Hi from Northern Wisconsin

joanna
spending too much on rocks

Member since November 2004
Posts: 385

Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 5:20:10 GMT -5

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Post by joanna on Nov 23, 2004 5:20:10 GMT -5

Hi all, I have to make this sort of quick. I've been following this board religously for quite a few months now, getting all sorts of great advice and tips. Geez, I feel like I personally know some of the members.

I'm an "artist" woodworker and right now I'm at my absolute busiest time of year, before the big winter slump. So I guess I'll get right to my question. Can you reuse the 1000 AO grit? I know the coarser grits wear out and the polish can be saved and reused, but I can't seem to remember about the 1000.

Seems like I've been so busy with the wood the last few months that I've kept my tumblers (3 - 3lber's) going with rocks up to the 500 grit. So soon the fun should begin. (It almost feels like a crime to have them sit longer than 24 hours empty.)

So far the few batches I've completed are a hit and miss. I'm pretty sure it's because I'm not that meticulous about sorting them according to hardness. And possibly because of the polish (CO) I do have some Tin oxide I'll be trying out next.

Well I better get to work or the boss will be crabby all day (I'm self employed). Just thought I'd finally check in and thank everyone for all the info. so far. Who knows I might have even threw in the towel a while back when the first CE tumbler wore out if it wasn't for this board. (especially the photo section).

Joan

P.S. I can't believe I've finally discover patience in the tumbling process! BUT... I'm going nuts trying to ID the rock I have. My husband keeps bring home all sorts of strange stuff from his work all over the country. Have a couple rock ID books and all that does is gives me more options on what certain rocks can be. Had some very basic geology classes way back in college, but that info isn't enough anymore. I guess learning to identify certain rocks is just going to take some time.

krazydiamond
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Member since June 2004
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Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 10:44:32 GMT -5

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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 23, 2004 10:44:32 GMT -5

Hi! and welcome to the board, Joanna!

if you've been following the board for some time now i don't have to tell you how much fun it is! glad you finally joined us as a member!

would love to see some of your woodworking too!

KD

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

sandsman1
In Memoriam

RIP John "sandsman1"

Member since December 2003
Posts: 11,341

Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 11:40:45 GMT -5

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Post by sandsman1 on Nov 23, 2004 11:40:45 GMT -5

hi joanna and welcome dont forget the pics when you finish some,, and if some of that wood art should happen to get in the pic by accident well ill be watchin hahaha

i forgot you can prob reuse the 1000 grit but remember every time you use it it gets smaller so after acouple times you will prob have like 2000gt and it wont be as sharp as when it was new so id let it run longer if you reuse it---i dont know much about reuseing grit --i do reuse my polish ,, so take this for what its worth someone might know better the i

Last Edit: Nov 23, 2004 11:47:13 GMT -5 by sandsman1

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

Cher In Memoriam Tumbling is addictive - Resistance is futile - You will be assimilated Member since August 2004 Posts: 14,072	Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 11:43:50 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Cher on Nov 23, 2004 11:43:50 GMT -5 Hi Joan, What part of northern WI you from? I'm from NE Minne-snow-ta so we're sort of neighbors. Welcome to the forum, hope you have a camera, can't wait to see pics. What kind of woodworking do you do? Cher
	The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. George Carlin

joanna
spending too much on rocks

Member since November 2004
Posts: 385

Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 14:09:56 GMT -5

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Post by joanna on Nov 23, 2004 14:09:56 GMT -5

Hey,
Thanks for the response.

Sandman, thats good to know, because I have one batch that should come out of the 1000 today. It would probably be a good idea to take them out instead of just letting them run for a few more days untill I have a bit more time on my hands. If I could at least get a few more uses out of I'll be happy. Bad news is I know if I take the rocks out all my other projects get side lined for a while. Rocks can be soo distracting.

Cher, I'm about 6 miles from Lake Superior. Have that wonderful wind off it today.

the woodworking I mainly do called intarsia. where several different wood of different colors and grains are used to make a picture. I also do wooden boxes of different types of wood. I keep turning it over in my head how I can incorperate some of the tumbled rocks into it. Have a few ideas, but need a bit more time to play around with them.

Yes, I have a camera

I'm so bad with it. I keep forgetting to use it and get so mad at myself when I sell an original piece and have no picture of it, just a rough messy sketch. You poor guys, if I ever did get more all on the ball with it will just be seeing a lot of "What kind of rock is this??" pictures.

KD, I believe your the one with the wonderful jewelry pictures. Keep up the good work. some of my "filler" besides plastic pellets are tiny wood shapes I hope to use in jewerly someday. I don't put them into the polish stage (just encase they have small grit embedded), but I like the nice rounded off shapes and satiny finish the other stages give it. It also works nice with deer antlers sliced into little circles. Future buttons, earrings or jewelry of some type.

Thanks again for the response. Two more weekends of shows and I'll probably have more time to be a bit more more "chatty". But meanwhile I'm sure I'll be checking in regularly.

Cher In Memoriam Tumbling is addictive - Resistance is futile - You will be assimilated Member since August 2004 Posts: 14,072	Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 15:30:22 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Cher on Nov 23, 2004 15:30:22 GMT -5 Hi Joan, How far are you from Duluth? Sounds like you're in an area that gets major lake effect snow. Glad I'm on the other side. I'm about 85 miles nnw of Duluth. Cher
	The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. George Carlin

BearCreekLapidary In Memoriam Member since May 2004 Posts: 1,232	Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 23, 2004 18:33:48 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 23, 2004 18:33:48 GMT -5 Welcome Joanna, It's good to see that you have decided to join! John Southwestern Kansas
	I have seen paintings in the sky, created by the hands of GOD.

joanna
spending too much on rocks

Member since November 2004
Posts: 385

Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 24, 2004 3:35:55 GMT -5

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Post by joanna on Nov 24, 2004 3:35:55 GMT -5

Cher,
I'm about 60-70 miles east of Duluth. About 50 miles from Michigan, by Ashland. (I was shocked when I ordered from Kinglsly North last month and the order came the next day. Didn't even know the place was in Michigan at the time).

Fortunately, in my opinion, I'm a little to close to the lake to be in the main snow belt. It's about 20 - 30 miles away from the lake. We still get the "lake affect" snow, but nothing at all like what they get in say Ironwood, Mellen and Iron River. When we get 2 - 3 inches they get a foot or more. I am so not into snow! I tried just about all the snow/winter activities out there and now I'm content working in my shop.

Funny, I got my first tumbler early this spring when there was still snow covering the ground. Had to check in coat pockets, junk drawers, ... laundry area to get enough to get started. This year I'm gathering up collected rocks for the winter months like a squirrel. ;D I'm still too cheap to breakdown and buy any. I'm afraid once I start It'll be hard to stop.

Cher
In Memoriam

Tumbling is addictive - Resistance is futile - You will be assimilated

Member since August 2004
Posts: 14,072

Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 24, 2004 8:10:13 GMT -5

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Post by Cher on Nov 24, 2004 8:10:13 GMT -5

LOL You sound like me. I am soooo not into snow either. And I have buckets of rocks scattered about in the basement and garage to carry me through the winter. I can see myself in the dead of winter out with the sledge hammer trying to break down rocks ... maybe hubby will take pity on me and get me a saw then. *smile*

Cher

The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone
said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm
just not close enough to get the job done.
George Carlin

69beeper spending too much on rocks Member since August 2004 Posts: 377	Hi from Northern Wisconsin Nov 24, 2004 12:01:34 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by 69beeper on Nov 24, 2004 12:01:34 GMT -5 Welcome aboard! Don't forget to post pics!;D Jimmy