bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Aug 13, 2013 21:13:56 GMT -5
Hi all,
Few weeks back I was kayaking down the Hudson, between Warrensburg and Stoney creek NY and came across some amazing river rocks that I brought home for my son. He asked if we could polish them, and before I know it I'm now a member of this site. We are interested in buyer a tumbler and have a ton of questions about everything. Thanks in advance for everyones input. First, we are looking at Thumler's tumbler model B. Is this too much tumbler for a beginner? It says its a 15lbs drum. Would that mean I have to have about 10 pounds of rough always? Is 10 pounds of rough considered a lot? Would we be better off getting one with a 6lbs drum? My son has always been crazy about rocks, and I think this is something the two of use would enjoy, so I don't mind making a bigger purchase if it made sense. When you tumble a load of rough, do you only do one type of rock at a time or can you have a variety? How big is too big to put into a 15lbs drum? I found some good size pieces of what I believe is granite, still reading a lot about identifying rocks, and just wonder if I need to try to break them up? I can't seem to find any Rock Hobby shops in upstate NY, near Saratoga, does anyone know of any? I don't mind traveling some to get to one. Thanks soo much for reading this and I look forward to hear back for you, from what I've already read, this seems like a great community.
Brian
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 13, 2013 22:46:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the site Brian. I have two Lortone tumblers, but I hear good things about Thumlers too. When I was deciding what to get, the stuff I read said that Lortone motors were the weak point and Thumlers lids could be a problem. I'll let someone else tell you if the lids are really a problem or not. I have a Lortone 33B and a QT66. Both are double barrel tumblers, which I like because I can have a different type of rock in each tumbler. You don't have to separate rocks by type, but you should at least keep rocks separated by hardness. The other option for multiple barrels is to have rocks going in various stages at the same time. You should also consider a vibratory tumbler. A lot of people on this site do the first stage in rotary tumblers to shape the rocks and to remove the big pits and cracks and then do the rest of the stages in a vibratory tumbler. Vibratory tumblers don't do a good job of shaping, but do all the other stages much quicker and use much less grit and polish. A good place to buy your tumblers and grit is The Rock Shed. You'll need a lot more 60/90 grit than anything else.
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Aug 13, 2013 23:00:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the site Brian. I have two Lortone tumblers, but I hear good things about Thumlers too. When I was deciding what to get, the stuff I read said that Lortone motors were the weak point and Thumlers lids could be a problem. I'll let someone else tell you if the lids are really a problem or not. I have a Lortone 33B and a QT66. Both are double barrel tumblers, which I like because I can have a different type of rock in each tumbler. You don't have to separate rocks by type, but you should at least keep rocks separated by hardness. The other option for multiple barrels is to have rocks going in various stages at the same time. You should also consider a vibratory tumbler. A lot of people on this site do the first stage in rotary tumblers to shape the rocks and to remove the big pits and cracks and then do the rest of the stages in a vibratory tumbler. Vibratory tumblers don't do a good job of shaping, but do all the other stages much quicker and use much less grit and polish. A good place to buy your tumblers and grit is The Rock Shed. You'll need a lot more 60/90 grit than anything else. Thanks for the link. Yeah, I can see I already have a problem as I'm drooling over these pictures of rocks. My wife may want an intervention. Like the profile pic, reminds me of the matrix "don't try to bend the spoon, that's impossible"
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Post by parfive on Aug 13, 2013 23:23:27 GMT -5
Welcome, Brian, and I’d agree the 15 pounder is too much for a beginner. Too much for most of the rest of us too – too much rock to feed it, too much grit.
I’m partial to 3lb barrels. Take a look at Thumlers A-R2, it’s got two 3lb barrels. Six-pounder at the most, if you’re after bigger rocks.
Rocks too big? Hammer, chisel, safety glasses.
No rock shop around? Check the general hobby shops, that’s where I got my first tumbler.
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Aug 13, 2013 23:38:40 GMT -5
Welcome, Brian, and I’d agree the 15 pounder is too much for a beginner. Too much for most of the rest of us too – too much rock to feed it, too much grit. I’m partial to 3lb barrels. Take a look at Thumlers A-R2, it’s got two 3lb barrels. Six-pounder at the most, if you’re after bigger rocks. Rocks too big? Hammer, chisel, safety glasses. No rock shop around? Check the general hobby shops, that’s where I got my first tumbler. Thank you very much. Glad I found this site before I went and purchased.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 14, 2013 9:12:52 GMT -5
Welcome to the madness, Brian! You will learn much here, grasshopper. Yes, start with a smaller tumbler, and work your way up as you wife allows you to spend geometrically increasing amounts of money on rocks and rock supplies! Jean
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,169
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Post by jamesp on Aug 14, 2013 19:37:10 GMT -5
I have learned a wealth here as a grasshopper Brian. Welcome from Georgia
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Aug 14, 2013 21:00:34 GMT -5
Welcome to the madness, Brian! You will learn much here, grasshopper. Yes, start with a smaller tumbler, and work your way up as you wife allows you to spend geometrically increasing amounts of money on rocks and rock supplies! Jean I have learned a wealth here as a grasshopper Brian. Welcome from Georgia Thanks guys, I'm taking your advice and going with a Lortone QT66 start up kit with grit, polish and a couple bags of rocks from the rock shed, and probably grab a couple extra bags of rocks while we're at it. Look forward to doing this with my son, just hope a 7 year old can stay patient with the process. I figure it'll be our Saturday afternoon activity. Any good suggestions on where to hound around upstate NY?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 14, 2013 22:18:39 GMT -5
Get some extra 60/90 grit while you're ordering. Rocks spend much more time in 60/90 than any other stage. You get a discount when you buy your tumbler, so this is the time to get it. I got fifty pounds last time last time I ordered.
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Post by parfive on Aug 14, 2013 22:52:11 GMT -5
”Any good suggestions on where to hound around upstate NY? ” Yeah . . . TheRockShed : )
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Post by roy on Aug 15, 2013 8:27:37 GMT -5
this is were you will find the answers you seek! welcome !
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Post by Rockhobbit on Aug 15, 2013 8:34:22 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! Welcome to our family! Sheri
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bwinslow
starting to shine!
Member since August 2013
Posts: 36
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Post by bwinslow on Aug 15, 2013 11:58:37 GMT -5
Thanks everyone, I just called my local library and reserved a copy of "Rockhounding in eastern NY and near by New England". Excited to get my hands on the book and take the whole family out to find some rocks! I have looked everyplace online to purchase a copy, and can't find it. If anybody knows any place to get one, please let me know. I'd love to own a copy.
We are also going to go to the Herkimer Dimond mines in the next couple weeks and do some hounding there. Hope to make a couple good finds there too. Will post pics if we find anything good.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 15, 2013 12:07:37 GMT -5
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