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Post by MyNewHobby on Jan 31, 2009 19:25:38 GMT -5
I finally took a look at the first batch started last Saturday (almost 7 days). I really liked what I saw and yet .... there was only one stone that I felt was perfect. So I am re-running the first batch in stage 1 with new grit for another 4-5 days. This black rock is perfect ... smooth all around ...  These others I felt were still jagged and not uniform.      I think it is possible this may be a carnelian  There are other stones, but you guys get the idea .... Now I have also started a second new batch with these (I also threw in a few of the small oddballs I already had) ....      Again .... you guys get the idea .... I am so lovin this .... but now I need to learn how to use the grinder, diamond bits ... I still do not have a saw .... but everything in time .... Now that I have the two tumblers going .... I want a third ... How is it possible that rocks can make people so happy ... |
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Post by MyNewHobby on Jan 31, 2009 19:30:37 GMT -5
ps .... Suduko be damned .... I'm gonna go play with my grinder ...
I was told it was a part of my therapy to play more with rocks and less with the puzzles ... So I will play with the rocks ... just for a bit .... you know ....
walks away muttering to self ...
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Post by MrP on Jan 31, 2009 20:18:14 GMT -5
Great start. Yes rocks do make many people HAPPY..........MrP
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Post by frane on Jan 31, 2009 20:46:54 GMT -5
I just came down from my rock room...I so want to go outside and try out my new saw...Too darn cold so maybe tomorrow I will get to cut some of my rough up.
Yep, you got it bad. I have been tumbling for just about a year now...I have a 3 barrel 1 1/2 lb. a 2 barrel 3 lb. a single 3 lb that started it all and a vibe and my newest editions...a double 6 lb. They are awesome! I needed some more aventurine tumbled to a point that I could put it in the vibe. I used one of the 6 lb barrels, started 2 weeks ago and most of it is ready to go into the vibe.
It really does take a few weeks on the average to get that first grit done. Blue lace and carnelian have taken me up to 10 weeks in the rough just to start and look good. The hardest thing about this is learning patients...and boy, is that hard!!!
Keep up the good work!
Fran
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Post by llana2go on Feb 1, 2009 7:33:13 GMT -5
Rock tumbling will definitely teach you patience! I've tumbled stuff that took a couple of months in 60/90!
Speaking of saws. I woke up at 2:45AM thinking about going to Home Depot - a 50 mile round trip - just to get a new blade for my little saw to cut up some slabs. I was just in town Friday and forgot that! Grrrr! Found my rock hammer yesterday, which made me really happy! I was afraid it was long gone. I have a 5 gal bucket of fist size or bigger rocks and have been thinking I'd like to bust a couple of them up. Gotta find my safety glasses first though. Need to do that today, cause I don't have any stuff for tumbling now. Lotta big rocks, but no tumbler size ones.
llana
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
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Post by docharber on Feb 1, 2009 15:20:56 GMT -5
Llana- I just bought a new blade for my Work Force. It's an MK 225 and I'm really happy with it. The HD locally has 4 brands- a chaepo I dismidded offhand, with a notched rim, the Rigid which was only $5 less than the MK 225 I bought at $45. They had no Worrk Force blades but had the new saw in stock. I have decided that everyone here was right- my Scottish blood be darned- and you have to pay for quality. That price on the mk 225 Hiot Dog blade was the best price I found with tax and shipping figured in. i chose it because I have found a blade with a tyhick rim doesn't cut as smoothly and may vibrate more. The MK edge is almost the same width as the blade plate and cuts very smoothly and aggressively . Nice and straight. It has slots in tthe edge tthat help p[revent dishing if it overheats and and help carry water to the piece. It doesn't spraty any more water than the original blade or the cheap replacement I bought before. As another member replied to my "consumer review" on this blade, you can't go wrong with MK blades. I am still waiting for someone to give me the scoop on UKAM blades- they seem pretty competitively priced.
One think I found withthe MK slotted rim- it can biote a little. Not so of other continuous rim blades.
Mark H.
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Feb 6, 2009 21:47:35 GMT -5
I agree with your assessment that only the black rock on the first photo is ready to move on to the medium. I, too, prefer my rocks rounded and pretty smooth before I move them on. If I am running a mohs 7 rock (jasper, agate, etc.) I typically won't have any that I am happy with until about the 5th 5-day round of 60/90 SC. I just recharged my carnelian agate today for its 12th round (I have collected enough to start a medium batch of that, but there is still alot to go). That's two months in coarse!
But different people like their rocks different ways. I just happen to prefer mine be a way that takes a long time. Decide what you like and then stick with the plan! And keep us posted.
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