jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2013 11:25:15 GMT -5
15 pounds.Botyroidals(did well),sewer monsters for Pat,early heat treared coral.Last photo is a common artifact material,grey quartzite called Tallahatta Quartzite.This was a super shiny load.Must be the incandescent light that makes them dull? Sewer monsters are fossilized bryozoans.The botyroidals are created in the silicification of the coral-a lot of the time.Tallahatta is a creek in Mississipi, and a geological description of this quartzite.My friend Seth collects it in his girl friends back yard when he visits...jerk. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157632736589856/
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 10, 2013 17:30:40 GMT -5
nice stuff. there are two pics of some mossy ones that I like the best.
Chuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2013 17:51:45 GMT -5
I went to Falcon Lake and cleaned up on agate Chuck.It is so easy to get so many varieties.One of those was about a 3 pound cobble.Looked like it was from the glass factory.Just some hish grade moss.
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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 Feb 10, 2013 21:29:37 GMT -5
Great job on those
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2013 23:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks Tony.
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Post by Pat on Feb 11, 2013 0:18:01 GMT -5
Seems odd to call a sewer monster pretty, but they are AND they are interesting. The bots are pretty, too.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Feb 11, 2013 6:10:27 GMT -5
Super batch. Lots of great looking material. The botyroidals and their great shine and coloration are impressive.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2013 8:22:09 GMT -5
Those delicate botyroidals did well in the big tumblers.Treated em like the rest of the batch,but 2 weeks instead of 5-6 weeks in the coarse grit.Some wear too fast.They were full of coarse grit particles and still polished well.
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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 Feb 11, 2013 8:52:09 GMT -5
James, still being relatively new to tumbling I was wondering, is it easier to tumble in a large tumbler or a small one like I have right now? I want more stones to get done faster and this summer want to get another tumbler. I know a vibe would speed things considerably but I'm not going to be able to build my workshop like I thought I was so I'm going to stick with the quieter rotary. Just a question of a small barrel or a big one. I'd rather stay with rotary right now any ways even if it is a bit louder.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2013 9:38:16 GMT -5
Tony,rotary tumblers are simple and bullet proof.If you want to grind rocks to a rounder shape like a pebble a rotary is the only way.A vibratory is the fastest at making rocks shine.Yes,a bigger tumbler barrel has more grinding action because the rocks have more weight on them.The Lortone 6 and 12 pound barrel is a great size.If you go bigger the cost jumps a lot.My big tumblers are tuned for tough agate.But if i put Labrodolite or flourite they would look terrible.So most tumblers are built at the factory to handle a range of materials.I still run 5 weeks in coarse grind,barrels running way fast for agate only.... The best way to have quicker rocks is to have more barrels.There is no substitute for having more barrels.I run 5 all the time with one motor.And my favorite quiet rotary set up is Chuck's.Looks like he can run 5-6 barrels with one motor.See the v-belt and big bearings.Rubber barrels are quiet.That tumbler is tough as ten cent steak:>Let me post it as a quote below this,Tony
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2013 10:01:59 GMT -5
I recently did the 2nd set of rollers project on a smaller scale and my 2nd set is running slower for polish just because there's no rubber hose on the shafts so that diameter is smaller then my first set of rollers. Chuck My home made tumbler is similar to Chuck's.His was built first,so i may be guilty of copy right infringement-:>Basically a long pair of shafts with several barrels spinning.Make sense Tony?
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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 Feb 11, 2013 20:40:43 GMT -5
Yep makes sense. I'm not going to try to build one just yet but when I do I hope it looks half as good as that. lol Thanks for the info.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 11, 2013 20:49:30 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,331
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2013 21:06:52 GMT -5
Patent Pending?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 11, 2013 21:12:13 GMT -5
Nope, go for it!!
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