stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 12, 2024 18:28:20 GMT -5
Looks like there will be a LOT of rock available this year as they are offering additional rock straight from the mine if you wish. Not sure how I feel about that as the contest is supposed to be based on working with what you got, not purchase more so you have a larger lot to Cherry pick from. Anyway got mine cut up and took off some of the crappy host rock and got it all into 60/90
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Jan 12, 2024 18:58:48 GMT -5
The contest is sold out.  WE ARE OUT OF ROCK FOR THE 2024 TUMBLING CONTEST!!! The response to this year’s contest has exceeded our expectations. We have run out of China Hollow rock from Oregon. At this time we cannot accept any further tumbling contest applications. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 12, 2024 19:12:28 GMT -5
Bummer! I printed out my form a week ago but hadn't got around to sending it in.
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 937 
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Post by ashley on Jan 12, 2024 19:47:42 GMT -5
Oh no!! Too late. Oh well, next year….:/
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Looking forward to my Friday Night Barrel Clean out!
Member since August 2022
Posts: 492
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Post by hplcman on Jan 13, 2024 13:18:08 GMT -5
My box came on Monday, but I didn’t get back from my business trip until late last night. I can’t believe how much I thought about these things while I was away! I’m going to chuck these into the tumbler next week! I think I’ll need all the time I can get shaping these! Here they are dry:  And here they are wet:  |
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 14, 2024 9:30:50 GMT -5
Looks like there will be a LOT of rock available this year as they are offering additional rock straight from the mine if you wish. Not sure how I feel about that as the contest is supposed to be based on working with what you got, not purchase more so you have a larger lot to Cherry pick from. Anyway got mine cut up and took off some of the crappy host rock and got it all into 60/90 I think you misread what it says, because the rules forbid one from using any other rock other than what they sent you. I saw this too, the info on how to get more of the rough I mean, and thought it a bit ackward/backward. So if I end up really liking the China hollow, I will have to wait until after I send in my 5 finished rocks before ordering more of it; there is too much risk of being accused of cheating otherwise. |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 14, 2024 15:26:29 GMT -5
Yea I was very confused by this. Not sure how they would prove it one way or the other. It probably really doesn't matter and I am just overthinking it. lol
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roQhound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2023
Posts: 104
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Post by roQhound on Jan 16, 2024 15:10:18 GMT -5
I agree, it's odd they'd promote availability of the material during the contest. I hope everyone plays fair, because it would be really easy to order a lot and cherry pick as mentioned. I trust most people will play by the rules.
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mdjunkie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2023
Posts: 81 
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Post by mdjunkie on Jan 17, 2024 9:53:03 GMT -5
I just received my shipping notice last night stating I would be receiving my box in the next day or 2.
I was worried after hearing it was closed. I had mailed in my check on the 1st.
I'm not sure why I'm entering, I am a noob and have only complete a couple of batches so far with decent results. Also, I don't have any kind of saw or grinder other than a dremel. Oh well, it gives me something to strive for.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,157
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Post by dshanpnw on Jan 17, 2024 10:26:55 GMT -5
The contest is sold out. WE ARE OUT OF ROCK FOR THE 2024 TUMBLING CONTEST!!! The response to this year’s contest has exceeded our expectations. We have run out of China Hollow rock from Oregon. At this time we cannot accept any further tumbling contest applications. Thanks, glad I made the cutoff. They sold out fast. |
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arentol
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 20
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Post by arentol on Jan 17, 2024 11:13:59 GMT -5
I just received my shipping notice last night stating I would be receiving my box in the next day or 2. I was worried after hearing it was closed. I had mailed in my check on the 1st. I'm not sure why I'm entering, I am a noob and have only complete a couple of batches so far with decent results. Also, I don't have any kind of saw or grinder other than a dremel. Oh well, it gives me something to strive for. Good news, a saw is entirely unnecessary, and a dremel with diamond bits is just fine for the very minor amount of work you might want to do. You also have many months to complete the tumbling, so you have time to learn and improve as you go. |
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Looking forward to my Friday Night Barrel Clean out!
Member since August 2022
Posts: 492
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Post by hplcman on Jan 17, 2024 12:56:13 GMT -5
I just received my shipping notice last night stating I would be receiving my box in the next day or 2. I was worried after hearing it was closed. I had mailed in my check on the 1st. I'm not sure why I'm entering, I am a noob and have only complete a couple of batches so far with decent results. Also, I don't have any kind of saw or grinder other than a dremel. Oh well, it gives me something to strive for. Good news, a saw is entirely unnecessary, and a dremel with diamond bits is just fine for the very minor amount of work you might want to do. You also have many months to complete the tumbling, so you have time to learn and improve as you go. I saw a post on here where they used a saw/dremel to preshape the rocks prior to tumbling. Since we have ~7 months to turn these in my plan is to just tumble them in coarse in my 3 lb barrel, replacing rocks when they look ready. Once that part is done hopefully they will all fit in a 3lb barrel for stage 2 and onwards. This is my first time in this contest, so I'm looking forward to the whole process! |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 20, 2024 9:45:56 GMT -5
I just received my shipping notice last night stating I would be receiving my box in the next day or 2. I was worried after hearing it was closed. I had mailed in my check on the 1st. I'm not sure why I'm entering, I am a noob and have only complete a couple of batches so far with decent results. Also, I don't have any kind of saw or grinder other than a dremel. Oh well, it gives me something to strive for. You got to start somewhere! The rock can be tumbled with no other assistance. It is a good solid material. After 2 weeks in course I actually have my first chunk ready to move forward! I have several other pieces that are going to be ready in 2 to 4 weeks. The key is to strive for perfection in the rough stage. It should take the longest (12 to 14 weeks would not be unheard of) I have been tumbling for 20 plus years and never entered because I thought the same way. Finally entered last year and came in forth (damn 1 more week in polish probably would have done it lol). Juggleguy (aka Rob, aka Michigan Rocks) had his neighbor Sam (if you ever watch his videos you know who he is) win it his first time entering (I think) and Sam is pretty much a noob when it comes to tumbling. You also have a great resource right here with plenty of folks that will offer up advice and encouragement! |
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mdjunkie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2023
Posts: 81
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Post by mdjunkie on Jan 20, 2024 14:11:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragement! I think it's a fun hobby, watching the rocks change from week to week. I'm still new to this and I've had mishaps already (putting different hardness stones together, not knowing that some rocks require a bit more attention as to the cushioning when tumbling, etc), but enjoy learning this more with each batch I try.
I think the challenge of a competition will give the reason I need to continue to pay attention to the stones as they progress. I have a log book I started recently. I write in everything from progress level to how the slurry looks or consistency with each batch. I'm hoping to get a better idea of how to handle the stones I tumble.
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elpam
starting to shine!
Member since June 2022
Posts: 30
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Post by elpam on Jan 26, 2024 10:10:28 GMT -5
Good Lucky everyone!
I missed out but look forward to reading about the progress of your tumbles..
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Post by perpetualneophyte on Jan 26, 2024 18:27:05 GMT -5
I got a rock tumbler for Christmas and have become hyper focused. Prior to that I had never tumbled any rocks. So far I have only tumbled the rocks that came with the tumbler, with medium success. I started to watch YouTube for tutorials. I came across Michigan Rocks talking about this contest. Naturally i though - Let's Go!!! Pointers would be greatly appreciated. Here are my rocks, dry and wet.   |
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roQhound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2023
Posts: 104
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Post by roQhound on Jan 26, 2024 19:19:10 GMT -5
I got a rock tumbler for Christmas and have become hyper focused. Prior to that I had never tumbled any rocks. So far I have only tumbled the rocks that came with the tumbler, with medium success. I started to watch YouTube for tutorials. I came across Michigan Rocks talking about this contest. Naturally i though - Let's Go!!! Pointers would be greatly appreciated. Here are my rocks, dry and wet. That's a really nice batch and good sized pieces! They should tumble great! I'm not too impressed with what I received, but we'll see how they turn out! Good luck! Oh, and Michigan Rocks is on here as "Jugglerguy". |
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
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Post by geoff59 on Jan 26, 2024 19:49:50 GMT -5
Has anyone seen an included rock that is a trick rock?
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Post by perpetualneophyte on Jan 26, 2024 20:07:24 GMT -5
Has anyone seen an included rock that is a trick rock? I got this. My best, uneducated, guess is opal and rhyolite   |
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Post by Bob on Jan 29, 2024 18:41:43 GMT -5
I too saw something odd like that in the batch and wondered about it.
This may be my first contest in the 4-5 I've done in which all the rocks appear solid w/o any lousy crevices or porous areas. At least that's what I think before seeing how they come out the first week of rough grind.
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