Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 18, 2015 9:05:18 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Been playing around with tumbling some larger Rio Grande agates for paperweights. Here are a few from my last batch. Largest is maybe 6 oz and over 3" x 3"....Mel This one is even a bit larger and kind of ehh except I like the huge one inch plus golden sagenite spray dead center.
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Post by captbob on Apr 18, 2015 9:28:09 GMT -5
I like 'em! Also enjoy tumbling stone larger than the norm. I don't recall, what size tumbler are you using? First picture far right is a Rio? Looks like something outta Cali.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 18, 2015 11:09:14 GMT -5
Very nice colors Mel!!!!!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 18, 2015 11:28:57 GMT -5
Bob, Yep, all Rios from the same batch the kiddoes brought in. I use a Lortone 12# barrel on a MJR tumbler for the rotary work. Finish final three stages in a UV-10....Mel
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Post by gingerkid on Apr 18, 2015 11:36:06 GMT -5
Very pretty Rios, Sabre52! They will make beautiful paper weights. I really like the one with the sagenite and the one with the vug.
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Post by snowmom on Apr 18, 2015 17:46:57 GMT -5
nice shine on them, love that top center RED!
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Post by orrum on Apr 18, 2015 18:03:11 GMT -5
Yep the red does it for me!
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Apr 18, 2015 18:10:15 GMT -5
They turned out nice , it a lot of work to get that smooth shape and the bigger ones.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 18, 2015 18:11:34 GMT -5
Gorgeous colors, and love the shine on them!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 18, 2015 21:08:13 GMT -5
Good looking tumble. Those kids sure pick up good stuff. Where's the filler? You must have run some smalls with these.
Chuck
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 18, 2015 21:23:08 GMT -5
Oh yeah Chuck. I ran a couple of pounds of itty bitties and about seven pounds of regular smaller broken up Rio stuff. The smaller stuff is going to the P pups mom as she is covering a skull with Rio tumbles. If I don't forget, I'll try to take a pic if it ever stops raining. We have an unbelievable lightning show going on right now. Virtually constant bolts. Looks like a giant strobe light outside....Mel
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Apr 19, 2015 10:46:11 GMT -5
If you post your stone tiny skull, I'll post mine. It's kinda old, I think I did it in 1990.
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Post by snowmom on Apr 20, 2015 6:02:13 GMT -5
oooh you guys have given me some ideas.. stone covered skulls- too cool! yes, pictures please!
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Post by captbob on Apr 20, 2015 9:19:24 GMT -5
What's the deal with skulls? I see various rocks carved into skulls ALL the time on eBay. Don't get it...
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Apr 20, 2015 10:27:27 GMT -5
What's the deal with skulls? I see various rocks carved into skulls ALL the time on eBay. Don't get it... It depends on your tradition, heritage, etc. I simply found a skull while hiking in the 1980s and eventually I dressed it with my own crushed stone tinies. It was an artistic thing rather than any big ole goth statement for me...My skull is not a human skull. One of my friends for some reason decided to steal a human skull from a mausoleum in New Orleans. She got arrested. That was definitely a witchcraft thing rather than an artistic statement. Artists stick with found skulls, very frequently cattle. I think my skull is possum, it's something small in any case. To many people it may seem a little metal or goth or otherwise late 20th century but skulls to remind people of mortality and sacrifice are as old as time or at least as old as Shakespeare if you remember your high school production of Hamlet. I'm sure the original skulls used for such meditations were in fact skulls. However, in the 20th century, not sure quite when it happened, but there was a pop archeologist who claimed to find skulls carved out of quartz in the pyramids of Mexico and Central America. They were modern (I want to say 1930s era?) fakes but the stone and crystal skulls did become a popular New Age or meditation symbol as well as a popular motif for goth, emo, metal, etc. I mainly followed the story of the skulls from exhibits in the Museum of London and the British Museum, and it's been awhile so forgive me if this explanation is a little blurred. They used to have one of the big ole quartz crystal fake skulls on display in the British Museum and for all I know they still do. The skulls in the Museum of London were the real skulls of young men sacrificed to the river in the days when the city was first founded. Whenever that was. Around the time of the Roman invasion maybe? Sadly the mass production of tiny stone skulls has become a "thing" and a skull sloppily carved out of stone isn't necessarily anything special. I sure wouldn't buy one on eBay without having seen it in person first. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that most people wearing things like silver skulls, skulls printed on a scarf or on their boxers etc. just like the visual and artistic image and there is nothing deeper than that. If my history is a little iffy, remember I'm just working from memory here. I'm not a professional folklorist or whatever. If somebody else knows more about "the deal with skulls," feel free to speak up. Oh, and I just remembered there are a lot of real skull carvings from Mexico & Central America, just not semi-precious stone or quartz. More like entire walls carved with skulls. If I find my photo I'll post one. It was something to do with sacrifice, unless the tour guide fibbed, which I wouldn't put past him. Something about a ball game, and the losers got their heads cut off! Seems like you'd have trouble recruiting people for the team if that were entirely true.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 20, 2015 11:47:05 GMT -5
Yeah, to clarify my comment the skull in question in my example is an animal skull. Liza and her hubby are taxidermists so I don't know what kind and won't know till I see it. I'll try to get a pic when it's done. Lots of folks decorate skulls with stones as artwork wall hangings round these parts.....Mel
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Post by captbob on Apr 20, 2015 12:00:39 GMT -5
I kinda figured that. Animal skulls I understand! I'd love to have a big 'ol longhorn skull, but the boss lady would probably kill me if I tried to put it up anywhere.
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megalotis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2009
Posts: 226
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Post by megalotis on Apr 23, 2015 19:20:54 GMT -5
Mel, Those Rios are amazing! I've gotta get me a 12-pound tumbler!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 24, 2015 9:40:25 GMT -5
I have a couple of Buffalo skulls,might have given me a few ideas..........Thumbs up
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megalotis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2009
Posts: 226
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Post by megalotis on Apr 24, 2015 14:48:29 GMT -5
Speaking of skulls, I like this guy's work:
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