nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 1, 2005 21:45:56 GMT -5
What a great site!! I was looking for information regarding vibrator tumblers and this popped up. I'm not new to rockhounding...married into it over 40 years ago, but lost my "prospector" to cancer almost 2 years ago. So...I have all this equipment and no one to look over my shoulder and tell me what to do next. (Well, friends do come by). My biggest part of the partnership was picking up the rocks...I love field trips, the hunt, the FIND! (And telling Prospector what type jewelry to make for me...and friends). Right now, my rockhound friends are into wirewrapping...and I have lots of cabs to learn on, but want to "do my own". Want to surprise everyone by entering something (besides specimens) in the gem and mineral division of the county fair in August. I know I'm going to enjoy visiting with all of you and plan to learn from you.
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Post by gaetzchamp on May 1, 2005 21:51:32 GMT -5
Nugget-
Well, it looks like you've come to the right place and I'm sure you'll fit in nicely.
What kind of vibe do you have? I've got a 4lb Lot-O Tumbler and am pretty happy w/ it so far.
Gaetz
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Post by sandsman1 on May 1, 2005 22:47:35 GMT -5
hi nugget and WELCOME im hopein you will come back often cause alot of us are fairly new to the hobby/ addiction hahaha and can allways use some help,, well speaking for myself i can use all the help i can get so jump right in just watchout for the big rock on the floor ---seeya john ---from phila. pa.
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Post by Fidalgo Island Rock hound on May 2, 2005 16:17:27 GMT -5
Hi nugget. I don't know anything about vibrating tumblers, I barely know anything about rotary tumblers. I just wanted to say hello.  |
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Post by krazydiamond on May 2, 2005 16:43:23 GMT -5
welcome to the board, nugget, you've found a great bunch here. sounds like you have a big headstart on us all, got a digital camera? we'd love to see your set up and your rocks.
KD
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Post by Nugget on May 2, 2005 21:32:40 GMT -5
Well thanks for the wonderful "welcomes". To answer a few questions...The tumbler is a Mini-Sonic from Custom Technology. I'm not sure the size, but 8 lbs of agate is probably a little too full...could be 10 lbs filled to the rim. I don't know how they figure them. Sometime last winter I had the manual which I put up for safe keeping til I got around to digging the tumbler out of the shed. Now I have the tumbler but the manual is still in it's safe spot...wherever that is. Anyway, I found some information on this site that I'm going to try. What I want to do is use the 12 lb rotary tumbler for the first grinds and use the vibrator for finish work. Does that sound workable? This is probably not a discussion for this part of the board. I need to look around more to see how this site is set up.
I don't have a digital camera at this time, although I have been giving it some thought. I do have some pictures that could be scanned, but my old scanner doesn't seem to be compatable to the newer computer. However, it does work with the "older" laptop...so when I have some time, I'll try to get them hooked up and something online.
And, as for the big rock...I do have a few of them. My favorite is the base of a palm about 21" across and 14-15" tall. It sits in the den, but..thankfully..not in the middle of the room. The den is one of the first pictures I'll try to scan. The picture is a few years old. My house is small, and we closed in the carport in the mid 80s. The front and back walls are all windows with a two foot base of petrified wood . The floor is something similar to a picture sandstone, but not as porous, hauled in over a period of time in the back of a Blazer. The fireplace is all slabbed rock, mostly what we've gathered, but some given to us by friends. The walls and ceiling are cedar and the cobwebs and dust are just an added decorative touch. (well, I'd rather be rock hunting than rock dusting)
John...are there really rocks in Philly?
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Post by sandsman1 on May 2, 2005 22:42:28 GMT -5
nugget yea theres rocks in philly you just gotta wait till after midnite and get you crack hammer and go into center city and and start lookin for cool steps hahaha im teasin i wouldent ruien someones steps for a rock but ill tell ya theres some real nice steps down there ,, the only rocks i know of are at my house hahaha and its posted no rock hunting
i got a sign up out side says
YOU TOUCHA MY ROCKS I SHOOTA YOU OUTTA YOUR SOCKS---hahaha
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on May 2, 2005 22:54:58 GMT -5
Greetings from the Land of Enchantment and welcome to the board. I'm always looking for new rockhounding buddies!  S |
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 3, 2005 11:01:34 GMT -5
okay John, I guess I'll try to restrain myself...which isn't too hard with you clear across America. And, I've got to tell you that 40 years of rockhounding can fill up a place...I won't need another rock for the next 100 years. (of course, I won't turn down a trip to hunt a few more ...and it's impossible to return home without adopting at least a few (pounds) <grin>). I will admit that my rock sack has gotten smaller over the years and my back has gotten much weaker.
NMRocks...I'm up in the 4 corners, whereabouts are you?
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on May 3, 2005 13:59:55 GMT -5
Albuquerque, but I collect all over the 4 corners area. I also get up to the San Juans in Co a couple of times a year. - S
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Post by sandsman1 on May 3, 2005 23:01:50 GMT -5
nugget i bet you got piles of the coolest rocks around being NM i have a cousin down there somewear but i havent hooked up with her yet i dont even know where she is down there but i bet shes kickin rocks id love to cut and shape hahaha
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 4, 2005 1:03:40 GMT -5
NMrocks...the San Juans are fun. Did you hunt rhodenite and quartz crystals around Silverton? Also some fluorite and calcite crystals, and great pyrite and other minerals on the mine dumps...mostly picked over nowadays....what few places are still open, and not reclaimed. But there's still lots of rhodenite to be found.
Sandsman...I do have some GREAT rocks. mostly from other places, thought...like Utah and Arizona and Oregon. We do have some great petrified...no, that's the old term....fossilized wood here, but not the same as the reds and blues of AZ. Also some jasper, agate, carnelian (if you look long and hard), and some seams of Alabaster and onyx.
Ya'll come on over and we'll see what we can see.
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Duckbean
fully equipped rock polisher
Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,072
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Post by Duckbean on May 4, 2005 19:41:21 GMT -5
Hi Nugget just wanted to jump and say hi and welcome!The family and I are in Ohio, nothing here right now but cold weather!Sounds like you have a neat place. See ya around
Bob
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 4, 2005 22:53:02 GMT -5
Hi Bob, Ohio's good...several of my ancestors came through there. Cold isn't good... spent my first 14 years in Iowa...I remember cold (actually, it does get cold here too. Even snows on occasion...just doesn't last like it does back your way.) Thanks for jumping in. Be talking to you.
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on May 7, 2005 1:54:56 GMT -5
Hi Nugget , welcome to this great place on the web,thanks to Andy, who is now called Mark. Yes , Mark the Moderator .
It is getting colder here too and the days are getting very short again. We do get snow at times and it goes pretty quick most times so we must have some of your climate in the southernmost part of NZ.
Jack
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 9, 2005 15:21:54 GMT -5
Hello Jack, thanks for the greeting. Our seasons must be opposite as it's going to get really warm here in just a little while. Now is good rockhunting weather, but when June, July and August roll around, the best time is early morning, late evening...or in the shade. Of course, agates don't show up as good in the shade.
Nugget
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 14, 2005 0:28:49 GMT -5
Hi Nugget, welcome to the board! I think you have the right idea, use your 12 pounder for the coarse and the vibe for the other stages. I was thinking the same thing. I have 2 15 pounders and need a vibe!
Cal
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Post by Cher on May 14, 2005 0:33:04 GMT -5
Hi Nugget,
Wanted to add my "Welcome to the forum" also. I'm sorry you lost your partner but glad you're picking back up on the things you did together. What a great thought, to enter something in the County Fair ... I wonder if we have a jewelry division in ours.
Cher
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 16, 2005 1:29:50 GMT -5
Thanks Cal. It seems that Diamond Pacific has bought out the company that makes the Mini Sonic vibratory tumblers. I happened to be at Grand Junction CO last weekend and the local club was having a rock show. I was able to talk to a rep from DP about the tumbler. There's a load ready for the pre polish, so will give it a try. I've got another rotary barrel the same size as the 12 lb, but it's divided into two parts. I'm hoping to get it set up so each barrel will only do one grit. I know there are some other barrels around here, some even homemade...but I really like the job that the hexagon shaped ones do. (What do I know...it'd been years since we tumbled anything....well, last year I did one batch that almost turned out. They really need another go at the final polish...so will see if the vibe will give them that little extra glow.)
Nugget
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nugget24k
starting to shine!
Member since May 2005
Posts: 28
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Post by nugget24k on May 16, 2005 1:54:54 GMT -5
Hi Nugget, Wanted to add my "Welcome to the forum" also. I'm sorry you lost your partner but glad you're picking back up on the things you did together. What a great thought, to enter something in the County Fair ... I wonder if we have a jewelry division in ours. Cher Cher, keep those pictures of your wraps coming and I should learn enough to at least make a good showing at the fair. I still have a long way to go. Are you wrapping with round wire? I haven't tried that...only square so far, and I think I'll stick with silver for a while longer <grin>. Was looking at your Lake Superior...it's wonderful. I wish I could just watch you for awhile. Nugget |
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