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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 14, 2005 11:47:36 GMT -5
I'm a fresh newbie (got the "kiddy" tumbler for christmas) and tumbled the set of rocks that came with the tumbler. Agates I believe (all brownish/yellowish in color) I did get a few red/white/clear stones (I like those). I did a trial run of the stones (none of them look at all as shiny and nice as what I've seen here - but most were pretty soft - I didn't let the cycles go as long as they should have because I didn,t know what to expect either, so some stones have crevases and rough spots still and I didn,t have but the packages of grit that came with the machine) I'm letting my next batch run the due time allowed. Okay, back to my question. I wanted to know what to do with the stones once they are finished? I don't assume that I can drill any of these with regular drill bits. So what are they used for once polished? I'm not planning on leaving them in nice bowl on the table as I have a 4 year old and a husband that put EVERYTING in their mouth. Any suggestions? and ideas on how to do them?
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 14, 2005 12:26:19 GMT -5
I have wirewrapped many of my larger stones and some of the smaller ones I put on my sisters paintings to add interest to them. I have thought about doing a mosaic with the smaller rocks that were used as fillers. The ones that are big enough to wrap I plan on wrapping and selling. I have some that are too big to wear, one that I have is almost perfectly round so I will probably put that on a wooden walking stick, and the others I haven't decided yet. I have to admit putting them on the edges of a fountain with water running over them is really pretty. Tami
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 14, 2005 13:52:27 GMT -5
welcome, Tweetie, take a look through some of the members photos, there are lots of great ideas that require only glue and a surface to bond to. i make fridge magnets a lot with the stones that aren't appropriate for jewelry for one reason or another. pins, you can order pin backs from a variety of suppliers. bola ties, always a hit on Fathers Day.
some of the other members in here have made planters with rocks glued on them, real pretty, walking sticks, all manner of creative ideas in here for the browsing.
good luck!
KD
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Jan 14, 2005 14:15:14 GMT -5
My parents recently retired and at their reception, we had several tables for guests. Each had a centerpiece which was a small glass vase filled with polished rock from me, water, and a floating candle. Very nice effect. We gave them away after the reception.
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jan 14, 2005 17:34:32 GMT -5
I have given away 80% of all the rocks I have ever polished. I keep ones that really catch my eye. I give them to friends to put in bowls in their homes, my relatives. I put a box of rocks at the local cancer clinic and hospital ICU for free worry stones. I give them to neighborhood kids who are always wanting to see what I have in the polisher now. I encourage the kids to collect rocks and bring them to me and we will polish them and see how they come out. I have one little 5 year old girl who lives across the street who is obsesssed with finding rocks for me to polish. I have now gotten to where her mom and I will talk while I drop unfinished rocks for her to find ;-) not many good rocks here if you leave out the limestone. So thats what I do, the therepy (yes I need it) is in the doing ....not in the finished product.
Dwight P
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 14, 2005 20:01:51 GMT -5
somebody sells candles cheap with a nice sealed top where i buy our livestock feed. i've been cleaning them out after i've burned the candles and will fill them and put the lid on. dust can't get on them and i'll give them as gifts as i get too many. the really nice ones i put aside for jewelry making. and if i don't like the way they turned out i send them back through. in about a year or so you can put a little batch in each birthday present as you go to the many, many parties your child is going to be invited to. the kids just love them. put them in a fountain. someone way back when had posted a picture where they had used them in their landscaping out near the road by a sidewalk - i can't remember who it was and i have looked and looked for that pic. it was just lovely and i bet everyone that passed walking on the sidewalk snuck a few out lol.
kim
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Post by Original Admin on Jan 14, 2005 20:28:47 GMT -5
Tumbled stone is best given away. 100% certain. Unless of course its a gift from 4000 miles away. Then you frame it.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 14, 2005 21:14:47 GMT -5
don't forget about Lucky Pocket Rocks!
my old Dad carries mine around all day in his pocket, i bring all my batches up for him to look at, very occasionally he'll ask if he can keep one or two.
i have started to hang them off my purse with leather thong..(no not THAT kinda thong..)
just as charms. good luck stuff..
can't hurt, huh? good karma!
KD
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 14, 2005 21:33:52 GMT -5
Here's some Chrintmas presents I made. No drilling involved, just epoxy and beads. (I didn't string the seed beads, just tumbled the stone) I'm working on another bracelet to night, and Ive done some keychains, too It's sure been a lot of fun. Good luck! cookie
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Jan 15, 2005 6:50:01 GMT -5
Nice pictures Cookie. What are the things attached to the rocks in the bottom picture to make them into pendants called, and are they just glued on?
Thanks
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 15, 2005 10:30:04 GMT -5
They are called bell caps, and yes, they are glued on with a strong 2 part epoxy.
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jan 15, 2005 21:22:22 GMT -5
Hi Tweetiepy,
Love the name!
I have to agree ... tumbled stones are best given away. This past Halloween ... the kinds did not get candy ... you got it ... they got tumbled stones.
Nice fully rounded and polished stones ... just in case they were accidently injested ... they would pass without any problems ;D
John
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Jan 16, 2005 1:58:52 GMT -5
Thanks Cookie
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 16, 2005 12:26:15 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for all your great ideas ;D I've been collecting rocks off my parents driveway for a long time - I just tumbled a whole load of a bit of everything (maybe not the best idea huh?). I had amethysts chips and a few agates and whatever other pretty ones I had - I've just finished the first tumble and I found the tumbler stopped tumbling (I don't know how long it had been whirring in place - like I said I have the kiddy cheapo version). But I've found a few promising stones. Mine look nothing like those found pictured on this site - not even close by a long shot. But I may as my father to build me a tumbler as is indicated on a thread here. EXCEPT, I live in Canada and I was wondering if anyone knew of a place (in Canada) where I could buy a small tumbling barrel (or if anyone knew how to make one). I think a 1 lb barrel would be enough - the one I have spins on the cover and I have to keep taping up the cover to get it to spin - the tape unraveled - thus prevented the barrel from spinning. Any suggestions??
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Jan 16, 2005 20:22:42 GMT -5
i just got my 3rd load done today, and i have a big bowl full of polished rocks. I havnt done anything with them, except i made two into refridgerator magnets with some super glue and neodymium iron boron magnets (they are extreeeeemely strong)
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jan 17, 2005 0:57:25 GMT -5
be sure to give some of the rocks away to kids---I have had more fun giving away rocks the look on their faces is worth it.nothing fancy or exotic just driveway rock will do you don't even have to have a perfect polish on them!
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Post by stoner on Jan 17, 2005 1:13:51 GMT -5
Hey Tweetipie. Try putting a couple of fat(1/4") rubber bands around the barrel, then you'll have rubber rolling on rubber rather than plastic on rubber. That should give it more traction. Let your imagination run wild when considering what to do with your tumbled stones.
Ed
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 18, 2005 2:00:48 GMT -5
They are taking over the house and all I am able to do about it so far it to channel their activity or imprison them.
I am always looking for cheap but spectacular looking glassware to imprison them in. This weekend I found some bud vases for 97 cents at Walmart. They are absolutely plain cylinders about 6 inches high and maybe 1 and 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide. They look extremely cool filled up with rocks. I've got another cool thing but I'm going to have to take its picture not babble about it.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 19, 2005 12:35:14 GMT -5
Hey Tweetipie. Try putting a couple of fat(1/4") rubber bands around the barrel, then you'll have rubber rolling on rubber rather than plastic on rubber. That should give it more traction. Let your imagination run wild when considering what to do with your tumbled stones. Ed I did this last night as, once again, it was not tumbling - the elastic seems to work - until further notice. It seems great - quick question: is it a problem that I've put it in my cold room in a thermal bag? - It's VEEEEEEEEEry cold in there, that wouldn't hurt the tumbler right?
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