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Post by velodromed on Dec 13, 2023 15:12:20 GMT -5
BobThank you! That is a huge and beautiful rock. I also love larger stones, and have slowly been working my way up in size.
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Post by Bob on Dec 13, 2023 15:47:19 GMT -5
Bob Thank you! That is a huge and beautiful rock. I also love larger stones, and have slowly been working my way up in size. Great! I've found very few people do this. Often the fear is grit expense because the large ones take so long. In 2018 I think it was, I attempted to calculate the cost. I have 132lbs tumbling all the time in several barrels and go through a LOT of coarse grit. I estimated at the time that this hobby is costing me $55 or so per month for grit and electricity which I view as a pretty cheap hobby. I didn't try to factor in that I buy some rocks now and then. Since then, the cost of grit and shipping anything has increased and I'm probably now spending at least $75/mo, but I still view that as a cheap hobby. I have friends with jet skies and guns and boats or whatever costing thousands that they only use a few times per year if then. What kind of equipment and barrel sizes do you have? |
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Post by velodromed on Dec 13, 2023 16:10:17 GMT -5
Bob Thank you! That is a huge and beautiful rock. I also love larger stones, and have slowly been working my way up in size. Great! I've found very few people do this. Often the fear is grit expense because the large ones take so long. In 2018 I think it was, I attempted to calculate the cost. I have 132lbs tumbling all the time in several barrels and go through a LOT of coarse grit. I estimated at the time that this hobby is costing me $55 or so per month for grit and electricity which I view as a pretty cheap hobby. I didn't try to factor in that I buy some rocks now and then. Since then, the cost of grit and shipping anything has increased and I'm probably now spending at least $75/mo, but I still view that as a cheap hobby. I have friends with jet skies and guns and boats or whatever costing thousands that they only use a few times per year if then. What kind of equipment and barrel sizes do you have? Much agreed on the cost aspect. Compared to my other life hobbies, cycling (I no longer can do because I broke myself) and high end RC cars (which I still do because I break cars and not myself) this one is dirt cheap. Plus there’s the ‘constant’ part of it. I always have something to do, even if just staring at rocks or zoning out on the running tumblers, which I do for more than I would willingly admit. It’s pleasant. The constant rumble counters out the constant stress noise I can never escape. Even better is my wife and kid love the hobby. Everywhere we go we look for rocks. We’ll be driving down the road and I will suddenly hear ‘ROCKS!! STOP I SEE ROCKS!!’ From the back seat. And everywhere kid and I go in our wonders we're looking for rocks. I have a rebel 17 that never stops running. It’s the 40 rpm version so chews through rock. I still have my very first tumbler, a 1 pound Dan and Darcy. it works fantastic for polishing or tumbling smaller, more delicate rocks. I run it on a 7 V power supply to keep the speed reasonable. I still have my second tumbler, a dual 3 pound wire jewelry set up. I know it’s considered a basic tumbler but their warranty is amazing. Over two years they replaced both barrels, lids and even the base. It runs excellent. One barrel I use for polishing whatever larger rock I’m working on. Right now it has Fred, the possible Dino bone in it. The other side I use for rocks moving on from the rebel 17. I also bought one of those cheap ‘tall barrel’ set ups off Amazon for 20 bucks. Holds about 4 pounds. It broke quick, so I rewired it, installed a small computer fan and now It’s quite useful. I control the speed by using a seven, nine or 12 V power supply, so I can have it as a high-speed rock crusher or low-speed polisher. Lastly, I have a Raytech 5 vibratory that I absolutely love. Itll polish damn near everything that’ll fit. And I’ve been able to fit rocks nearly the size of a fist in it. I do not run it like you’re ‘supposed’ to. I overloaded like crazy and rarely clean out the two separate bowls. One is for polish and one is for SiC. I just keep them constantly going and only clean out the bowls every five or six finished loads. It works for me. My goal is to eventually build my own multi barrel Tumblr. Or at least to get another rebel 17, probably the 20 RPM version. I’m happy right now with what I have though. |
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Post by Bob on Dec 13, 2023 16:35:03 GMT -5
I see you are in San Ant. Next time I am heading down that way we could meet if you want. Or if you're up my way. But nothing I can think of in the next couple of years has me heading your way. I'm in Stillwater, OK. Consider getting a Lortone C40. That's where everything starts. After doing this about a decade, if I had to limit myself, I would get only that and a Lortone 12 lb tumbler. My results improved when I started going slower on the RPMs. I rarely have damaged rocks any more.
In a few months I'm going to be meeting an old timer tumbler who has tumbled rocks up to 40lbs!
When I started this I had twin girls who were 14. Can really relate to how you said the excitement with the kids is there. Makes it all worth it. My wife, who is in her 2nd year of becoming an RN, jumped off her desk studies the other night and yelled "Oh my God, you're going to get silicosis! I'm going to lose my husband and be a widow!" She is deep in reading about all the diseases and was on the lung chapter. I had to take her out to the garage, show how her the slurry is always wet, and if it spills and dries I get rid of it gently and carefully and pour slurry in boxes and then put in garage bins before it gets fully dry and dusty. She is starting to relax, but I've still got some convincing to do. There is dust on everything from the tumblers, that is dark grey, and I think it is from the v-belts of which there are maybe 8 or so. She thought it was silica dust from the rocks.
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Post by velodromed on Dec 13, 2023 22:34:02 GMT -5
I see you are in San Ant. Next time I am heading down that way we could meet if you want. Or if you're up my way. But nothing I can think of in the next couple of years has me heading your way. I'm in Stillwater, OK. Consider getting a Lortone C40. That's where everything starts. After doing this about a decade, if I had to limit myself, I would get only that and a Lortone 12 lb tumbler. My results improved when I started going slower on the RPMs. I rarely have damaged rocks any more. In a few months I'm going to be meeting an old timer tumbler who has tumbled rocks up to 40lbs! When I started this I had twin girls who were 14. Can really relate to how you said the excitement with the kids is there. Makes it all worth it. My wife, who is in her 2nd year of becoming an RN, jumped off her desk studies the other night and yelled "Oh my God, you're going to get silicosis! I'm going to lose my husband and be a widow!" She is deep in reading about all the diseases and was on the lung chapter. I had to take her out to the garage, show how her the slurry is always wet, and if it spills and dries I get rid of it gently and carefully and pour slurry in boxes and then put in garage bins before it gets fully dry and dusty. She is starting to relax, but I've still got some convincing to do. There is dust on everything from the tumblers, that is dark grey, and I think it is from the v-belts of which there are maybe 8 or so. She thought it was silica dust from the rocks. Yup, I’m in SATX. if you ever end up around here I would be great to get together. Unfortunately we don’t do too much traveling. Trying to keep up with the kid is about all we can do right now. We’re both in our early 50s, my wife went recently through cancer for a couple years and I have had around 18 surgeries dealing with injuries, 3 in the last year. We need a calm year or two just to heal basically. I did a lot of traveling when I was young, hitchhiked over 15,000 miles between Texas and Alaska over a couple years. Ended up in California 20 years and came back to Texas in 2012. That’s hilarious about your wife! Silicosis is nothing to joke about though. Still, it’s pretty funny. I’ll check out the lortone c40 someday. it’ll be a while before I can get another Tumblr but I’ll look at that one seriously when I can. |
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Post by Bob on Dec 14, 2023 12:17:38 GMT -5
I see you are in San Ant. Next time I am heading down that way we could meet if you want. Or if you're up my way. But nothing I can think of in the next couple of years has me heading your way. I'm in Stillwater, OK. Consider getting a Lortone C40. That's where everything starts. After doing this about a decade, if I had to limit myself, I would get only that and a Lortone 12 lb tumbler. My results improved when I started going slower on the RPMs. I rarely have damaged rocks any more. In a few months I'm going to be meeting an old timer tumbler who has tumbled rocks up to 40lbs! When I started this I had twin girls who were 14. Can really relate to how you said the excitement with the kids is there. Makes it all worth it. My wife, who is in her 2nd year of becoming an RN, jumped off her desk studies the other night and yelled "Oh my God, you're going to get silicosis! I'm going to lose my husband and be a widow!" She is deep in reading about all the diseases and was on the lung chapter. I had to take her out to the garage, show how her the slurry is always wet, and if it spills and dries I get rid of it gently and carefully and pour slurry in boxes and then put in garage bins before it gets fully dry and dusty. She is starting to relax, but I've still got some convincing to do. There is dust on everything from the tumblers, that is dark grey, and I think it is from the v-belts of which there are maybe 8 or so. She thought it was silica dust from the rocks. Yup, I’m in SATX. if you ever end up around here I would be great to get together. Unfortunately we don’t do too much traveling. Trying to keep up with the kid is about all we can do right now. We’re both in our early 50s, my wife went recently through cancer for a couple years and I have had around 18 surgeries dealing with injuries, 3 in the last year. We need a calm year or two just to heal basically. I did a lot of traveling when I was young, hitchhiked over 15,000 miles between Texas and Alaska over a couple years. Ended up in California 20 years and came back to Texas in 2012. That’s hilarious about your wife! Silicosis is nothing to joke about though. Still, it’s pretty funny. I’ll check out the lortone c40 someday. it’ll be a while before I can get another Tumblr but I’ll look at that one seriously when I can. Wow, 15,000 miles. Would love to hear that story over a cold one someday. I've got a couple of decades more than you, and have been a backpacker all my life, but have not yet been to Alaska. Hope to do it someday to complete the 50. We head to NWT, Canada soon. I love that country and go there a lot. Good luck with the calm year goal. I've never had it happen even when needed it. My wife Jenny, who is Chinese, screamed this morning at about 7am from the back yard when taking the dog out to urinate. I ran out there, and a huge double rainbow from horizon to horizon was visible to the NW! I've never seen a morning rainbow, and seldom get to see both ends on the ground. I almost screamed myself. We had no rain, just a misty morning. |
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Post by velodromed on Dec 14, 2023 13:59:13 GMT -5
Yup, I’m in SATX. if you ever end up around here I would be great to get together. Unfortunately we don’t do too much traveling. Trying to keep up with the kid is about all we can do right now. We’re both in our early 50s, my wife went recently through cancer for a couple years and I have had around 18 surgeries dealing with injuries, 3 in the last year. We need a calm year or two just to heal basically. I did a lot of traveling when I was young, hitchhiked over 15,000 miles between Texas and Alaska over a couple years. Ended up in California 20 years and came back to Texas in 2012. That’s hilarious about your wife! Silicosis is nothing to joke about though. Still, it’s pretty funny. I’ll check out the lortone c40 someday. it’ll be a while before I can get another Tumblr but I’ll look at that one seriously when I can. Wow, 15,000 miles. Would love to hear that story over a cold one someday. I've got a couple of decades more than you, and have been a backpacker all my life, but have not yet been to Alaska. Hope to do it someday to complete the 50. We head to NWT, Canada soon. I love that country and go there a lot. Good luck with the calm year goal. I've never had it happen even when needed it. My wife Jenny, who is Chinese, screamed this morning at about 7am from the back yard when taking the dog out to urinate. I ran out there, and a huge double rainbow from horizon to horizon was visible to the NW! I've never seen a morning rainbow, and seldom get to see both ends on the ground. I almost screamed myself. We had no rain, just a misty morning. Gotta love the DOUBLE RAINBOW!! You’ll love Alaska if you ever make it. I’m currently happy with walking my dog for 30 minutes or running around with the kid for an hour. Then I have to rest. Hopefully I’ll be getting better over the next year if nothing else happens. |
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Dec 31, 2023 4:08:16 GMT -5
I feel your pain and adore your humor! Obsidian broke my heart, broke me down, then rebuilt me into a real rock tumbler. But I didn't do it alone - a friend showed me his secret and then I built on his ideas, threw out the rulebook, and began to coax a mirror shine on that sh*t. Hang in there. Implement the advice you're getting until you find what works for you. Don't shy away from experimenting - I'd never have gotten my results if I'd kept running into the same brick wall. When you hear the tumblers snicker, take heart. Anyone who has polished obsidian has been there, but with perseverance you'll triumph. I've posted a number of times about my process, and shared photos, so I'll spare the forum another repost of my stuff. Looks like it is still available if you search for it, so I'll just kick-start it with one link, if you're interested: Near the bottom of the first page on this thread is a post with a couple of my photos, including an obsidian batch that came out well: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/82195/rocks-polishing-frustrated Wishing you all the best. |
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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 Dec 31, 2023 16:28:20 GMT -5
I feel your pain and adore your humor! Obsidian broke my heart, broke me down, then rebuilt me into a real rock tumbler. But I didn't do it alone - a friend showed me his secret and then I built on his ideas, threw out the rulebook, and began to coax a mirror shine on that sh*t. Hang in there. Implement the advice you're getting until you find what works for you. Don't shy away from experimenting - I'd never have gotten my results if I'd kept running into the same brick wall. When you hear the tumblers snicker, take heart. Anyone who has polished obsidian has been there, but with perseverance you'll triumph. I've posted a number of times about my process, and shared photos, so I'll spare the forum another repost of my stuff. Looks like it is still available if you search for it, so I'll just kick-start it with one link, if you're interested: Near the bottom of the first page on this thread is a post with a couple of my photos, including an obsidian batch that came out well: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/82195/rocks-polishing-frustrated Wishing you all the best. I had immediate success using #ingawh 's method. Now I use it with nearly all my vibratory tumbles. I tumble for 5 days-really, 5 days on 500 aluminum oxide then 5 days in either rock shed ao polish or tin oxide. 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. Hand pick the quartz and agates carefully that are used as media. I use ceramic media for most but the quartz/ agates are reserved for obsidian. By the way, I don't get great tumbles using the rotaries only. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 3, 2024 2:55:29 GMT -5
I just my removed my latest batch of obsidian from my 900th attempt at polishing, and it looks as lousy as all my previous efforts. I am forced to conclude one or more of the following;
1) I am an idiot (the most likely) 2) All published recipes for tumbling obsidian are written by people who have never used them 3) Pictures you see of beautiful tumbled stones are photoshopped, or, 4) The stones have been sprayed with gloss lacquer, and 5) Apache tears have been planted by demons to deceive rockhounds into thinking they can do this I have tumbled thousands of pounds of material over the years and couldn't be more pleased with my results. When my tumblers see me coming with a load of obsidian, I can hear them smirking. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 3, 2024 2:56:37 GMT -5
I just my removed my latest batch of obsidian from my 900th attempt at polishing, and it looks as lousy as all my previous efforts. I am forced to conclude one or more of the following;
1) I am an idiot (the most likely) 2) All published recipes for tumbling obsidian are written by people who have never used them 3) Pictures you see of beautiful tumbled stones are photoshopped, or, 4) The stones have been sprayed with gloss lacquer, and 5) Apache tears have been planted by demons to deceive rockhounds into thinking they can do this I have tumbled thousands of pounds of material over the years and couldn't be more pleased with my results. When my tumblers see me coming with a load of obsidian, I can hear them smirking. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 3, 2024 2:57:37 GMT -5
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Feb 13, 2024 14:52:53 GMT -5
I'm renewing my membership in the I Hate Obsidian Club. Just took my obsidian tiles out of final polish. To fill up my MT-04 I added some obsidian I previously ran through that didn't polish well. Because some of my filler material has some cracks, I ran everything through a wash with borax after every stage, so I don't imagine there was any contamination. I also ran a 1200 AO stage before polish. I had the same results this time - a haziness over everything but the corners, and some white marks indicating excess vibration. This latter bit is especially prevalent on the mahogany picture. I ran the Mini Sonic as slow as I could that would still keep rotation. The Azul tiles aren't really a big deal since they'll be in a bag with other harder rocks and will likely accumulate some wear, but the triple flow with the shimmer is beautiful and I'd like it to have a better shine without having to take it to my CB8.    |
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