave has a post about picking the right orientation: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/66102/orienting-cutting-thundereggsAfter cutting it in half I polish the cut faces on the flat lap. If you don't have a tool to polish the face you could rub mineral oil on it to get a temporary shine. |
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Post by velodromed on Jun 8, 2023 6:50:35 GMT -5
Very nice!! I kind of have all sorts of stuff tumbling at one time. It’s a bit chaotic, but works for me. Eventually it’ll all come together as I find what I like. I’ll be doing a 17 pound load of petrified wood here in 5-6 weeks or so. From the same batch that I sent you. I hope some of the ones I sent you have color underneath. They can be very beautiful. Ron Coleman quartz… I will be curious to see that when you’re done! So how did you cut the thunder eggs? You have a saw around the same thing as mine I think, 7 inches right? Trying to figure out what to do with what you sent me lol. I have a 6". I usually cut them in half. If the blade can't do it in one pass I cut all the way through the first pass then "roll it" on the blade to cut the remaining bits. If I remember correctly the ones I sent you were on the smaller size, so you might be able to do them in one pass. Orientation of the cut can be tricky 1dave has a post about picking the right orientation: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/66102/orienting-cutting-thundereggsAfter cutting it in half I polish the cut faces on the flat lap. If you don't have a tool to polish the face you could rub mineral oil on it to get a temporary shine. Thank you very much! I will check out that post. Much appreciated! |
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
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