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Post by reefandrockgirl on Aug 4, 2017 11:29:56 GMT -5
Best beginners equipment to learn and explore the hobby??? Any advice?
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Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 4, 2017 11:53:57 GMT -5
Lot of things to consider . What aspects of the hobby are you interested in ? How interested ? What is your history with hobbies , like do you pick a hobby and run with it for awhile only to move on to something else . Not picking on you , serious questions to ask yourself . If you are truly interested , my best advice is to get the best equipment you can afford to do what you want to do with it .
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Post by aDave on Aug 4, 2017 12:22:55 GMT -5
^^^^^Very good answer, with probably the single-most important question being this: "What aspects of the hobby are you interested in?"
It would make no sense to point you to tumblers, for example, but that's not what floats your boat. Welcome to the forum.
Dave
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 4, 2017 12:31:31 GMT -5
Start out collecting rocks...If you enjoy them enough to start cutting them,buy a rock saw you can afford.. Than go from there. That is just a drop in the bucket for lapidary hobby...LOL PS: Was always told to buy what you could afford and kick it up a notch (more money for investment).. Don't buy junk! It takes time,but if you enjoy it,it will bite you hard and your on the way for a heck of a rockhounding ride!!!!   Some like a certain area in hounding,some like it all..... |
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on Aug 4, 2017 12:44:24 GMT -5
as I'm sure you have seen, the inside doesn't always look like the outside......I love to cut rocks. I have a noisy, messing tile saw, but it was cheap and it works. If a rock might look interesting I'll bring it home, cut it and either cut it up or toss it. An interesting thread would be the stories of people cutting open a rock and the surprise of what they found inside.
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Post by spiceman on Aug 4, 2017 21:06:53 GMT -5
I would say start with a tumbler. How much do you want to invest?
Many different tumblers, get the one that fits your pocket book.
Remember all the stuff needed to tumble: grit for each stage and polish.
Do a search on top five rock tumblers. Stay in your budget.
The rock shed has good prices. Don't search all day to save a few bucks, it's not worth it.
Start with tumbling first and see if you like that, then branch out.
Lapitory equipment is not cheep.
My opinion : Lortone is a good name of a tumbler. Again stay in your budget.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 5, 2017 9:16:22 GMT -5
Hello R & R Girl, welcome to the forum. I agree with what everyone above said. I'm going to assume that you want to tumble rocks since that's the name of this site. I might be way off though, since there are many other aspects of this hobby that you might be more interested in. I started with tumbling, then like many others, I bought more and more equipment. Most of what I bought, other than tumblers, was used equipment. Older stuff is cheaper, and in some cases better than newer stuff. Keep an eye on Craig's List and eBay. If you want to buy a tumbler, I'd recommend a two barrel Lortone model such as the 33B or the QT66. At some point if you want to speed things up and use less grit, I'd get a Lot-O tumbler. Get way more coarse grit than what they sell in their grit packs. The coarse grinding stage runs much longer than what tumbler manufacturers say. If you're buying from the Rock Shed, you get a discount on rough rocks and grit when you buy a tumbler, so I'd buy at least five or ten pounds of 60/90 or 46/70 grit. I prefer 46/70 grit. Ask lots of questions and we will help you out. |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 7, 2017 9:28:40 GMT -5
Howdy and welcome. I'd start by attending a couple of gem and mineral shows and see what grabs you. Some folks see the pretty crystal specimens and go that way. For others its the cool fossils or jewelry making, wire wrapping, cabbing. faceting etc. Some folks like self collected specimens of all types and some like to buy showy stuff. Lots of folks just like picking up weird looking rocks for flower pots or other display. Me, I like the field collecting and the sawing. Opening a rock is like opening a surprise package. Never know what you will get. My wife likes the gimcracks and geegaws at the shows, the shiny faceted stone jewelry and the carvings etc. Everyone is different but going to a show will tell ya what you like by just lookin...Mel
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2017 21:20:20 GMT -5
reefandrockgirlGet a couple of 12# tumblers, a Lot-O, a 24" saw, an 18" saw and a 12" saw, a genie cabochon machine, a wet grinder, a Canon (Nikon ok too) camera and a few lenses (including macro), lighting and other studio gear, four wheel drive pickup and a trailer for hauling home rocks and gear, paleo pic, 16oz rock hammer, squirt bottles, large(ish) ice chest, one or three sphere machines and all the various cup sizes and grits to make them work. For any or all.of these, you may build your own or buy them. Used is good. new is, well, new! As an aside you will need a shed, shelving, milk crates (hundreds), a wheelbarrow is handy. Stuff to filter or dispose of used saw oil. storage and organizational stuff for finished goods. Or, you could start small and end up here anyways. Just sayin'! Tommy
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Post by spiceman on Aug 8, 2017 19:34:23 GMT -5
reefandrockgirl Get a couple of 12# tumblers, a Lot-O, a 24" saw, an 18" saw and a 12" saw, a genie cabochon machine, a wet grinder, a Canon (Nikon ok too) camera and a few lenses (including macro), lighting and other studio gear, four wheel drive pickup and a trailer for hauling home rocks and gear, paleo pic, 16oz rock hammer, squirt bottles, large(ish) ice chest, one or three sphere machines and all the various cup sizes and grits to make them work. For any or all.of these, you may build your own or buy them. Used is good. new is, well, new! As an aside you will need a shed, shelving, milk crates (hundreds), a wheelbarrow is handy. Stuff to filter or dispose of used saw oil. storage and organizational stuff for finished goods. Or, you could start small and end up here anyways. Just sayin'! Tommy Lets cut to the chase. Just get a winning Megan Millions lottery ticket. Oh, while your at it get me one too. |
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