electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 24, 2012 7:41:46 GMT -5
The anticipation is killing me. My tumbler and supplies arrive today!!  This will be my first real tumbler and as excited as I am I know once I get started there will be lots more waiting. GRRRRRRR Driving me crazy!! Does anyone have a bottle of liquid patients? Or maybe a pill form called "SitNWaits". I was sitting still dot doing anything and my friend asked if I was bored or something. I told him "something". Kinda weird to sit still and be so damn excited. lol ;D All kidding aside....I am almost giddy waiting to get started. Sometime today I'll have enough equipment to start tumbling and then can prepare for the next step......Jewelry! Although I may have to tumble a few batches before I get any decent stones for jewelry. Anyway just thought I'd share and see if it could help me relax a bit. lol ;D If anyone else has a story similar to mine feel free to share I'd like to know I'm not alone. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 24, 2012 9:44:23 GMT -5
I also have no equipment for alot of my rocks and fossils,so I have a few good friends do some of my work...One box of fossils has been in Montana for four years-LOL
A few others strung out here and there too...
So yuppers patients is the key.................
Sounds like you will enjoy yourself and won't get bored doing it either..Congrads on the buys!
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Post by helens on Aug 24, 2012 11:24:49 GMT -5
Ahh... totally understand that feeling... it does suck:). But when your equipment arrives, you are going to be sooooo happy!!! Hope you have everything you need (grits, media, if it's a Lot-O, a block and a bag of cement to anchor it down). If not, you can prep for the arrival by clearing out a space to work and put your equipment, and selecting your first batch (your worst rocks in a whole variety of types if possible, so you see what the tumbler does to them for future reference). You can also read about how to tumble, pros and cons and take the opportunity to learn while waiting:). What a great time for you! Remember... PICTURES!!!  |
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Aug 24, 2012 12:04:09 GMT -5
What tumbler did you purchase? Please follow helen's advice and remember....PICTURES!!!
We even like pictures of your new tumbler when it arrives. ;-)
Mike
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 24, 2012 12:36:30 GMT -5
I'll post pics of the tumbler for ya. Lortone 33b Many people recommended it so It should be great. I plan on taking pictures of what I'm going to tumble b4 each stage so I can take better notes. After I get the process tumbling I'll post pics as we go. My sone actually mentioned me tumbling some of his rocks for him. |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Aug 24, 2012 12:40:31 GMT -5
We like pictures of anything. Especially if you have a dog, we like dogs.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 24, 2012 12:44:38 GMT -5
Oh and as far as reading about tumbling and such. Every since I found this forum "I BEEN ON IT" lol there is good information out there to be found if you search hard enough but you usually end up with contradictions and get frustrated. This board is truly a gem. Full of useful information and friendly people. |
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Post by helens on Aug 24, 2012 12:47:32 GMT -5
LOL! I like all furry critters... but yah... I'm pretty partial to my dog:P. She doesn't lick my rocks, but she does keep me company when I'm playing with them:).  Paul Ryan looks a bit like her, but no where near as cute  |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 24, 2012 14:44:39 GMT -5
Its great to hear all that enthusiasm. Beware of the addiction, I got sucked in pretty deep already and I blame this site for all the super duper photos that make it all so tempting to try - lol. What kind of jewelry are you planning with your tumbled stones, wire wraps or glue on bail pendants ? If you post some pictures of what you plan to throw in your first batch you will get some advice on what to expect out of it.
Chuck
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Aug 24, 2012 16:17:50 GMT -5
Another fun way to pass the time is to look at the rocks for sale on ebay. ;-) You can actually learn a lot about the different types of rocks just by looking through everything for sale under "lapidary materials" (under collectibles/rocks, fossils & minerals). Just don't click the "Bid" button or it's all downhill from there!
Haha, Helen, you have to lick your own rocks!
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Post by helens on Aug 24, 2012 16:20:32 GMT -5
No way am I licking rocks. Someone may have peed on those rocks. EWEEUUU
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Aug 24, 2012 16:47:00 GMT -5
O God and I've licked a lot of rocks....EWEEUUU.
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Post by helens on Aug 24, 2012 16:48:30 GMT -5
LOL! |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Aug 24, 2012 19:08:37 GMT -5
Hey, rockhounding is a "No Wimp Zone". Lick the rocks if you need to. Pee is sterile. :-)
(Have to credit Kris for that phrase.)
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 24, 2012 19:48:45 GMT -5
Is it there yet?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 24, 2012 19:49:08 GMT -5
How about now?
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 25, 2012 0:23:42 GMT -5
OK I'm going to try again I think I may have botched this entire post pic thing but I may have it this time. lol In order............ My 4 month old German Sheppard Valkyrie(cute beyond cute) My New out of the box Lortone 33b and my first selection for tumble. Must of the stones are kinda chunky and I considered breaking some down but I didn't want to push my luck first time around. On the subject by the way.......Me and my 16yr old son who have done almost nothing together in the past year spent about 3 hrs looking through some of his rocks for future tumbles! Now that puts a smile on my face beyond the excitement I was already dealing with. Kudos to the rock god!! lol    |
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Post by helens on Aug 25, 2012 0:54:30 GMT -5
How exciting for you! Those are pretty rocks too:).
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Aug 25, 2012 8:02:59 GMT -5
I agree they are pretty, but I have no idea what they are. I could recognize some of them as a some type of quartz and one piece of pet wood. That is the extent of my rock identifying skills thus far. Got a lot to learn. I should have gone through the bag of rough and selected rocks that appeared to be the same type.(even if I didn't know what it is) But I didn't. I guess I have to admit the excitement got the better of me and I just washed the rocks, filled the barrel and off we went. lol If anyone can identify or teach me to that would be awesome. And Island Rocks.....I am going to do a little glue sets(gotta find a good glue) and very interested in wraps also straight drilling stones for pendants. Those are the three I am going to try. So much to do so little time. lol I just got my first tumble started last night. With any luck I'll have some decent stones to develop my jewelry making skills. |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 25, 2012 8:23:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the pictures, I have found that searching ebay for "lapidary rough" or "lapidary slabs" is a great way to learn how to identify rocks that I have and was not sure what they were. I think you will get great results with what you have there. Keep in mind that you will lose at least 25 percent of your volume in the rough stage so you will need to add some as you go to keep at the 70-75 percent full rule. My only other suggestion is to put some smaller stuff in there to add more contact area as the stuff is tumbling. If all the rocks are one size it limits the surface contact area as they are tumbling and could slow down the process. Pretty sure bottom left is a piece of Dalmatian stone, green rock right about center is probably green adventurine, upper left corner piece that is purple with whiter stripes is banded amethyst. As for glue, you will need to decide if you want epoxy or glue but here's two good choices Epoxy www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=87764&catID=594jewelry Glue ( I buy this at walmart) www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=98522&catID=206Congrats on getting started! Chuck |
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This will be my first real tumbler and as excited as I am I know once I get started there will be lots more waiting. GRRRRRRR Driving me crazy!! Does anyone have a bottle of liquid patients? Or maybe a pill form called "SitNWaits". I was sitting still dot doing anything and my friend asked if I was bored or something. I told him "something". Kinda weird to sit still and be so damn excited. lol ;D All kidding aside....I am almost giddy waiting to get started. Sometime today I'll have enough equipment to start tumbling and then can prepare for the next step......Jewelry! Although I may have to tumble a few batches before I get any decent stones for jewelry. Anyway just thought I'd share and see if it could help me relax a bit. lol ;D If anyone else has a story similar to mine feel free to share I'd like to know I'm not alone.
