carnivore870
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 15
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Post by carnivore870 on Jul 11, 2023 15:03:32 GMT -5
So. My daughter got the nat geo hobby rock tumbler for Christmas. It's a 1 pound barrel. I've learned some things in the fews weeks I've been on here. Will be ordering a Lortone 33B soon. But first. I want to try and get a decent shine out of this one. Ain't gonna happen with the grit they sent me from what I've gathered. We are just about done with our 3rd stage so hey. Learning process. But that means I'm in the market for some more quality grit. My question is where to go??? I have it narrowed down to 3. Polyplastics on Amazon, or there's the small kit from either Kingsley North or the Rock Shed. What do you recommend? The Rock Shed is like 6 hours away from me. So I'm not sure if that cuts down on shipping. Also with that tumbler going that speed I would like to get some ceramics with it. Which... Polyplastics kit comes with. But everyone talks about the quality of Kingsley North and the Rock Shed. Just curious what your thoughts are.
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Jul 11, 2023 16:01:10 GMT -5
fwiw I just ordered 25 pounds of #1 60/90 from Rock Shed and even with the shipping charge it was the least expensive grit that I found. I got #25 for $10 less than #20 would have cost at the least expensive place on e-bay with shipping included. Their base price per pound is less than other sources and they tell you the shipping charge before you complete the sale. Welcome to tumbling ... carnivore870 but a warning ....it IS addictive !
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carnivore870
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 15
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Post by carnivore870 on Jul 11, 2023 16:36:17 GMT -5
Oh I am already addicted. Not even done with my first batch. And I'm already binge watching Michigan Rocks on YouTube, buying Rock and Mineral identifying guides. Aaaaaaand have just been rock hounding. Everywhere. river in the backyard? Landscaping rocks? Landscaping rocks at my kiddos school? I mean... I guess there are worse rocks to be addicted to
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 11, 2023 21:40:53 GMT -5
Oh I am already addicted. Not even done with my first batch. And I'm already binge watching Michigan Rocks on YouTube, buying Rock and Mineral identifying guides. Aaaaaaand have just been rock hounding. Everywhere. river in the backyard? Landscaping rocks? Landscaping rocks at my kiddos school? I mean... I guess there are worse rocks to be addicted to Yep...you're hooked! LOL The Rock Shed is well known for having amazing grit...and who better to support than a "mom and pop" type business! Watch out...Rob's videos can get super addictive as well! LOL
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 13, 2023 8:51:22 GMT -5
I third the RockShed. it's the only place I go to get my grit and polish. From what I understand the polly plastics polish only goes up to 1200 mesh, while the Rock Shed is 8000. Much much better quality - I think KN has the same as the RS, but I've not ordered from there yet. Your post reminds me I'm out of 60/90 and need to place my order. I can't believe how much stage 1 grit I go through with three rolling tumblers! Enjoy!! Glad you are here!
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Jul 13, 2023 10:18:01 GMT -5
Rock shed for me. I received a Nat Geo grit kit as a gift. It worked ok until I used the polish. It worked more like silicon carbide leaving the rocks frosted.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Jul 13, 2023 10:53:38 GMT -5
Oh I am already addicted. Not even done with my first batch. And I'm already binge watching Michigan Rocks on YouTube, buying Rock and Mineral identifying guides. Aaaaaaand have just been rock hounding. Everywhere. river in the backyard? Landscaping rocks? Landscaping rocks at my kiddos school? I mean... I guess there are worse rocks to be addicted to I have found my doppelgänger. We are in the same position, my friend. It’s surprisingly fun to check out rocks!
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michiganpebbler
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2023
Posts: 344
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Post by michiganpebbler on Jul 13, 2023 12:05:02 GMT -5
Welcome from lower Michigan! I’ve only been tumbling since February, but all my grit comes from The Rock Shed.
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carnivore870
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 15
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Post by carnivore870 on Jul 13, 2023 19:33:10 GMT -5
So if i get some ceramics, do you run those through a tumble cycle before using them? I've gathered you shouldn't use them in the first stage. Just wondering if I should run em a few days with some 220 to smooth em out a bit
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 13, 2023 20:54:31 GMT -5
So if i get some ceramics, do you run those through a tumble cycle before using them? I've gathered you shouldn't use them in the first stage. Just wondering if I should run em a few days with some 220 to smooth em out a bit You'll likely get some different answers than mine...but I ran my ceramic through an initial grind with 60 grit to break them in. I inspected them afterward to make sure there was no grit stuck in them somehow...then used them afterward for subsequent grits. Running them in the 220 oughta do the trick.
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Jul 13, 2023 23:15:15 GMT -5
Oh I am already addicted. Not even done with my first batch. And I'm already binge watching Michigan Rocks on YouTube, buying Rock and Mineral identifying guides. Aaaaaaand have just been rock hounding. Everywhere. river in the backyard? Landscaping rocks? Landscaping rocks at my kiddos school? I mean... I guess there are worse rocks to be addicted to Yep...you're hooked! LOL The Rock Shed is well known for having amazing grit...and who better to support than a "mom and pop" type business! Watch out...Rob's videos can get super addictive as well! LOL Are they ever !!! I watched "making beach glass - is it worth it ?" today at lunch time ... that's the one where he suddenly juggles ... "as long as I have my lighter ready" after he has been taking the bottoms off of the bottles. GUFFAW!!!! Favorite bits ... the vast collection of Michigan T-Shirts .. a new one for every day change in the videos , the beard, no beard and the 1/2 mustache and My absolute favorite... So casually and with a straight face he says ..."Be sure to clean the barrels thoroughly. I like to use my wife's toothbrush !!"
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carnivore870
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 15
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Post by carnivore870 on Jul 14, 2023 14:10:14 GMT -5
Lol I saw him on here and was wondering why he was going by Jugglerguy. Then saw that video and was like ahhhh that makes sense. I personally like the most recent videos with some guys in South Dakota looking for Fairborn and prairie agates. I live in the southwest corner of MN so i don't really get a lot of the lake Superior or northern MN rocks you see online or in the books. I am closer to South Dakota and Iowa than that part of the state
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 319
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Post by RockyBeach on Jul 14, 2023 16:36:04 GMT -5
Lol I saw him on here and was wondering why he was going by Jugglerguy. Then saw that video and was like ahhhh that makes sense. I personally like the most recent videos with some guys in South Dakota looking for Fairborn and prairie agates. I live in the southwest corner of MN so i don't really get a lot of the lake Superior or northern MN rocks you see online or in the books. I am closer to South Dakota and Iowa than that part of the state Those videos are the most fun of 'em all and painlessly educational too ! I was just up in the Bayfield area and got some beach rocks to play with. Pretty colors and assorted sizes but no idea what any of them are (yet!) They went into Stage 1 HF tumblers today ..belt adjusted, squeaks gone (for now), lids on nice and tight, ready to check for bulges and burp as needed. Wish me luck ...I have hopes that these will turn out well as they look great already to my un-educated eyes. I had them out on the porch in a shallow pan of water so I could admire them until time to tumble !
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dirtbarbie
off to a rocking start
Smooth, baby, smooth
Member since August 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by dirtbarbie on Aug 4, 2023 11:35:52 GMT -5
Lol I saw him on here and was wondering why he was going by Jugglerguy. Then saw that video and was like ahhhh that makes sense. I personally like the most recent videos with some guys in South Dakota looking for Fairborn and prairie agates. I live in the southwest corner of MN so i don't really get a lot of the lake Superior or northern MN rocks you see online or in the books. I am closer to South Dakota and Iowa than that part of the state Those videos are the most fun of 'em all and painlessly educational too ! I was just up in the Bayfield area and got some beach rocks to play with. Pretty colors and assorted sizes but no idea what any of them are (yet!) They went into Stage 1 HF tumblers today ..belt adjusted, squeaks gone (for now), lids on nice and tight, ready to check for bulges and burp as needed. Wish me luck ...I have hopes that these will turn out well as they look great already to my un-educated eyes. I had them out on the porch in a shallow pan of water so I could admire them until time to tumble ! Hi! I'm new here. How do I find Jugglerguy's profile? Love him on YouTube!
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Aug 6, 2023 19:54:54 GMT -5
Hi! I'm new here. How do I find Jugglerguy's profile? Love him on YouTube! you can find him on youtube as "Michigan Rocks" Here MichiganRocks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/ MichiganRocks
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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 Aug 6, 2023 22:34:37 GMT -5
So. My daughter got the nat geo hobby rock tumbler for Christmas. It's a 1 pound barrel. I've learned some things in the fews weeks I've been on here. Will be ordering a Lortone 33B soon. But first. I want to try and get a decent shine out of this one. Ain't gonna happen with the grit they sent me from what I've gathered. We are just about done with our 3rd stage so hey. Learning process. But that means I'm in the market for some more quality grit. My question is where to go??? I have it narrowed down to 3. Polyplastics on Amazon, or there's the small kit from either Kingsley North or the Rock Shed. What do you recommend? The Rock Shed is like 6 hours away from me. So I'm not sure if that cuts down on shipping. Also with that tumbler going that speed I would like to get some ceramics with it. Which... Polyplastics kit comes with. But everyone talks about the quality of Kingsley North and the Rock Shed. Just curious what your thoughts are. I would say if there is one store I get most my purchases from it would be the rock shed. I do get 45 pounds of 80 grit in a large flat rate box from kingsley north (KN), I also get 40 pounds of large ceramic media in a large flat rate box from KN. They tend to be the best deal for me. The only grit I only get from the rock shed is their polish - their polish seems to be the best. It's also good to get rough from different places - they all seem to have different batches/suppliers - it's cool to see the variations in the same type of material. Welcome to RTH!
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