spacegold
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2006
Posts: 732
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Post by spacegold on Feb 4, 2007 0:16:15 GMT -5
I disaprove very strongly of the practice of destroying nature's bounty with a hammer. And when I see expensive stone reduced to rubble to gratify someone's rock tumbling needs, I will comment unfavorably, no matter who does it and who approves of it.
I don't expect to change your sensitivity to stone one bit. You have a need to satisfy, and nothing I say is going to change it. You have rationalized your actions and set your course in concrete. My objective is to call attention to the waste, so that others wont be so inclined to follow your way. If my continuing disapproval dissuades a single new member from becoming a rock smasher, and persuades him or her to put away the hammer, then enduring whatever rotten eggs and tomatoes as are thrown at me on this board will be worth it.
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Post by parfive on Feb 4, 2007 1:03:11 GMT -5
Space - You're out of line, plain and simple. You've done nothing but break balls on this issue for months. You can't even welcome a new member (Australia, in this case, two days ago) without harping on it:
"Oh, yeah, and belay the hammer. There's a cult got started over here that has no qualms about bashing good stone. Wastes close to half the material and damages a lot of what is left. No sense exporting that disease."
I could go on, there's a lot more, but I'd be wasting my time trying to reason with you.
Rich
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Feb 4, 2007 1:04:47 GMT -5
I guess getting an apology from you is out of the question then?  I don't have a problem with you wanting to get people to saw rocks, and not use a hammer. But when you post things like "How wonderful to be able to afford that kind of rock to smash", that is in no way intended to "educate" new members, it is only designed to be offensive to me. If you want to educate people about your beliefs with rock, then start a thread or post something in the lapidary tips section. I'm only asking that you skip the insults -- you are the one who is throwing the rotten eggs and tomatoes. You have a lot of knowledge and experience, and have helped a lot of people on this board. Why don't you just focus on those positive things, and skip the insults and petty remarks. Then maybe we can all enjoy the board a little better. -Don |
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Post by LCARS on Feb 4, 2007 1:14:29 GMT -5
Well, I admit to being a rock smasher, mostly because at the moment I have no other choice than the trusty Estwing brothers to reduce any rock I want to tumble into manageable sized chunks, not because I would personally favor that method of "reducing" my stone for tumbling purposes. To be perfectly honest, with most of the rock I have been coming into lately, I am very reluctant to "smash" anything I think has good saw cut potential, only the material I feel does not have any obvious appeal as a specific pendant or other preform shape. I would love nothing more than to wake up tomorrow morning and start cutting up some of the great material I have put aside so far but alas, a slab saw is just not within my immediate budget or ability to properly accomodate at this time.  On that glorious day when diamond coated steel hits rock for the first time by my hand, I too will probably forever look down upon the practice of smashing rock that I know could be tailor cut to a higher degree of "perfection" or "desireability" to the jaded masses, but I will always have an understanding, respect and tolerance for those who would choose to let Dr. Heizenburg determine the final form of their stones, to be surprised by what only sheer chance could come up with. De gustibus non disputandum est |
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flatumbler
starting to spend too much on rocks
Now totally addicted!!!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 191
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Post by flatumbler on Feb 4, 2007 1:15:12 GMT -5
Well I for one, (and of course as one, I am entitled to my own opinion). One why should we have to start an entire new thread over all this, why couldn't a response be made on the thread that was already started. 2nd, one of the things I find most appealing about these forums is the diversity of which everyone handles rocks, stones and as such. There are so many different ways that each of us work with rocks and how our end results often turn into magnificent beautiful items that each of us ohhhh and ahhh over.
No offence, but to have a strong headed view that what one person does with their rocks is wrong, and that they should at least handle their rocks in the way that "you" view they should be handled is just making yourself ignorant ( the true defenition, not the insult) to the variety and pleasures of this hobby.
Should I say that a person who creates cabs in a diamond pattern with 45 degree beveled edge is making a total waste of a cab, when all cabs should be teardropped, or oval with a slight dome top, and constantly put them down for it? Maybe I think that cabs are a complete waste of time all together and tell you that you should only be making slabs, highly polished, or put on display as a total natural stone all together.
Before you go judging others on how they work with their own talents, maybe you need to think for one minute that their is no right or wrong in this hobby, only that their is many different ways to approach it and all have fantastic results....
With that being said, everyone break out your hammer, chisels, Tile Saws, Grinders, Tumblers, or whatever you work with and have yourself a blast at whichever you decided to work with today.
~Andy~
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Post by freeform on Feb 4, 2007 1:38:58 GMT -5
I wonder why it was even made public to being with? We all know it, It parts of Ken's personality. Seems to me like a standing joke, but at the same time. I know what he means. And thats ok in my opinion to point out in more cases than not, hammering can produce problems. He may do it in an annoying way, but that doesn't mean its not valid. Or why one couldn't address it privately.
Certain material, sure breaks ideally into a prefer tumbling size with little to no internal fractures or blistering. Other rocks act in the exact opposite. Controlled hammering can be done, but Ive seen more out of control hammering on rocks than controlled. And it always produced a lower quality result. OR takes longer to produce the better even nugget appearance.
Its a matter of personal opinion in either case, and the thread in general that points out Spacegold's opinion is old and not wanted is down right negative in itself. All it does is give another thread for people to gain up on one member. For no real reason at all. If it really that offensive and mean of him to say, private messaging doesn't work for getting other people to join in and find blame?
We all have opinions that to most, mean nothing. Everyone, including me should remember that in places like RTH.
Besides, building on the subject in either case would be showing examples or talking about examples on how you break/smash your rough. and what types of rocks react best. In either case both threads only drain this place down in my opinion. Educate people, dont make then igorant.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Feb 4, 2007 2:10:45 GMT -5
Shain, I understand what you are saying, and I didn't make that initial post without giving some thought to the matter. I tried ignoring Spacegold for a few months, but he didn't let up. I stopped reading the board for a couple weeks, but when I reappeared he got right back to it. You may know him personally and have grown used to his ways, but to me he is just some stranger who's been heckling me for months.
I come to this board as a relaxing escape from the everyday world. The everyday world has been a bit harsh on me the past few days, so when I came here Saturday morning looking for a breath of fresh air, it really ticked me off to see Space taking more shots at me. Maybe my post does drain a little something from the board, but I don't think it's right that I should just keep quiet while the guy insults me month after month.
-Don
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Post by freeform on Feb 4, 2007 2:32:44 GMT -5
If one thing Ken has siad on this board and to me a few times, is why cant personal problems between members be dicussed in a private manner? I would hope he would be open to work it out with you in a private manner. We all know what becomes of these types of posts. Either people forget about them, or it gets deleted anyway. And making it public and saying its an insult, when i believe you. Doesnt justify it becasue it doesnt solve anything. It just will get more people on a bann wagon to generally put the member down. And weather it really matters to Ken or not, your opinion is just as valid. But its still seems like a personal matter. As though im replying and discussing this here, its these types of posts that keep people like me from particpating in RTH much anymore. I dont know ken that personally, we've met once and tried to workout a Tucson plan that didnt materialize. But It wont stop me from pointing out that in my opinion, these types of dicussions are meant for personal view. Becasue though its abuot an opinion about handing rocks, there is no content to justify this thread. It just plain bashing on one another. I dont mean any disprect towards you or ken, this is just my opinion. ;D
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Feb 4, 2007 4:48:44 GMT -5
Okay Shain, I took this to off-board PM for you, check your mail.
-Don
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Post by Toad on Feb 4, 2007 7:18:15 GMT -5
Rock tumbling board = smashing rocks with hammer... in addition to other means.
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Post by texaswoodie on Feb 4, 2007 7:25:15 GMT -5
I'm a specimen collector. A lot of rocks do look better polished, but I've seen rocks cut up that should not have been, in my humble opinion. I see no difference in smashing a rock than cutting a rock into tiny pieces to make jewelry out of. In both cases your reducing the rock to bits and pieces. With that said, whatever you do with your rocks is your business and if it puts a smile on your face.......by all means, do it.  Curt |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 4, 2007 9:01:34 GMT -5
LOL, everyone of ya..... you do know that some of these beautiful rocks are retrieved from the Earth by the use of dynamite, right?? ;D lol
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Post by texaswoodie on Feb 4, 2007 9:47:17 GMT -5
You're right Randy, except that I only collect what I find. Even so, nearly all rocks have been through millions of years of extreme heat, cold, grinding, pressure, and things we can only imagine.
So what's a little hammering gonna hurt, right? ;D
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Post by lonewolfrockhound on Feb 4, 2007 9:49:56 GMT -5
I don't actually smash my rocks with a hammer but I do threaten them alot with it. |
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Post by MrP on Feb 4, 2007 9:55:07 GMT -5
Doesn't Mother Nature break some of her own rocks?....MrP
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 4, 2007 9:57:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the laugh Spacegold.
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Feb 4, 2007 10:01:49 GMT -5
Geez, I wish I could afford a slab saw and a Genie. If I could I probably wouldn't be tumbling rocks anymore, as I prefer cabs... Oh, and some rocks are just too pretty in the natural state to cut OR smash. I have a pretty big collection of rough. At the risk of drawing fire myself, this is a Rock Tumbling Hobby board. If you don't like tumbled rock, don't tumble it. What Don does with his money and his rocks falls into the category of NONE-O-YA.  What really bothers me is seeing longtime RTH members avoiding the board because of conflict. It's always been a comforting supportive place for me...can we end the pissing contest, please? That said, Boys will be Boys. S |
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Post by beefjello on Feb 4, 2007 10:03:36 GMT -5
A big ol' rock wouldn't think twice about rolling down a hill and smashing a person to bits. (just a silly thawt) |
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Post by Cher on Feb 4, 2007 12:29:16 GMT -5
Spacegold, I had no idea you'd gone as far as to tell new members such garbage about smashing rocks, shame on you. This is a rock tumbling forum to help others learn the art properly. Rock smashing is a part of it regardless if you like it or not ... teaching others to do it safely should be first priority.
My Mother always said ... If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all! Spacegold, perhaps you could take other peoples feelings into account before speaking. After all, as Susan said .. it's really NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS what people do with the rocks they purchase. If it so irritates you seeing rocks that have been smashed, don't look at the dang pictures.
Don, please don't ever let him chase you away from the forum, you're a LONG STANDING member with great knowledge in the art of tumbling that we don't want to lose.
It would be nice if Mark or Sands would consider moving these two posts to the LIFE forum so they won't chase away newbies who are coming here to learn. Be a shame if the first thing they'd see is fighting going on here.
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Post by BAZ on Feb 4, 2007 13:00:08 GMT -5
Isn't there a "Who Gives a Sh*t" section on this board?
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