rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 10, 2006 11:27:33 GMT -5
This is the kind of thread that can get a guy in trouble, but I'll post it anyway.
So what happened to rock tumbling? On the members photos board, which says is to "post images of your finest tumbles and kits", only 2 of the 20 threads currently on the front page actually meet those criteria. Please understand that I'm not pointing fingers or scolding folks to not post non-tumbling stuff there, heck one of those 18 non-tumbling posts is mine!
So if the members photos board has become mainly non-tumbling, and there are other boards in this forum for cabs, wire-wrapping, etc., this really doesn't look much like a rock tumbling forum.
Should there be a board specifically for rock tumbling, and leave the members photos board for posting pics of anything else? Or should the forum name be changed from "Rock Tumbling Hobby" to something different to reflect the way this forum has evolved? If I was a newbie coming in to look for the first time, I don't think I'd believe that rock tumbling is really the focus of this forum.
Thoughts?
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 10, 2006 12:04:40 GMT -5
hi don i see what your sayin about alot of dif stuff on the pic forum but if i remember right we had talked about it and everyone was kinda sayin we had enuff dif sections and that we didnt need to add any more new ones -- i forget the exact discussion --- i dont think its that bad but maybe we can all keep cabs in the cab area and so on --- hey i do it myself i go back and read a post i made and say hey i shoulda put that over there hahaha -- i see what your sayin i think it just looks like more other then tumbling stuff because it just takes so long to get a new batch finished and so much other stuff is happining wile there rollin --- i dont know if it would discourage a person that wanted to find out about tumbling but it might inspire them for more haha,, hey it did me when i joined i was waitin for my first tumbler and just seein the cool rock and the talk about home made machines and what not from the get i wanted tumbling and more -- hey i got a qt 66 runnin right now but my maine intrest at the moment is slabbin and cabbin but i never get tired of takin my cutoffs and throwin them in a tumbler --- i know im ramblin but what im gettin too is anyone lookin for tumbling info -- help -- or just a place to hang out this is still the best place on the net and i dont think that will ever change --- lets see what others say cause this is just an opinion and you know what they say bout them hahaha
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Jun 10, 2006 12:51:20 GMT -5
Don, I think part of the problem lies with the fact that it takes so damn long to tumble a batch of rock! We have to fill our "empty" time with other aspects of rock life. I love seeing the natural evolution of rock lust on this Board...from collecting to tumbling to cabbing to faceting to jewlery, wirewrapping and silversmithing. I could live without the Drama Queens, the High-And-Mighties, the Rip-Offs and the Flamers, but then I feel that way in my everyday life, as well. Rename the Board? A change of name wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, as we do focus on more than tumbling, but I think that would be up to Mr Waddington... We would have to keep our initials RTH no matter what we called it...hahaha. S How about ROLLING TUMBLING HEATHENS ;D ?
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Post by LCARS on Jun 10, 2006 14:46:18 GMT -5
Hey, tumbles can take MONTHS to complete so in the meantime...
Need I say more?
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Duckbean
fully equipped rock polisher
Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,072
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Post by Duckbean on Jun 10, 2006 14:47:48 GMT -5
I've only been around for a little over a year but am amazed at how the board has grown! I'm also playing around with slabbing and cabbing if you can call what I turn out cabs! lol But the slabbing just provides me with a lot of nice tumbling rock! The main thing I think is if I run into a problem tumbling or just think of a question, Then all I need do is post it here and some one is sure to answer and in most cases in just a few minutes! There is a lot of eye candy to check out, But the knowledge that is here about tumbling is unbelievable and if it's not already in a post some were then it's a good bet that you can just ask. So for my two cents I still think it's by far the only rock tumbling board on the net.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 10, 2006 14:50:20 GMT -5
i'm as guilty as the next person for posting non-tumbling pics in member's photos, but to be honest, i think more people look at members photos than the other specialized threads. i mean, if i have time, i look in the cab section and occasionally in the wire wrap, but probably miss a lot of good stuff in both because i really only look at members photos and General.
but i think it's a natural progression to start with tumbling and go on from there to do other things with rocks and stones. i know i've been stimulated to try other "non-tumbling" projects based on what others in here have shared.
the underlying premise is that we are all just plain nuts over rocks in any way shape and form of Lapidary in general. i thinnk it isn't a bad thing to be a little diverse to show new tumblers what else is possible with time and the right equipment.
but that is only my 2 cents.
KD
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 10, 2006 16:15:54 GMT -5
Interesting points everyone, I think I agree with most of what's been said. I just threw this out for discussion, guess I don't really have any great solution, heck, maybe it isn't even a problem. As has been pointed out, this is still the best place for rock tumbling information.
It just struck me as odd this morning when I took a look at the forum's name, then realized that rock tumbling is really only a small part of what goes on here, and sometimes seems a bit lost. I don't really want another board either, as I only look at two or three of them as is, and tend to scan the thread titles pretty carefully to decide whether I want to open them for a look.
On the flip side of the coin about tumbling seeming a minor part of things now, if a cabber or wrapper was searching the internet looking for a forum, I wonder if they would even look in a place called Rock Tumbling Hobby? Lots of information here for them, maybe this forum is missing a lot of potential members?
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Post by deb193 on Jun 10, 2006 16:49:17 GMT -5
Well I slab my rough, and cut up my slabs, and shape my slabbetts, and tumble finish my shapes, and then try to mount my tumble-finished shapes, which might in inclued some drilling or wire wrapping. My cab machine does not even have wheels yet. So, in a way I am all about tumbling - I just don't begin with crushed rough, and I post pictures at all stages.
I post pictures of batches starting, batches in progress, batches out of polish, and mounted tumble-finished pieces. Like others have said, time is a factor. I have only had 3 batches finish since I joined. I have gotten a lot of rough though, and cut many slabs. I have a backlog of things to tumble. I now have 3 tumbling machines, so maybe the backlog will decline.
Still, there will be more pictures of rough and slabs than batches. For one thing that batch picture corresponds to a lot of slab and rough pictures. When I get them mounted, the pictures balance out because I post pictures of individual pieces.
I took the members photo section just to be a place for the larger postings that dial up users might want to think twice about. Also, more for show and tell than the general section which is questions, advice, and announcements. I mostly thought the cab making and wire wrap sections were for more specific discussion of these things in addition to photos. Heck the section even includes the pictures of the members - who are not rocks at all. SOme contest fit well there because they have lots of photos.
I also agree with the statement about a progression. I think many people start tumbling because it is the most accessible entry point into the lapidary hobby. Some folks just put them in jars and start new batches - but many people start to wonder what they can do/create with their stones. This leads to wrapping stones, pre-shaping stones, tumbled fish, lampshades from tumbled slabs ... etc.
Tumblers also tend to be hobbyists, or in the original Latin sense of the word, amateur - for the love of it. There are people who cab or wire wrap for the love of it, but many people who buy higher dollar equipment are in business, and I am not sure we need to attract them. Some have found us and stay and fit in very well. But I don't really think we want to attract folks for whom this is their 9-to-5 gig. Different dynamic.
If there had to be a name change, I note that ROCK POLISHING HOBBY covers tumbling as well as flat-lapping, as well as cabs ... etc. Also, Show-n-Tell Pictures might work bette than Members Photos.
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Post by stoner on Jun 10, 2006 17:25:47 GMT -5
I started out just tumbling, not very well mind you, looked on the internet and found this place. And for the first year or better, all I did was tumble stones and learned a hell of a lot from the good folks here. I think I even remember when Mark opened up the photos section and man, talk about an incentive to learn how to get a polish on rocks, seeing the pics of what other people were turning out was what kept me striving for that "James" polish. But for me, after getting involved in tumbling and seeing what else could be done with rocks, well, I just wanted to do it all. It's kinda like remodeling your kitchen, then the next thing you know your wife is saying, "Now the living room looks old and dingy and we really should do something about the outside of the house and....." So for me, I like seeing some of the other things that people have done with rocks and I also like seeing what other people are buying(though that's a bad thing on the pocketbook) The photos section was getting cluttered with cabs and jewelry so someone asked Mark to provide new sections for these crafts and he was more than willing to do so. At first not many people visited those sections and it was frustrating to post my cab pics there(like being in a chat room by yourself) but now there are regulars who appreciate the work of the cabbers and wrappers and those forums are getting a lot of attention. So to sum it all up, this is a rock tumbling hobby message board, has been and will be, but it also a place for folks to see what else can be done with rocks and I think that people who find this board will still learn the fine art of tumbling stones. No problem!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jun 10, 2006 17:47:11 GMT -5
Well I slab my rough, and cut up my slabs, and shape my slabbetts, and tumble finish my shapes, and then try to mount my tumble-finished shapes, which might in inclued some drilling or wire wrapping. My cab machine does not even have wheels yet. So, in a way I am all about tumbling - I just don't begin with crushed rough, and I post pictures at all stages. Same here, I do just like Daniel. Everything that I turn out comes from my tumbler, although it's slabbed, cut, and grinded first, it's a common practice.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 10, 2006 17:53:21 GMT -5
Actually I like the fact that everything related to rocks is here, I've learned a great deal about rocks in the 1 1/2 years since I joined and can now ID 100% more than I could before last Christmas - to me it was all just rocks - the tumbling made them much prettier and the cabbing was a way for me to spend my time while the rocks tumbled along - I like the aspect of people showing off their works - whether it be rough rocks, sliced rocks, polished, crushed, cabbed or finished jewellery - it's all about rocks which really can't be bad can it? I still think it's a fantastic place to learn all there is about rocks and to meet some excellent people too -
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 10, 2006 18:53:37 GMT -5
i think this board has opened a door for people to find information to make tumbling a positive experience which has kept them tumbling. i've seen alot of people that have come on the board that said they "use" to tumble but didn't have great results and quit but finding this board made them want to give it another shot. many of those were people who started with the kiddie tumbler which doesn't last too long, doesn't come with but 3 stages of grit and polish while most people who get really good results add another stage. the instructions with the kiddie tumblers says to tumble them 2 weeks and move on i think. it gives no instruction about recharging (not that you have the supplies to do this either), how to know that they are ready to move on, what to cull, nothing about plastic pellets, different kinds of polishes...... anyway without this board, i'd have probably given up quickly myself because i surely was not headed toward a good batch with the rocks, supplies, and instructions i started with. but with this board i was able to figure out how to go back and correct wrongs i'd already made such as choice of tumbler, i'd certainly moved forward too quickly, i needed more grit and types of grit, pellets and more rocks. i'd never have known where to go to get these things without this board.
i also think it's a natural progression to want to move farther into the lapidary arts. is there anyone in here who wouldn't progress if you had the proper equipment?
i like the pics - doesn't matter if it's rough, slabs, cabs, wraps, spheres, carvings, or your pet. i like them all. and i don't care where you put them as long as i can find them.
kim
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 10, 2006 19:04:14 GMT -5
well put, Kim.
KD
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Post by Cher on Jun 10, 2006 19:41:43 GMT -5
For me, tumbling is still what it's all about. Granted, I've got different ways to get the rocks into the tumbler now that I have a saw but they still have to go through all the stages involved. I'll never not be tumbling, I love being able to open a barrel to find handfuls of polished beauties.
I think it would be nice if the photos were a little more organized, cabs in the cab forum, wire wraps in their forum and unrock stuff in the life universe forum. My thinking is just that it's easier to find something if all the cabs are in the same place etc. I have to admit, I go through the photo sections first before hitting the general forum but I do try to pay attention to new posts in the others too.
I think it seems like it's been a little slow lately as far as new people coming in to learn about tumbling. They seem to come in groups especially during the holidays. We just need to make sure that none of us miss the opportunity to help anyone who does come in looking for help.
It would be good to keep the general forum as focused as possible on tumbling itself and keep other posts to a minimum. And yes Susan, we are a bunch of rock tumbing heathens aren't we. ;D
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Post by deb193 on Jun 10, 2006 19:53:15 GMT -5
... i like the pics - doesn't matter if it's rough, slabs, cabs, wraps, spheres, carvings, or your pet. i like them all. and i don't care where you put them as long as i can find them. kim Kim has a great point - I think the purpose of the "photos" section was that folks liked to see the pictures of rocks and finished projects of others - almost any pictures, not just to see tumbled rounded rocks. I know I do. It is why I sometimes just window shop on ebay with no intent to buy - because I like to see the pictures. The one line description of the area should be taken as encouraging and not as restrictive. I don't think the photo section is too cluttered. But I could also support a Rough & Slabs section if there was a consensus to make one. ----- I also am thinking that there are a lot of people on this board doing more then tumbling found shaped exactly because of this board. There is nothing wrong with natural shaped for those who want them. I think many folks hanker for more control. It begins with using a Dremel on deep pits, then maybe a grinder or a workforce. Heck if it was not for the strong recommendation of the WorkForce on this board (and its cheap price and extensive local availability) quite a few of the people posting pictures of slabs, slabbetts, and cut shapes might still be tumbling crushed rock. In a way the very success of the board in disseminating information has help evolve the board.
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 10, 2006 19:57:25 GMT -5
Lapidary Evolution...that's it! (and the wheel goes round......)
KD
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Post by connrock on Jun 10, 2006 20:47:21 GMT -5
I'm not one for organizing things and have tried several times to follow the old ,,,,,a place for everything and everything in it's place but always ended up trying to locate where "that" place was. I like the photo section like it is because it makes me feel more at home rather then looking at an index of a instruction manual and getting frustrated trying to find what I'm looking for. I don't look at all of the photo's but instead scroll down the page until I see something interesting to me and click on it. I like seeing photo's of someones pet or a snow storm or even their faces and to be honest with all of you,if I had to look all over the site I wouldn't even give it a thought,,,,Lazy??Yup!!Messy?? Yup!!
That's me and my 2 cents.
connrock
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kjohn0102
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 774
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Post by kjohn0102 on Jun 10, 2006 22:15:30 GMT -5
Hey, I'm only on my second batch in the tumbler (actually, TUMBLERS now-got 3 going!), and I'm already looking for different ways to shape my rocks. I'm here on this board for at least an hour each day and have learned an incredible amount from everyone here. Pictures at all stages help to inspire me and keep me moving forward. I don't even remember how I happened on this site, but I'm sure glad I did.
KJ
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 11, 2006 1:46:14 GMT -5
I'm seeing a concensus that things are fine the way they are. I'm okay with that.
I still wonder though if it would be best to change the description under the members photos board to something like "tumbled stones, rough, slabs, field trips, etc.", to better reflect what people are posting there and would like to see continue to be posted there.
I don't mean to make it a big deal or anything, it was just a thought I had yesterday morning, that I figured I'd throw out for discussion and comments.
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Post by puppie96 on Jun 11, 2006 2:04:10 GMT -5
It's great the way it is for all the reasons people mentioned...that it is an evolution and learning process, that you can move beyond just tumbling for only $88, how and where to go rockhounding and how to evolve in that area. Plus it is really nice to have the pictures of rough and information about selecting the right rocks to tumble, pictures of people's failures as well as successes, and the rocks they relate to. It's easy enough to skip over the ones you aren't interested in. I often end up going back to them later because of a reference elsewhere or a new interest.
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