Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2013 7:11:49 GMT -5
Good Morning, New guy from Texas Here, I got this tumbling bug when my Grand daughter found a neat rock. So here I am. I have placed an order for a Lortone 33 and some grit supplies and a few different assortments of rough from Shawn @ Rock Shed. After reading alot on here it appears some folks like the Vibrating tumblers. Should I get a Vib for finishing/Polishing? Next I am gonna look at rock shops around this area, Not sure what kind of rocks If any are natural to this area- Houston Texas Gulf Coast
thank you Dave
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Post by Peruano on Mar 2, 2013 7:38:07 GMT -5
Welcome Daniel 62, Everyone will have their own answer to your questions. In short, be advised that you may open a new window on life for you, your granddaughter, and all who know you as you become fascinated (addicted?) to the world of tumbling, lapidary, and, yes, rocks. You can spend as much as you want to spend (but read the converse if you wish). I started picking up pebbles and shells on the beach that I wanted to shape and polish a bit. Since I was already dealing with something that didn't need major alteration, I made a start with a vibrating tumbler (Raytech Vibetech) and my old bench grinder with a water drip, and drip pan added. That worked great because the grinder was fast for individual rocks and especailly for many that didn't need much attention. The vibrating tumbler was fast 4-6 days (instead of what might have been 4 weeks using a rotating tumbler, and the gratification was fast and satisfying. Fast forward a few more months and I now own two cabbing machines to replace the grinder, 2 trim saws to allow faster and bigger alterations, and a relic slab saw that lets me see inside an entirely different world (insides of rocks that have never been seen before). So, enjoy yourself within your own desires, but be sure to plan things so you get enough gratification and hold your and that granddaughters attention to reach the next step or to push you to go to another site to explore, communicate and share the beauty of it all. Oh, and here are the remnants of large sea shells that had been tumbled by the waves that got me interested in collecting stuff from the beach. And here are a few slices of an agate that I recently cut - still awaiting decisions on how they will become adornments for my wife and/or our friends. Cheers, Tom
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 2, 2013 7:57:36 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH! I'm in BCS,not too far from you.You are in no rocks land around there.Not many rockshops either.I think some members have found rocks in the Brazos River near Rosenberg.Some go to Lake Livingston. Johnson's Rock Shop near Livingston,King's Gems on 1960,not sure if they are still open,is just about it,also Smithville Rock Shop,a little further out.Good luck,enjoy the hobby.
snuffy
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Mar 2, 2013 8:13:33 GMT -5
Good to see new folks show up. I live near Corpus Christi and I started collecting rocks along railroad tracks. That set the hook but good. You're gonna have to burn a little gas and get away from the Gulf Coast to find rocks. Good luck, keep yore eyes to the ground and a rock hammer in your vehicle. Welcome to RTH!
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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 2, 2013 8:19:26 GMT -5
Hi
I live in Friendswood Tx. I have never gone rock hounding around here but I would loveto some time. You mite want to check out the Clear Lake Rock and gem club. Talk latter
Roger
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 2, 2013 11:02:14 GMT -5
You can go NE to palmwood, N to the banks of the Brazos, or far W to get agate near Woodard Ranch (Needles Peak, Rio Grande ...). There are some silicified limestones and other silicified sedementary rock with shells embedded in the hill country. In llano there is llanite.
There is an nice rock shop in Austin, and a large show each year in Houston. But ebay is always there, and currently Tony/catmandew has a pretty good special on tumbling rough. (Some may be a bit large, but you can break.)
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 2, 2013 11:40:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the site, Dave. I bought the same tumbler that you did. I wasn't finished with my first batch of rocks before I bought a Lot-O vibratory tumbler. The two work well together. I do the first stage in the 33B and then do the rest in the Lot-O. I bought the Lot-O for two reasons: it uses a lot less grit, and it finishes the rocks much quicker. I have not regretted the decision. I started last Christmas because my son liked rocks, and this Christmas I bought myself a larger rotary tumbler to keep the Lot-O fed.
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 2, 2013 21:37:50 GMT -5
cheers, Dave, you are now on the slippery slope we all fell over....spending way too much time and money on rocks!!!!!!! i'll tell ya tho...i wish my Grandpa showed me this when i was young! it took way too many years to find my true love!
KD
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