Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Oct 7, 2017 20:22:10 GMT -5
That's what I was thinking.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 7, 2017 20:31:26 GMT -5
I found a trip report I had read. This guy really worked to dig down into the flint but did it ever pay off. Nether's farm tripThe cabs at the end are amazing.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 8, 2017 0:25:48 GMT -5
I found a trip report I had read. This guy really worked to dig down into the flint but did it ever pay off. Nether's farm tripThe cabs at the end are amazing. That may very well be the most linked page in RTH history. It's a good one though.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 8, 2017 1:58:00 GMT -5
I found a trip report I had read. This guy really worked to dig down into the flint but did it ever pay off. Nether's farm tripThe cabs at the end are amazing. That may very well be the most linked page in RTH history. It's a good one though. That is what I get for being a newbie
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 8, 2017 6:31:10 GMT -5
That may very well be the most linked page in RTH history. It's a good one though. That is what I get for being a newbie It's all good, I'm sure not everyone has seen it. There's a reason it gets shared a lot. Very informative link. Thx! And those cabs ARE amazing.
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Post by janeofsometrades on Oct 8, 2017 17:01:54 GMT -5
Hi all, I know I have not been around much, and am a total newbie... but can I come? Maybe by then I'll have a tumbler and some idea what is going on! Perhaps if I do come I could scoop you up Dale, if you don't have another way to get there. Even if it's out of the way, I'm sure between all of us we can figure something out... Andrea #2
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2017 18:05:12 GMT -5
Hi all, I know I have not been around much, and am a total newbie... but can I come? Maybe by then I'll have a tumbler and some idea what is going on! Perhaps if I do come I could scoop you up Dale, if you don't have another way to get there. Even if it's out of the way, I'm sure between all of us we can figure something out... Andrea #2 Yes. Please join us!
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Post by orrum on Oct 8, 2017 18:21:41 GMT -5
A hoe can't dig much or fast. This isn't rocks mixed in dirt. It is a solid ridge, ridge means small long mountain of flint underground. It comes close to the surface at Nethers farm. The hoe has to break and scrape and scratch and fight the solid flint. It ain't easy. An all day dig in virgin flint don't make much progress. That's why it's called hard rock mining. If you are doing a meet and greet maybe Roy Miller's quarry and operation would be a place to check. I am not sure if he has group digs but it's worth a check it out. Ed Moreland would know. Look him up under Flint Ridge Knapp In. He has his name and contact info listed there.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Oct 8, 2017 19:36:30 GMT -5
orrum When I was there, Ed used the backhoe to dig down around the head of flint. Once it was to the point he could walk around it below ground level (like a trench with the flint in the middle) they started at it by hand. I agree, if you've never dug for flint... You're in for a challenge. Imagine trying to chisel a chunk off a block of cement bigger than your car. Now imagine doing that with something harder than cement... There you have it, "digging" for flint! I spent 2 and a half hours working a piece the size of my fist out of a wall, hard stuff! I think the backhoe is required to get access to the good material, or hours and hours digging down around a head followed by hours and hours to get just a few pieces. It's doable, and "many hands make light work", so don't be discouraged. Don't let the flint beat you! Somehow I feel this was more depressing than uplifting... Just want everyone to understand what we'll be up against. P.S. Bring safety glasses!
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Oct 8, 2017 19:43:50 GMT -5
Probably good of me to explain what I learned and what I did wrong.
First, I spent all that time working a single piece out of a wall of flint. That's fine and dandy, but I shouldn't have started working into a flat wall (I was just being stubborn). You should start at the top and work your way down, removing flint in layers. This allows you to come at it from all angles. You'll have to pry a lot, working on natural fault lines. If there's a literal ton of material above that line, good luck lifting it! But, start on a fault line with nothing above or beside it and it'll crumble! Easy! That's probably the best advice I can give. Ed has a video on YouTube where he explains that he works the flint in a similar way, but he shapes it into a staircase shape, starting with the top "step" I'll try to find the video and get a link.
Edit: Here's that link to the video where Ed explains and shows how to remove flint by hand.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 8, 2017 20:23:12 GMT -5
Probably good of me to explain what I learned and what I did wrong. First, I spent all that time working a single piece out of a wall of flint. That's fine and dandy, but I shouldn't have started working into a flat wall (I was just being stubborn). You should start at the top and work your way down, removing flint in layers. This allows you to come at it from all angles. You'll have to pry a lot, working on natural fault lines. If there's a literal ton of material above that line, good luck lifting it! But, start on a fault line with nothing above or beside it and it'll crumble! Easy! That's probably the best advice I can give. Ed has a video on YouTube where he explains that he works the flint in a similar way, but he shapes it into a staircase shape, starting with the top "step" I'll try to find the video and get a link. Edit: Here's that link to the video where Ed explains and shows how to remove flint by hand. That video is going to be super helpful. It's nice to see someone who knows what they're doing rather than learn by trial and error. I sure hope I can make it down there next summer.
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Post by aDave on Oct 8, 2017 20:25:44 GMT -5
Luminin Cody, that's really helpful. Don't know at this point if I'll get out there next year, but what you provided is great stuff. Dave
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Post by orrum on Oct 8, 2017 20:29:49 GMT -5
Hey I didna mean to be depressing about the flint! I love digging for something worthwhile!!! Plus there is flint chunks laying everywhere to pick thru. I get my best pieces out of the leaves that have been buried under a leaf coating for years!
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,599
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Post by Mark K on Oct 8, 2017 20:37:47 GMT -5
He is using way too big of a chisel to exploit those small cracks. I use tiny chisels to get into the cracks and then I move up to the bigger ones. You would be surprised at how big of a chunk you can break loose with a small chisel. Also, what he is showing is easy work. Try chiseling agates out of rhyolite and you will see hard work.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 8, 2017 20:45:51 GMT -5
Ok, after watching another couple videos, I realize that we don’t need a regular backhoe, we need one with a hydraulic hammer. Check out the video at about 11:30.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,599
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Post by Mark K on Oct 8, 2017 21:43:27 GMT -5
I have something similar yet smaller.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 8, 2017 21:54:57 GMT -5
Awesome videos, Gives a body a great insight in what to expect.
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Post by parfive on Oct 9, 2017 0:29:45 GMT -5
36v Hilti w/a few backup Li-ions.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Oct 22, 2017 7:55:36 GMT -5
Haven't been around in a little while. Life gets busy, but I am still tumbling. Gonna have to try to carve out time to make this. Been wanting to get to Nether's and its only a little over an hour away. I will keep following this thread to see what happens.
Jake
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Post by Toad on Nov 14, 2017 5:46:23 GMT -5
Add me to the list please.
My first trip up I mostly surface collected.
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