pgrawet
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2012
Posts: 20
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Post by pgrawet on Nov 2, 2012 19:13:27 GMT -5
Are they worth the $13? Tigers eye rose quatz aquamarine agate is listed contents Attachments:
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Nov 2, 2012 22:10:45 GMT -5
welcome, have you used these kits in the past? i never tumble agate with the softer quartz. usually the harder agate will mess up the quartz. what size tumbler do you have?
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Nov 2, 2012 22:54:55 GMT -5
From the picture it looks like it's for refilling kid's toy tumblers, not hobbyist tumblers. Pound for pound it's probably the most expensive rock, grit and polish sold, but it's a smaller quantity of each than you can buy any other way.
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pgrawet
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2012
Posts: 20
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Post by pgrawet on Nov 3, 2012 1:48:47 GMT -5
No I haven't used them before but thought id give it a try,and see wat happen. I figured its not worth it, but hey the kids will like them. The agate is just mentioned I haven't looked in it yet, so I'm not sure wats exactly in there.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 3, 2012 12:33:34 GMT -5
I don't know about the rocks but that is an awful expensive way to buy grit. Usually enough for one load and not enough to repeat coarse step. You would be better off buying either larger grit kits or individual larger quantities. Price per lb. decreases with quantity.
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Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Nov 3, 2012 12:44:27 GMT -5
That kit is probably for the cool looking discovery rock tumbler for children. It looks like it has a replacement belt and a bottle of oil for the tumbler which is a plus. If you have that tumbler and the kids already love it, then the price is "priceless". If that amount of money includes the shipping I think it is a good buy, you can always check around for lower prices. This hobby requires a lot of patience, if your kids keep the interest for a long time and after completing several batches then, it will be a good time to upgrade to a better tumbler as it will be more reliable and cost efficient. Good scientific toys are great tools to motivate children to learn more about science. My own interest in rocks originated when I got a Sears Geology kit as a child, Sears used to sell excellent science kits. Just noticed you don't have the tumbler... I don't think it’s going to be cost efficient just for the rocks and the jewelry kit. But who knows, you might like it. My recommendation is to search and browse for alternatives before you buy it. Good luck either way.
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Post by susand24224 on Nov 3, 2012 14:33:46 GMT -5
For kids just learning, it probably is a good idea, Dora, as you have already noticed. As their skills improve, they may want to produce a better product, then the kit may be next to worthless. As already noted, the combination of rocks will likely create problems with the quartz. Also, kits usually have equal amounts of each stage of grit--I probably use ten times the amount of 60/90 that I use of anything else. For now your kids will likely be happy with chipped, not very smooth, pitted rocks so long as they have a little shine.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 3, 2012 15:15:22 GMT -5
I just opened 1 of these for my 9 yr old who wants to learn to tumble like her daddy <insert proud Dad-Ohs smile here> and the rock inside is tiny, the 1 piece of amethyst is in a separate bag and if everything is tumbled together you will have even tinier stuff when done... smaller than a dime... these kits are purely for fun and are not worth the price in my opinion.
You would be doing your kids a better service by getting them some amethyst or quartz and tumbling it yourself, then you'll have pieces to show and they will have a better idea of what tumbling is about!!
My daughters rocks, with some of mine added to fill a 1.5 barrel and now in their 2nd week of tumbling and on stage 2 medium grit sanding phase. I let her sort through the stones and pick out the good from the bad, the bad went back to stage 1 and the good went to stage 2, she is very excited about the results and her enthusiasm is contagious too!!
Sunday we are attending our first rock show on Melbourne, (after the show, we will check out the rocks to see whats ready to stage 3 tumble) and next week we will be attending our 2nd show a large show in Orlando, FL. 11/9,10,11 and we are all excited to be going. I am meeting a lady there with about tonnage for sale, not gonna buy it all but always looking for that interesting piece to bring home... to say 'Hey look at what I scored at the show today!!'
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