Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2009 14:00:07 GMT -5
Hi all, Im extremely anal about keeping all of my local rock separate so that I know what I got from where. I dont know why this is important to me but it just is.  Is there a practical way to tumble them while still keeping them separate? Many of the locations only offer small amounts of rock, too small to fill my 3 lb vibe tumbler. I guess the only option is to put the few rocks in the bowl and add however much pellets/ceramic media/pea gravel or whatnot to make up an entire load. I wish there was a way to put the separate locations into mesh bags that could then be put in the tumbler bowl......but of course, that wouldnt be practical. Just thinkin out loud. ;D Shan |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 19, 2009 15:05:19 GMT -5
I keep a chart on my computer with date, time, which barrel / tumbler, what I put in it, and what grit it's on. Because I have a 2-barrel Lortone and a 2-barrel Thumler's all going all the time, plus the vibe. If I didn't keep the chart, I'd never have a clue what to do next to which or when. Of course, not everything I've received is of a known variety - many of my purchases have been "mixed tumble rocks", so anybody's guess. But I do try to keep track of what is in which barrel, etc. PS - the "chart" is simply a table I made in a Word doc. Here's a sample of it:  Don't know if this helps - it's all I got! ;D Tom |
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2009 16:13:27 GMT -5
Hey Tom! The chart is a GREAT idea. Still doesnt help on my issue but a great idea anyway.  My issue is that each location provides basically the same types of rocks, but I still want to keep them separate according to where I got them. So if they are in the bowl together, there is no way to know what came from where once they are done tumbling. I know, Im just weird LOL Shan |
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 19, 2009 16:43:19 GMT -5
Aside from using a lot of filler, my only other suggestion is to get smaller barrels. Maybe you can create a plug that will fit in the barrel to take up space.
Another idea is to photograph the groups of rocks and photograph them again at each stage. Maybe they would retain enough of their characteristics to be able to ID them again as you go.
Personally: I've given up. I've found I can pretty well ID most of my rocks, but there's always the chance that my mixed loads will mix me up, too. For example, I can't reliably tell what I got from Stillwell Ranch and what I got from Woodward Ranch.
Chuck
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 19, 2009 16:57:41 GMT -5
For example, I can't reliably tell what I got from Stillwell Ranch and what I got from Woodward Ranch. Chuck LOL! I feel proud of myself if I can tell an agate from an obsidian! I gave up trying to keep track of locations a long time ago. To me, picture jasper is picture jasper. I know it came from somewhere, but I wasn't the one who collected it, so location isn't that important to me. I understand how location is important to the true rockhound, one of which, I ain't! ;D I just buys 'em and grinds 'em. Tom |
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Post by 150FromFundy on Aug 20, 2009 6:15:21 GMT -5
I share your dilema Shannon. My rock starts out all organized in several bins by location and date, but then gets cut into 200-300 preforms and tossed in to my UV-10. It's always a challenge to sort it all out.
The suggestion of well labelled "before" photos does help.
One other suggestion ... I always keep a good representative piece of untumbled rough (or an unfinished slab) of every significant rock that I tumble. Well labelled "before" samples along with the photos will help you keep it all straight. It does add a significant time element to the process though. Like me, you must be somewhat anal and mildly OCD to even want to try! LOL
Good Luck.
Darryl.
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Post by MyNewHobby on Aug 20, 2009 15:36:17 GMT -5
I'm having trouble keeping track of what's what, so I separate by color and mohs.
I also try to keep the goodies I get separated so that if I really have trouble with a batch, I know who to PM or post questions to.
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rockhard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2006
Posts: 227
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Post by rockhard on Sept 1, 2010 0:37:40 GMT -5
I know this is an old post but it made me laugh because I do the same thing. I usually separate by color and make myself a note, like "green: Cape Meares - yellow: Santiam R. - red: Mollalla R. - agate: Moolack Beach - oddballs: Lincoln City". Green from Cape Lookout, agate from Short Beach, red from other rivers, etc. go in separate batches. (The colors are all local jaspers, and they can look pretty similar after tumbling).
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