|
Post by puppie96 on Feb 18, 2005 16:47:42 GMT -5
Sorry Puppie, my imagination was running wild and I forgot what day it is. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Ron Hey Ron, maybe I'm having an attack of brain freeze, but WTH do you mean about what day it is? And I'm LOL over my attempt to quote you above where I managed to produce the italicized word, "TEXT." Now that is stoooopid. Anyhow I did mention a while back that I "may" have done some puppieish behaviors while obtaining beads.... Anytime you feel like posting more about finding rocks in the wild you've got a reader. That post was full of good stuff I'd been wondering about, for instance the weathered outside of the rocks etc. Thanks. pup
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Feb 18, 2005 19:50:19 GMT -5
Hey thanks to all on the advice. Especially Michigan Rocks, Rollingstone and Puppie96...... It confirmes what I thought. I have a 6 lb tub in which takes a lot of rocks, and I had mixed granite and large rocks within all in my first attempt. I also got anxious to see the final result and rushed the grit stages before the polish. But I keep going down to the beach (great excuse huh?) to get more. The dog doesnt mind either...I will be less anxious and have learned from my mistakes and try again. I figure some of the Agates are usable....My large one, I might crack to get smaller ones. Good ideas on the winter inside and outside techniques. I am currently living in Anchorage, so with 18 inches of snow fall, I placed the hose and garden spouts winter ready. Spring will be here in May. So the mess will be out there.... Thanks again to all Cindy ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 18, 2005 19:55:17 GMT -5
Cindy, I too remember snowfalls like that, except I was just north east of you in the NorthWest Territories, I use to live in Inuvik by the Beauford sea. Remember walking outside in shorts when it was only 10-15 degrees above freezing because that was hot compared to what we'd just gotten. Good luck with the thaw. Do you guys build on pillars as well there?
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Feb 21, 2005 1:36:09 GMT -5
Wonder why we seem to have so many people from Alaska and the great white north. Many seem to live there now or have in the past.
Cindy, if I'm understanding you right that you rushed stages and they didn't come out well, why not do 'em over, it sounded like you were giving up on them.
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_teal.png)
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 21, 2005 8:04:11 GMT -5
Hey Cindy, whatever you do, don't give up. When I first started tumbling, back before there was such a place as "Rock Tumbling Hobby", I could not find any good advice anywhere. All the people I found that had done any tumbling, had given up because they couldn't produce any polished rocks. I literally spent several months tumbling rocks over, and over, and over again. People were stating to think there was something wrong with me because I wouldn't let go of it. I have to admit, it was quite a rush when I opened that barrel for the first time and actually found shiny rocks. I learned the hard way, but I know that most people aren't stubborn enough to go through what I did, and that is why I joined this board. Hang in there, your shiny rocks are just around the corner. Why not join us and become one of the "Shiny Happy People" (as REM would say)! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Ron
|
|
AlaskaRock
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2005
Posts: 8
|
Post by AlaskaRock on Feb 21, 2005 19:11:04 GMT -5
Hey Teetipie....I know where Inuvik is. Not personally, but its a place where the Iditarod mushers go through right? Yep its cold country and lots of rocks huh? Anchorage doesnt build on pillars due to the many earthquakes. Had a wild rumble of a 6.4 the other day. Wow, it was like Seattle..... Puppies96 and MichagenRocks.....Sorry to give the impression I was quitting on those rocks... I am not. They are now sorted for my next tumble. I purchase some ceramic pellets and plastic beads for polishing cushion...Plus more polish. Wow the 6lb barrels take alot of polish!!! I tried to reuse, with no success.
I read up on other threads on reusing grit and other ideas.....So I am ready when the shipment comes in.....I ordered online, cause there is no store up here with supplies. Its probably on the slow boat from Seattle, so it will take a few more weeks.
But my sorted rocks are ready to tumble once they arrive......
I have sorted by size of rocks and/or the grit tumble... Does this sound like a good plan? I am going to tumble for at least a week for each stage......before continuing on......
Thanks for all the confidence. Once I figure out how to place a pic in here, I will show you some cabachons made into jewlery... Any suggestions??? Cindy
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Feb 22, 2005 1:43:22 GMT -5
Cindy, do you have the tumbler instruction book? Lortone has a good one that comes with their new units; I don't remember what you are working with.
They'll tell you to make sure you have a mix of rock sizes in each load and that is definitely best. If you don't have enough smaller rocks and try to do only big ones, the surfaces of the rocks don't come into contact enough to do any grinding. that's critical for the grit to do its work. It's also important to not overload or underload the barrel, between 1/2 and 3/4 full is correct, and not to put in too much water.
|
|
AlaskaRock
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2005
Posts: 8
|
Post by AlaskaRock on Feb 22, 2005 17:28:53 GMT -5
Hi Puppy96,
Yes I have Lortone tumbler, two 6 lb barrels....And it does say to mix rock sizes....But I think that could be a cause of my agates cracking lines? Some say its a flaw in the original agate that I couldnt see while collecting either dry or wet.
Since I am using beach rocks, I tried a week with some rocks with just beach sand. Ya know, it does work for the course grit....Plus its cheaper.....and the sand gets finer with each tumble with the rocks....
I am going to try out the Ceramic pellets once they arrive to help fill up my barrels. I never have enough rocks.....I need another visit to the beach......
Cindy
|
|
AlaskaRock
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2005
Posts: 8
|
Post by AlaskaRock on Feb 22, 2005 17:32:35 GMT -5
Here is a pic of one cabachon I made with my first polish agate! It has some cracks in it, but it gives it character..... Cindy ![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/AlaskaRock/f7abc2aa.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 22, 2005 17:37:26 GMT -5
Great cab, did you do that in netting or peyote? Looks like peyote... Nice color match! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
|
|
AlaskaRock
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2005
Posts: 8
|
Post by AlaskaRock on Feb 22, 2005 17:47:34 GMT -5
Its in Peyote, and I love the natural colors and have many beads in it.... Thanks for the compliment. I am a beginner beader also..... Cindy
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Feb 22, 2005 17:58:47 GMT -5
great beaded cab!! what do you use for backing material? and how do you finish it manage to mount a bail?
i've been looking at a bunch of these types of mountings and love them!
KD
|
|
AlaskaRock
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2005
Posts: 8
|
Post by AlaskaRock on Feb 24, 2005 19:46:13 GMT -5
Hi KrazyDiamond, There are many instructions in beading magazines...I bet I can find one online for you.... But what you do is glue the rock back side onto a piece of swade or soft leather or kinda tough fabric.... This you will work to hold the rock onto with your stitches.... A finished cab you will place another piece glued on to the back to cover up your knots and stitches. By using the Peyote or neting or some other stitches, you connect enough around the ball of the rock to hold it to the swade.... Look at this website...searching for Beading Cabochons... They use interface, but I would use swade...You can cut it out big and cut around after you added your layers of beads.... Its fun... Enjoy Cindy jewelrymaking.about.com
|
|