tiffany5915
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1
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Post by tiffany5915 on Nov 2, 2008 21:33:58 GMT -5
Hello all, have been watching from a distance, for a while now, and have decided to join in the fun. I live on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. We dont have too many exciting gems, but lots of pretty secondary rocks and stones. I have been picking up "pretty stones" since Iwas a young child, but as I have aged I have developed an appreciation for that which I have picked up! I picked up my Tumbler this week, along with my grits and polish, and am just awaiting plastic pellets. Any body got any good ideas or trpas to watch for the uninitiated.
Cheers all Tiffany
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Post by parfive on Nov 2, 2008 23:18:18 GMT -5
G'day and welcome to the board, Tiffany.
You don't need the pellets to get started. They never get used in the first (coarse) stage with typical rocks, and most use them only in the polish stage, and not always then either.
I guess most of the stuff we like comes from western Australia - tiger eye, marra mamba, mookaite, rain forest jasper. Lotta opal fans here too. Central Australia??
Rich
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morticiamonroe
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 147
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Post by morticiamonroe on Nov 3, 2008 12:41:54 GMT -5
Hi Tiffany,
I'm new here as well, but welcome.
I've got a few Auatrailian mineral specimens; tiger iron, boulder opal, mookaite, spear selenite, japer.
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Post by frane on Nov 21, 2008 22:28:00 GMT -5
Hi Tiffany,
Welcome to the board! We all have our own tips and and tricks but most importantly is just studying the stones you are tumbling and keep an eye on them right at first, until you know what to expect from that variety (so they don't turn to mud in your tumbler if they are too soft). the lid can blow off also from a build up of gasses from natural matter on the stones, especially at the beginning when you are starting with the rough stones. I have found it is best to run the stones in a borax or ivory snow wash first for an hour or so, just to get the dirt and matter not seen off the stones. I haven't had a blowout since I started doing this. The biggest problem I have faced is that first grit...can take oh so long to get the stones shaped the way you want them! You get the directions and they say aprox. 1 week. Not true. I have had agates that tumbled for 10 weeks in the rough grit before they could move on. Amethyst takes about 3 weeks in the rough just to give you an idea. Hope this helps a bit, Fran
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randy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by randy on Nov 21, 2008 22:50:11 GMT -5
Welcome. It seems to me that you are ready to get started. It sure is a lot of fun. I'm looking at a cabbing machine now. Have fun!
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Nov 26, 2008 11:37:58 GMT -5
Hey Tiff welcome! you are in a mineral oasis in Australia. I know you will have no trouble finding all kinds of stuff there.
I'm in Utah, and do mostly tumbling for now, although I have considered cabbing, but in the futuree ;D
Hope you have fun with everyone in the board.
Ozzy
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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Post by navi on Nov 27, 2008 22:09:16 GMT -5
i'm new here too. welcome!!! i'm in my first batch and am mainly tumbling stones from a 2 mile radius from my house. no gems, but lots of coloful chert (mozarkite), agate and jaspers. beauty is different to different people. as long as YOU love your stones, they are prescious!!
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