NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 10, 2008 8:52:56 GMT -5
Greetings from Duluth everyone. My name is Steve and I’m a rock-aholic! Specifically Lake Superior Agates. I came here in search of ideas to finish and display the buckets of agates I collected this Fall. There is a wealth of information and experience here and from the pictures I’ve looked at, great talent and creativity. I hope you don’t mind if I hang-out and learn! Lol!
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Dec 10, 2008 10:15:36 GMT -5
Steve-- welcome. I hope you have a great experience with everyone here. You will find some very experienced members as well as novices like me ;D
anyhow..if you hang long enough, you will get better and will make invaluable friendships.
Welcome.
Ozzy
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Dec 10, 2008 10:19:17 GMT -5
Welcome to the board. Be sure to post some pictures of those buckets, we love seeing stuff.
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 10, 2008 14:27:41 GMT -5
I've got a few photos of the bigger roughs. They are cleaned in hot water then oiled. Where would be the appropriate place to post them? Edit: Put the photos in the Members Photograph forum. Hope that's the right place!
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 10, 2008 20:45:12 GMT -5
Welcome Steve. Love the photos. I know you'll like it here. Jo
P.S. Don't be afraid of some of the members here, they're a little nutty... especially me.
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 10, 2008 22:04:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome!
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Post by Condor on Dec 10, 2008 22:41:47 GMT -5
Welcome NSR. You collect your own Lake Superiors???!!! You definately have to post photos. Since those are generally tumbled, you might try the Totally Rock Tumbling section to show them. On the other hand, the General Rocks Board gets more viewers, so that might be a better bet.
Condor
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 10, 2008 23:27:03 GMT -5
Condor. The photos are in the Members Photo forum. Yeah, I collect Lakers. I live at the western tip of Lake Superior and was fortunate to meet a guy who has spent a lot of time hunting large Lakers. He taught me a lot about location, recognition, strategy, and methodology.
The big ones are too valuable to tumble, but my wife and daughters are starting to wrap and I have a ton of little and medium sized ones to tumble and keep them busy. I showed them the wrapping forum tonight and they flipped.
I'll be needing some guidance when it comes time to tumble! ;D
At this point, all I've kept is agates and amethyst. We did run across a place with a bunch of Thompsonite and big crystals. I did keep a bucket full of that but I really don't even know what the big crystals are. Maybe I can post a couple pics for some opinions.
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 11, 2008 7:45:20 GMT -5
You'll get lots of help here and make sure you post pics of the wirewraps!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 11, 2008 13:26:20 GMT -5
Welcome Steve! It's nice to have another Laker collector.
They can be a bitch to tumble, though. They're very hard, which makes it easier, but the pits and gouges are a real pain. You can tumble them out and end up with smaller rocks, or you can leave them in and deal with the trouble of washing them thoroughly, and live with the fact that they're not as pretty as the tumbled areas.
I saw you were looking at a Lortone QT12; you might also consider a Thumler's Model B. In my experience, the bigger the barrel the better. Do make sure you fill it sufficiently full, otherwise the rocks will pound against each other and chip and crack.
Also consider getting a Thumler's Industrial Ultravibe for everything past the coarse grind. If you've got a lot of rock, it will definitely speed up the process.
Run back and get the Thomsonite!!! That stuff is much harder to find than Lakers. If it's still in matrix, it's also a lot harder to work with. I started a thread in the Totally Rock Tumbling Photos with Thomsonites in progress. I got to a point where I had to stop because I couldn't get the basalt off by tumbling. It's on my list of things to do...
Sorry for the long post. Hope it helps, Chuck
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 11, 2008 14:52:45 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck! I had no clue about the Thomsonite.
Edit: Just read your thread on extracting from the matrix. How are you making out?
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 11, 2008 16:33:37 GMT -5
They're sitting in a bag on my desk at home, waiting for me to get motivated and finish them.
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