celt40
noticing nice landscape pebbles
KNIGHTHOOD FOR JOCK STEIN.
Member since July 2009
Posts: 99
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Post by celt40 on Jul 29, 2009 16:38:31 GMT -5
Hi This is my first post. I have always enjoyed natural things like wood and the fantastic grain, that is why i do woodturning as one of my hobbies. Also i find the texture, shape and markings in stone. This is why i would like to start rock tumbling for myself. As i live on the West coast of Scotland and i walk my dogs on the beach every day i have masted a good collection of different small stones. I do not think at this stage i am interested in making anything with the stones i have, i just would like to look at them and enjoy their beauty. Honest i am not mad !!!!!!!!!!!! Hope someone will be ale to point me in the right direction. Not sure where to buy mail order in the UK, also i do not know what i need to start, possably a kit with everything in it?  |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 29, 2009 19:43:24 GMT -5
Maybe one of our UK members can add some better info, but I'd check to see if the rockshed ships internationally. They have many different rock tumblers available and Shawn is a really cool person to do business with. He also carries the grit packs, every grit that you'll need for a couple batches. www.therockshed.com Welcome to the board!! |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 29, 2009 19:45:16 GMT -5
Howdy and welcome to the group. We do have several UK members who are very good tumblers so I'm sure they can put you onto some good suppliers for gear in your area. The main decision you'll have to make is what kind of finished product you're after as rotary tumblers are necessary to produce very rounded finished stones and vibratory tumblers are swell for polishing stones without heavily altering shapes. I like to use both as the vibe is great for working up preformed stones for jewelry uses while the rotary turns out those really nice rounded pieces that kids love so much. Anyway, you might check out www.therockshed.com here in the states just to look over tumbling supplies and get an idea what's out there. Then you can either mailorder your equipment or contact some of your local members for shops in your area. Lots of good info on the front page of this site and in the various tumbling threads too.....Mel |
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 29, 2009 20:24:54 GMT -5
Definitely start with a rotary. Thumler's or Lortone are the best "entry level-hobby grade" here in the States. Shipping to UK will not be cheap.
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Jul 30, 2009 3:24:21 GMT -5
Hi, welcome to the board. Hope you stay forever, and that you enjoy your time. It's not only an entertainment it's an education too  Can I just make a comment to ASI - Andew while here. This doesn't mean it's held it's value, just means it is less than £50.00. For instance in '78 it could have been £49.99, today the item could be £29.99, not holding it's value as you said but still under £50.00 Also, Phew, thats some reduction in grit usage. Please get that recipe posted asap. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to make huge savings on the grit usage front. |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jul 30, 2009 4:03:31 GMT -5
Hi Celt40, To the good advice above I would add If you want some good local rocks try East Scottish coast Dunotta castle , Auchumi (My spelling could be not right) Elephant rock area , and Montrose area are some of the best in the world for colour, in particular see www.agatesofscotland.co.uk/You and Andrew are very privileged to live in Scotland with this stuff around I was in Manchester Minerals on Tuesday they have a great selection and a good Wholesale department (Hiltons) if you got a business card offering good discounts Also Burhouses have a fantastic selection of rough rock's in a old warehouse in Huddersfield (dont be put of by their poor web page) Have a good day Jack Yorkshire UK Ps, we have a few interesting rocks on the Yorkshire east coast send me your address in a PM and I will send you a few and a few I polished I'm also am a "nutty rocker" and love to see the beautiful designs in rocks J |
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on Jul 30, 2009 4:13:57 GMT -5
Hi and welcome I also just like to look at my rocks , I do have some equipment, I tumble (rotary)I saw, Its great to cut a slice and see the shapes and patterns hidden inside, and I grind(cab) a few, but mostly I love looking at my rocks. I got all my equipment after putting an advert in the wanted section of the local paper. Its amazing what you may find.I hope you enjoy your rocks and the site...pporky
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2009 6:16:09 GMT -5
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celt40
noticing nice landscape pebbles
KNIGHTHOOD FOR JOCK STEIN.
Member since July 2009
Posts: 99
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Post by celt40 on Jul 30, 2009 16:44:18 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your help. I find this all very confusing but keen to learn. As for the tumbler i ( like most folk ) do not have much money to throw at this and i will be looking at the £60 Beach one i think.
I live in a Girvan, town 5 miles from Turnberry golf course where the British Golf Open was a few weeks ago.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2009 18:40:03 GMT -5
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jul 31, 2009 2:59:55 GMT -5
Hi Ardrew
I WILL have to come and see these Aliens sometime :-)
Celt40
Above free Offer still stands
jack
Yorkshire UK
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2009 14:38:51 GMT -5
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Jul 31, 2009 14:51:04 GMT -5
When I first started tumbling (way back in January of '09) I bought a lot of mixed tumbling rock from The Rock Shed. That's fun stuff but as a novice I had little clue what was what and what the hardnesses were. So consequently a lot of stuff came out great but a lot came out terrible too. I would recommend taking some care to think about tumbler loads and synchronizing hardnesses when you're buying your rock. It's pretty easy to do as most of the jaspers and agates are around 7 on the Mohs scale and can be tumbled all together with good results. Doing so will take a lot of the disappointment out of your early batches.
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