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Tom Kuzia
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New Member Jul 9, 2004 19:53:16 GMT -5

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Post by Tom Kuzia on Jul 9, 2004 19:53:16 GMT -5

Hi Gang,

My name is Tom Kuzia and I am from Beacon Falls,CT.

I have been tumbling rocks for 6-7 years now and I love it.

I started out with a #15 Thumler's Tumbler and found that bigger is not always better!

Well I now have 7 tumblers in all and have just ordered another.It's a 3,,,1-1/2lb barrel unit from Lortone.

I have 3,, 15 pounders,a double 6lb Lortone unit,a 4lb Lortone, 2,,, 4lb Lot-O-Tumblers which are vibrating units,a Genie grinder/sander/polisher,a 16" Covington Vibrating flat lap,an 8" trim saw,a Foredom Flex Shaft unit used mostly for carving and drilling,I also have the precision drill press by Foredom which is great for drilling.The one unit I lack is a slab saw and hope to build one "when" I get the time!!!!

I looked at some of your photo's and am very impressed with your work!

My wife and I have just got back from a rockhound
get-to-gether in NC and it was just great.We got to meet some of the rockhounds and their family's that I have been "talking to" on the web.There were over 50 of us who ate,swapped rocks/minerals(and stories)ate some more,went collecting and had the time of our lives!

I brought a little over 40 lbs of polished rocks to swap and they went VERY fast!I came home with over 200lbs of rough and a whole bunch of mineral specimens!!!

I'm addicted to buying rocks on Ebay and already have more here then i'll EVER use!I also buy rough over the web and do aLOT of trading.

I have minerals from the 4 corners of the earth and even a specimen,(chlorite on quartz), from Nepal!I also have some pretty nifty rocks from Japan,Iceland and the UK.

I know I will enjoy your company and hope that we can help eachother to get that "wet look" on our polished rocks.

Tom Kuzia

rockyraccoon no longer being taken for granite Member since December 2003 Posts: 7,980	New Member Jul 9, 2004 22:33:56 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 9, 2004 22:33:56 GMT -5 welcome tom! tell me about that genie - i've seen it advertised that you can set it up right in your living room and it won't make a mess - so is that true? kim

sandsman1
In Memoriam

RIP John "sandsman1"

Member since December 2003
Posts: 11,341

New Member Jul 9, 2004 23:13:43 GMT -5

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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 9, 2004 23:13:43 GMT -5

WELCOME TOM sounds like you got a jump on alotta us newb-s i started around xmas and cant get enuff hahaha stop by often i know i can use all the help i can get hahaha seeya ---john

and dont be shy wit the pics show us some of those great rocks

GOT TO KEEP THE LOONEYS ONNNN THE PATH
john-- NOMAD--- U.S.A. -- IN GOD WE TRUST

duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles

Member since May 2004
Posts: 77

New Member Jul 9, 2004 23:31:07 GMT -5

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Post by duke on Jul 9, 2004 23:31:07 GMT -5

Welcome Tom...I'm sure you will enjoy this group and they will enjoy you..sounds as though you have lots of tumblers and lots of rocks to polish...

And like sandsman said in the previous post, share some of your work with us by taking some photos of some of your 'wet look' rocks.

duke

Some days you are the bug; other days, you are the windshield.

connrock
still telling self it's just a hobby

Ranger,,,My little buddy

Member since July 2004
Posts: 4,374

New Member Jul 10, 2004 13:47:32 GMT -5

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Post by connrock on Jul 10, 2004 13:47:32 GMT -5

Hi Kim,,,

Don't believe what they say about the Genie.Don't get me wrong,it's a great unit but it IS messy.

Several splash guards come with it but I have yet to be able to contain the over spray with them "as is".I modified some of them and they work OK but I had to add small pieces of sponge to each wheel right on top where the mist sprays out.I probably use more water then most people but I learned very early about ruining wheels by not using enough water.The Genie has one fault that really bugs me and I intend to remedy.It doesn't have a water supply at each wheel.It has a little spritzer that you HAVE to move from wheel to wheel.Well I forgot to move the spritzer twice and ruined 2 of my wheels!A costly lesson I'll NEVER forget!

I also bought the trim saw attachment with the Genie which I was sorry for after a while.I HATE attachments and knew I'd have to do something about the trim saw.

I made it into a separate unit and designed "my own" splash guards out of stainless steel which do the job fairly well but they still need a little "fine tuning".

Those are the bad points.

The good points are ,you can take a rock and grind,sand and polish it in no time flat,it's very easy to clean,and is pretty quiet for a unit of it's size.

All in all ,,,,,,I'd do it again!

They also say you can use the trim saw on your kitchen table,,,,,,Ha Ha!

Well I hope this helps you a little and if you have any more questions just ask away.

Tom

Beacon Falls,CT

BearCreekLapidary
In Memoriam

Member since May 2004
Posts: 1,232

New Member Jul 10, 2004 17:00:48 GMT -5

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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 10, 2004 17:00:48 GMT -5

Hello and Welcome Tom,

This forum is great ... you will be hard pressed to find any finer folks!

If they can't answert your question ... they know who can!

I'm with you on the Genie on the kitchen table

... now the Pixie (the next smaller unit ... maybe) but, not the Genie! I have two Genie's and they are exceptional machines, I used to use silicone carbide for years and I finally got enough $$$ for the Genie and I have never looked back ... actually, I wonder why I never got a Genie in the first place (most probably the cost) ... as the quality these machines deliver is absolutely gorgeous!

I am new to tumbling ... but, I am an old cabber

.

Besides who said you can't teach an old cabber new tricks?

It's good to see that you have dropped in!

Enjoy,

John

I have seen paintings in the sky, created by the hands of GOD.

krazydiamond
Global Moderator

Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far.

Member since June 2004
Posts: 9,636

New Member Jul 10, 2004 18:27:52 GMT -5

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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 10, 2004 18:27:52 GMT -5

welcome, Tom! sounds like you have a lot to contribute to this site of stone, place of rocks, givers and takers of advice and solace, wisecrackers and joke tellers, blued and tattoed beautiful people that find glory in their craft, their passion, their art and who guard their rockpile with grim determination.

you will be hard pressed to find a better site on the net for comaraderie concerning lapidary obsession.....you have been warned!!!!

KD

Come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine!

donwrob has rocks in the head Member since June 2003 Posts: 509	New Member Jul 10, 2004 20:56:53 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by donwrob on Jul 10, 2004 20:56:53 GMT -5 Hi Tom, good to have ya on the site! Welcome aboard, Don

rockyraccoon no longer being taken for granite Member since December 2003 Posts: 7,980	New Member Jul 11, 2004 9:06:50 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 11, 2004 9:06:50 GMT -5 yes tom that helps a great deal. regarding the genie it said "Genie is clean you can use it in your kitchen or den and enjoy your hobby all year round." where do y'all do your cutting and grinding? kim

connrock
still telling self it's just a hobby

Ranger,,,My little buddy

Member since July 2004
Posts: 4,374

New Member Jul 11, 2004 11:10:58 GMT -5

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Post by connrock on Jul 11, 2004 11:10:58 GMT -5

Hi Kim,,,

I turned my workshop into a rock shop for myself,,,,,

Let me rephrase that,,,,

I have been turning my workshop into a rockshop for about 3-4 years now!!!!

It seems that the more I "organize" ,,,,the more I get unorganized.

Of course buying rocks,minerals and equipment faster then I can find a place to put it DOES NOT help at all.

Anyway,,,,,,,,,I do my cutting and grinding in the basement.

For what it's worth if you're thinking about buying, I did a lot of searching for pricing on the Genie and ended up at The Rock Peddler.They're great people and are always there for you if you have problems.

Tom

Beacon Falls,CT

deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher

He who rocks last rocks best

Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256

New Member Jul 14, 2004 18:10:44 GMT -5

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Post by deepsouth on Jul 14, 2004 18:10:44 GMT -5

Hi Tom , welcome to this great site and great it is for sure.
I am learning many things and get fantastic information.
Is :" The Rock Peddler " on the internet ?
I would love to invest in a Genie , sounds just the machine for me.

Enjoy

Jack

connrock
still telling self it's just a hobby

Ranger,,,My little buddy

Member since July 2004
Posts: 4,374

New Member Jul 14, 2004 19:23:54 GMT -5

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Post by connrock on Jul 14, 2004 19:23:54 GMT -5

Hi Jack,,,

The Genie is not cheap.It goes for somewhere around $1200.00 or more.

Here's a link the RockPeddler and the Genie.

www.rockpeddler.com/pg2.htm

You "may" want to do a search on Google to see if you can get cheaper.

Good luck,,,,,,

Tom

Beacon Falls,CT