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Post by tims on Jun 4, 2015 20:13:41 GMT -5
Situation: I've got several tons of rock I'd like to organize in outdoor displays. Currently I have many big piles of rock which have sat for decades and are literally being swallowed back up by the earth. It's a totally jumbled field collection, with pieces ranging from hand specimens to lunkers a couple feet in diameter.
Question: How to build inexpensive and permanent outdoor displays that can hold serious weight, stand up to extreme weather, and allow for viewing?
I'd like to end up with raised platforms for smaller pieces with room to set the really large pieces underneath. Maybe. Any ideas? Anyone have pictures of their own outdoor displays? Thanks in advance ... all suggestions welcome.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 4, 2015 20:37:00 GMT -5
Concrete footings under your display areas. Depending on where you live, the footings should extend below the frost line. If you live in an area with lots of curious kids or rockhounds, at least a 4' high chain link fence, and a couple of mean guard dogs inside the fence. No matter how well meaning you are with your wish to display your rocks for others to enjoy, the better materials can and will grow legs and walk out of your yard.
I once had someone scale a concrete block wall 7' high, and walk off with about 800 lbs of choice rhodonite in broad daylight, in a residential area while my wife and I were at work.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 5, 2015 17:03:43 GMT -5
Yes sir,lots of theives around here too!!!!!!!! I have rocks around my boundry,in my yard and I see people picking them up and I 'm sure I have some missing too.. As for displaying,yes concrete slabs are great-than just start putting your creation together.......If that don't work,send them to me....LOL
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Post by tims on Jun 6, 2015 2:55:06 GMT -5
Here are some "before" pics. I'm hoping calling them that will keep me motivated to produce an "after"
Wish I had a stack of old corrugated tin siding, it's held up well for probably half a century ...
Here are a dozen of the first freed captives rescued today, I need to wash them off but they look like pitted agate nodules. These were completely submerged under dirt and turf.
In its current condition nobody even seems to notice the rock collection. Forest through the trees or something. But I'm sure you guys are right, if I get it cleaned up and sorted out I'll probably have to start worrying about securing it. This is going to be more than just a weekend endeavor so I guess one step at a time.
If I don't stack things up I'm estimating needing several hundred square feet of base, which would be a lot of concrete. Realistically I will probably go with plastic sheeting for ease and cost unless I can find a way to repurpose something on the cheap. Or I'll turn the house into a rock shop and live in a tent in the yard.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 6, 2015 8:59:12 GMT -5
Holy Molly Tim,you have a nice little pile building up there......Thumbs up
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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 Jun 6, 2015 9:53:58 GMT -5
We used this kind of black mat stuff you roll out to control weeds. I think it's called weed control fabric. It's sold to replace mulch in garden departments. It lasted about 20 years. We've actually been here 24 years. By now we have most of our rocks sold or swapped or off the ground by now but I too am thinking of some new displays. At one time we had 10K pounds -- five tons! Think we have about 2K now. That's an amount that's easy to put on simple rock tables made of concrete blocks and scrap board. Those tables are going to collapse at some point but they've lasted 20+ years. They went through multiple floods including Katrina in 2005. We bought and sold a crazy amount of material in the 90s...We had a truck and did lots of shows plus the early days of eBay when a small individual could still sell there and come up in eBay's search algorithm to find buyers! A few local rock shops bought stuff too. It was a lot of rocks.
We do have a fenced and locked yard. Mainly to keep people from getting hurt. Rocks don't exist in the wild in our town, and we wouldn't want anyone to trip on a rock. I have heard stories once or twice that someone hopped the fence and maybe took a rock or took some of my satsumas (mandarin oranges) but if they did, they kept it to a dull roar because I never noticed anything missing. A bad guy is not going to be able to hang around long in our backyard because our birds are good watchdogs and start raising hell if they see any strangers. I think it's more likely the petty thief "borrowed" one of the rocks I have on display in my front yard. Really don't care if someone helps themselves to one of those. If I notice the display out front looking a little thin, I just put out something new. Plenty of rock to go around in this world.
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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 Jun 6, 2015 10:00:11 GMT -5
THis is the brand we used. They say 25 years. I can say from our experience that it's definitely 20 years. After that, considering the rough environnment (MULTIPLE floods of the backyard starting with May 10, 1995] and lots of southern sunlight and it still holds up well. Scotts Landscape Weed Control
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 6, 2015 10:32:00 GMT -5
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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 Jun 6, 2015 11:42:35 GMT -5
Awesome! I'm jealous of people who live in places where they have ordinary rocks that allow them to do big projects like this! I forgot I already posted a quick insta showing the detail of one of my rock tables. Not a beautiful project like yours but for the fenced area out of public view it keeps the rocks out of the clay...
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Post by tims on Jun 6, 2015 13:39:23 GMT -5
Jugglerguy you're just showing off. Thanks for that what a gorgeous yard, and the stone paths and walls make it very inviting to wander around and see it all. Peachfront that plastic looks perfect; I'll order one roll to start and try to fab some tables for pretty small stuff. Love your halved agates ... what are they? Everything around here tends more to browns and reds, the translucent blue is really pretty. Thanks for the input
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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 Jun 6, 2015 15:09:45 GMT -5
Peachfront that plastic looks perfect; I'll order one roll to start and try to fab some tables for pretty small stuff. Love your halved agates ... what are they? Everything around here tends more to browns and reds, the translucent blue is really pretty. It's a mixed lot on that table but the most prominent blue one I'm pretty sure is India Blackskin. I sold most of it. It's very hard. But I have a few good pieces I kept for my own collection that I might photograph when I get a chance.
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Post by tims on Jun 6, 2015 20:54:24 GMT -5
My sheeting is ordered and I got a couple hours of digging in today (you'd never guess looking at it). I didn't realize the sheeting would pass moisture, so now I'm thinking of surrounding a big lilac with stone and probably just re-doing a long row of rock along the back of the house for starters. Still need to figure out some tables or something ...
Did hit a section of fence that seemed to be the fossil repository; lots of baculite and clam-looking critters, some with the pretty colorful shell at least semi-intact. Too dirty to show well here:
This I have convinced myself is a bone, though I am entirely prepared to be proved wrong. Looks shoulder or hip-y to me but might just be a weirdly weathered rock:
So ... Anyone need a few truckloads of Spruce needle mulch? FREE YOU HAUL
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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 Jun 7, 2015 16:21:25 GMT -5
Nice finds back there, Tim! Your project reminded me that I wanted to move this Brazilian Agate beast into the front yard display: At one time I thought I might sell it since it's too big for us to cut -- but it's also too big for the large Flat Rate box and anyway I wouldn't be able to lift it over the counter at the post office. But I think it makes a nice display even as it is. Especially when it's damp.
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jun 7, 2015 16:39:34 GMT -5
Jugglerguy has the right idea! I was going to suggest doing a walk-thru rock garden. Add some seating for nice place to take it all in.
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Post by tims on Jun 9, 2015 22:28:26 GMT -5
This is looking to become an all-summer project. I've got a few spots cleared with sheeting down and so finally have a spot to start putting the stuff I excavate, but first of course everything has to be washed off, sorted and wondered over. Time consuming, but fun. Tomorrow I'm going in search of display table tops ... gonna price expanded metal grating tomorrow, and if that is too pricey am hoping to find someone at the local gravel quarry to see if they have any scrap screens / grates that might be had on the cheap.
Will add photos as things progress but don't hold your breath --- if I moved any slower I'd have a nice druzy crust. Here's one bucket of salvage rinsed off ... some nice intact agates, jasper, quartz balls, wood and mystery rocks. Only about 999 more buckets to go
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Post by gingerkid on Jun 10, 2015 11:32:06 GMT -5
...Will add photos as things progress but don't hold your breath --- if I moved any slower I'd have a nice druzy crust... LOL, tims! Those are beautiful that you have sitting on the screen. In your first photos, what is the spongy material that is close to your meter? I really like your yard and home, Jugglerguy! Gorgeous landscaping with rock. peachfront, I like your rock table! Gives me an idea. tims, we have a 'rock' garden. You cannot see it until you walk down our driveway since it's hidden by box shrubs.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 10, 2015 13:24:53 GMT -5
My sheeting is ordered and I got a couple hours of digging in today (you'd never guess looking at it). I didn't realize the sheeting would pass moisture, so now I'm thinking of surrounding a big lilac with stone and probably just re-doing a long row of rock along the back of the house for starters. Still need to figure out some tables or something ...
Did hit a section of fence that seemed to be the fossil repository; lots of baculite and clam-looking critters, some with the pretty colorful shell at least semi-intact. Too dirty to show well here:
This I have convinced myself is a bone, though I am entirely prepared to be proved wrong. Looks shoulder or hip-y to me but might just be a weirdly weathered rock:
So ... Anyone need a few truckloads of Spruce needle mulch? FREE YOU HAUL I'm a "Baculite" nut!!!! Thumbs up
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 10, 2015 13:25:41 GMT -5
Nice finds back there, Tim! Your project reminded me that I wanted to move this Brazilian Agate beast into the front yard display: At one time I thought I might sell it since it's too big for us to cut -- but it's also too big for the large Flat Rate box and anyway I wouldn't be able to lift it over the counter at the post office. But I think it makes a nice display even as it is. Especially when it's damp. HOLY MOLLY,I would be facing that beauty!!!!
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delo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 134
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Post by delo on Jun 10, 2015 16:14:49 GMT -5
At-home rockhounding!!! Boy am i jealous! Am enjoying your posts and your pictures. keep the discoveries coming!
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Post by tims on Jun 11, 2015 19:37:01 GMT -5
In your first photos, what is the spongy material that is close to your meter? I think it's petrified coral. I've got an even bigger piece in the back yard that is almost completely submerged, but it and a few other lunkers around the yard are going to have to wait for rescue until I find another set of hands to help out. Have been rained out for a couple of days but will try to get a better pic of it; maybe someone here will chime in if (as usual) I've mid-identified it.
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