RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Apr 23, 2004 1:03:58 GMT -5
Hi folks,
My name is Calvin, I live in the gorgeous Santa Cruz mountains with many large redwoods around my house, hence my name. I'm 10 minutes from the beach. Which is good because my other hobby is fishing. I can take the kids out to the wharf and catch all sorts of fish and creatures. We don't keep any. The kids play with the fish, crabs, starfish, snails etc in a pail until they get tired of playing then we throw them back in the water. (yes, some of the little critters end up as seagull food). Usually in fishing parlance, CPR stands for Catch Photograph and Release. With my kids (7 yrs old and 3 yrs old) it's Catch, Play with and Release.
I am also about an hour from Sillycone Valley, otherwise known as San Jose, CA.
I got into rock tumbling as something new to do after reading several articles over the internet and it sounded interesting. I am having a load of fun, though my wife thinks I have in my head. But, she has been thinking that for the last 22 years!
I have to admit to having tumbler envy with those folks who have multiple tumblers and big tumbers. I have a Lortone 33b. But, my next project (while waiting for my order from Gerdus to come in) is to build a tumbler. I have been looking at motors on Ebay, figuring you build the tumbler around the motor.
I have found this message board to be very interesting, informative and, at times, very humorous! Keep up the great work!
Cal
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Apr 23, 2004 16:42:50 GMT -5
Hey Calvin, if you are planning to build a large tumbler just go to one of those appliance junkyards and get a motor out of an old washing machine or something and then size the pulleys to get the RPM at the tumbler that you want. You can probably pick one up cheap.
Bob
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 23, 2004 16:54:27 GMT -5
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Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 23, 2004 21:06:15 GMT -5
When I showed my step daughter some of the rocks I had collected from the yard, she asked me,
"Did those come out of Dad's head ?"
Think I was set up?
cookie
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Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 23, 2004 21:07:53 GMT -5
PS
She also thinks Mols scale should include her dad's head at about a 6 ;D
cookie
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Apr 28, 2004 14:52:03 GMT -5
Bob and John,
Thanks for the ideas on the electric motors. Stoner, a local guy says there is a surplus shop in San Jose. I was looking at Ebay for the motors.
I know I want a motor, just not sure which size. Too big of a motor and the electricity bill will be to high. Too small of a motor and the drums won't turn.
If anything, going too big is better than too small.
Looking at Thumler's and Lortone's motors, I think I need to look around 1/10 HP for a 10-20 lb tumble, I am thinking a double 10 lb barrel setup.
Soon, I am going to have to stop thinking and start doing!
Cal
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Apr 28, 2004 14:54:26 GMT -5
Hi Cookie,
I'm not sure if you were setup. With two little ones myself, I am not sure where some of the words and phrases come from!
My littlest one (3 yrs old) is now saying "Oh My Gosh" as she covers her face with hand.
Cal
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Apr 28, 2004 14:57:16 GMT -5
I forgot to comment that I also share the house with an aquarium of fish. And, as of Sunday, a leopard gecko. The gecko was my son's 7th birthday present. He wanted a snake, but my wife didn't want any creatures slithering around her house!
And, no I haven't touched the gecko, yet. Although, my son will probably want me to!
Cal
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 28, 2004 19:48:52 GMT -5
lizards are cool i had a 2ana1/2 foot iguana name was fred he was so cool he usta crawl up my back or arm and sit on my shoulder with his head against my neck suckin up the heat hahaha only prob how they get rid of exces salt is to snort hahaha allways got me in the neck but he was cool i had a 71 fleetwood real lead sled and he usta go wit me to the shore he usta lay on the dashboard on a towel and catch rays people usta slow down and wave when they seen him couldent miss him bright green layin on the dash they would do a double take hahaha ok seeya---john
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Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 28, 2004 20:07:43 GMT -5
I understand gekos are pretty delicate. They must have a lot of constant warmth. And, c'mon dude, theyr'e not slimey or anything. Of corse this is comming from a woman who once owned a 8 foot reticulate python. Name was Baby. Somebody stole him  |
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Apr 29, 2004 11:48:03 GMT -5
Hi Cookie,
When I was a kid (that was a long time ago), I was into snakes and lizard. I tried to convince my son not to pick up any snakes because they could be poisonous. We have rattlesnakes where I live.
Did he listen to me. No way. He picked up this garter snake, which bit him twice on the hand. He was so excited that he didn't even notice the bites!
I am sure some day, I am going to have to hold the gecko so that my son doens't think his dad is a big wimp.
Cal
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Post by cookie3rocks on Apr 29, 2004 18:54:50 GMT -5
I really didn't have to worry about poisenous snakes where I lived in TX, but here in GA it's another story. Some one came into my store to tell me they had just stomped on a baby copperhead right out side the door.
and scorpians,though small, just move right in with ya. Shake the sheets, my mom told me.
OK, I'm not that tough.
But it's just a geko,dude ;D
cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 29, 2004 21:41:13 GMT -5
hey cal if ya need a smaller motor i got three of these off this gentleman and he is an honest seller and a gentleman and the price cant be beat for a new motor like 13.50 with capaciter way better then 40 haha cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=53299&item=3809887441this is an old auction so click on see all sellers items on the right he has a bunch of them so he list them all the time ok seeya---john |
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Apr 29, 2004 22:52:20 GMT -5
Cookie, Where did you live in Texas that didn't have poisonous snakes? I live in Medina and we have Copperheads, Water Moccasins, Coral snakes, and Rattle snakes. Killed a huge Copperhead in my yard (about 3 feet from my house) last fall. When I saw it, I went for the BB gun but discovered that my 12 year old son had shot up every single BB. My daughter's brother in law came over and killed it. The snake had apparently just eaten so he cut it open to see what his last meal had been. That darn snake had eaten one of my Cardinals.  I love Texas........but I HATE snakes! Geckos are pretty cool though, and we have those around here too. Barbara |
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Jul 7, 2004 23:46:26 GMT -5
The lizards are multiplying! My wife and kids were at the pet store picking more crickets and worms for the lizard. She saw a smaller gecko lizard that someone brought back to the store. The store was selling for less than an adult lizard. We decided to buy it and a new cage. This one goes into my daughter's room. Her name is Cookie. Cookie3Rocks - I had nothing to do with the name!  Here is a picture of Lim (my son's lizard).  Oh yeah, I am the official cricket leg cutter offer. My wife says to cut the big legs off so that the lizards can catch the crickets easier. I donate my little mustache scissor to the cause! Since I am doing cricket, I have also held both Lim and Cookie! These two are nothing like the blue belly lizards (very fast) or alligator lizards (these bite) I use to catch as a kid. Cal |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 8, 2004 0:04:10 GMT -5
OOOHHH, my little name sake. (It must have been a subliminal thing  ) How cute she is! The leg cutter offer thing was WTMI, but somebodys got to do it. She looks happy in her new home. Congrats on a great new pet. cookie |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 8, 2004 2:04:01 GMT -5
those are so cute! makes me want some but that would drive my cats nuts trying to figure out how to get to them. already have enough animals and bugs around here fighting for attention.  kim |
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jul 8, 2004 21:09:46 GMT -5
;D ha cal shorty here have you seen or herd any bigfoot there |
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 9, 2004 0:23:57 GMT -5
Hello Cal,
Those geckos are something else.
And I absolutely love the last photo of the wasp ... too hilarious!
When we lived in Palm Springs, California I had just over 132 snakes. One was a sidewinder rattlesnake ... that was my favorite. The rest were shovel nosed sand snakes and red tailed whip snakes!
When I get a little time ... I'll send some photo's of the fishing lures that I make from rock! They are definitely different ... I think you'll like them!
We live in the heart of the best fishing in the country ... 500 miles in any direction will get you there! We do not have any descent fishing holes around us at all, I literally have to drive some three house to get to a descent body of water ... sad isn't it!
Enjoy,
John
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Jul 16, 2004 10:14:15 GMT -5
Hi Shorty,
I did see bigfoot on Hwy 299 between Redding and Eureka in Northern California. Unfortunately or fortunately bigfoot was carved out of wood! Bigfoot is a big marketing tool up in that area - Bigfoot lumber, tourism, etc.
I have seen all sorts of wildlife - bears (on the other side of the river, elk, deer, eagles, etc, not to mention big salmon and steelhead while fishing the rivers on the Trinity and Klamath rivers! As you probably know, this area is nothing like LA or San Francisco, pretty remote, not a lot of services, etc. So.. if Bigfoot does exist, this area would be perfect. This area is also perfect for me, too. But, not many job opportunites!
Keep your eye out for BigFoot!
Cal
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