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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 3, 2020 0:16:13 GMT -5
It's not rocket science, you know. There really is no wrong or right.
As Bob Ross, the painting guy on PBS used to say, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents. Something like that.
Seems like things always work out. Maybe not as you had planned, but they have a tendency to just go their own way.
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Post by miket on Oct 3, 2020 9:26:07 GMT -5
I like rocks all smooth and shiny. But when I tried it, I got all whiny. When 5:00pm rolled around, and they still weren’t done, I was glad I could cab and be done while I was still young! Enjoy ! Agates acquired From a desolate prairie, Made me shake. I was a bit wary! Advice from the best Community around And I knew I could do it Safe and sound! There once was a man from Nantucket Who put all of his rocks in a bucket.... I should probably stop there. 😁
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Post by mohs on Oct 3, 2020 9:38:33 GMT -5
sum sorted as 7 mohs others jus didn't knohs yep best stop there o well phukit rock poet must grind till it
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Post by knave on Oct 3, 2020 10:07:40 GMT -5
You guys, lol. Poets, really? Pretty good stuff!
Can’t wait to see your batch.
A happy good Chappie named Jason, Went out to the prairie, rock chasin’. He brought them all back, Then got right on track, And Shawn at the Rock Shed is now his best friend.
Lol
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 4, 2020 8:27:12 GMT -5
Edit - question moved to its own thread
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Post by Mel on Oct 6, 2020 21:26:50 GMT -5
Oooh boy!! You're going to have some real fun now!
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Post by RocksInNJ on Oct 10, 2020 12:11:23 GMT -5
Hey! Glad my post was helpful. Since that post I've started covering the bowl with a piece of waxed paper to keep the lid and pad cleaner and drier. I think it was RocksInNJ who suggested using Saran wrap, and it seems to be helpful. Glad it’s working out for you. It really helps to keep the lid bottom clean along with less wear. I my have to try the wax paper thing next time. The Seran wrap can be a pain at times.
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Post by RocksInNJ on Oct 10, 2020 12:13:04 GMT -5
I’m a bit late to the party, but wanted to say congrats on the new purchases and wish you the best of luck in the future. It sure is a fun hobby. Love the big egg too.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 10, 2020 22:49:14 GMT -5
Oooh boy!! You're going to have some real fun now! Thanks! I'm having a blast so far! This first batch (in both) is a massive learning curve! I’m a bit late to the party, but wanted to say congrats on the new purchases and wish you the best of luck in the future. It sure is a fun hobby. Love the big egg too. Oh, you're not late...the party's just getting started! LOL
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 10, 2020 22:54:36 GMT -5
So update on what's happened.
Rotary - Thumler's Model B: I checked a few rocks in the rotary tumbler on Friday. Didn't really see enough rough removal to stop stage one. Per the suggestion of some, I didn't do a washout, I just added another 12 Tbsp of 60/90 SiC to the existing slurry and put it back on to start another week. The slurry was funny and didn't seem to thick, so I felt safe in not doing the washout... feel free to chastise if I shouldn't have done this...
Vibe - Thumler's UV-18: Friday I spent some time on the tile saw as well as using a dremel, removing bad areas on the already tumbled (twice in 120/220) rocks. I was trying to remove any pitted areas or areas with any type of fissures. I think my expectations of what the vibe would "remove" in the 120/220 stage was not realistic. Lesson learned there. That being said however, I don't think the vibe is going to remove some of the tile saw marks...
So, tomorrow, I'm going to check the vibe tumble as it will have been running another two days in the 120/220 stage.
For what I'm looking for in these tumbles, I think it's going to behoove me to run the rocks in the rotary for a week. I just wanted to preserve the basic "shape" of most of my rocks without "rounding" them too much, so I was reluctant to start with the rotary...but I do believe it's going to be a necessity.
I'll get some pics soon...as soon as there's something worth taking pics of! LOL
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 766
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Post by lordsorril on Oct 11, 2020 5:39:04 GMT -5
Sounds good. Don't stress if all your rocks aren't perfect...I noticed a lot of people have a tendency just to show their best-this may create a false expectation.
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Post by Mel on Oct 11, 2020 11:27:50 GMT -5
Sounds good. Don't stress if all your rocks aren't perfect...I noticed a lot of people have a tendency just to show their best-this may create a false expectation. Exactly. Reality VS expectaation are often vastly different. My expectations were to be a multimillionaire by 30....Reality is I have become a shelter for homeless rocks... I like to see rough progress. I can gauge the progression of my skills by seeing someone else's examples (and vice versa).
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 16, 2020 18:30:10 GMT -5
So, here's the update on the rotary. I ran it one week with 12 Tablespoons of 60/90. After that first week, I added another 12 Tablespoons of 60/90 without rinsing. I just finished pulling them from the rotary, washed them off, took some pics, and reloaded for another week of fresh 60/90. On the next batch I tumble, I think I'd like to try going with an even coarser grit just to try and knock more material off "quicker". Most of the rough I have needs quite a bit of material removed. First pic is the before pic. The rest are pics I just took of the progress after two weeks. (I didn't put them back in the same spots as in the original pic, so you'll have to search for their new look in the new pic! LOL) It's cloudy out, so pics came out as is... Before Pic After Pics:
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 16, 2020 20:11:32 GMT -5
jasoninsd, I don't tumble at all so take this with a grain of salt, but I think they look pretty dang good after only 2 weeks.
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Post by stephan on Oct 16, 2020 21:07:47 GMT -5
I’m gonna second what Robin said.
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Post by Pat on Oct 16, 2020 21:15:49 GMT -5
Make that three what Robin said.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 16, 2020 22:18:20 GMT -5
jasoninsd, I don't tumble at all so take this with a grain of salt, but I think they look pretty dang good after only 2 weeks. Well...I've only got two weeks more experience than you, and I too think they look pretty good! LOL. Thank you Robin. I’m gonna second what Robin said. Thanks Stephan. Make that three what Robin said. Thanks Pat. I couldn't take very good pics tonight...I think (know) my phone's camera lens had a smudge on it and I didn't realize it until later! LOL. Some of the bubble gum agate banding was just starting to come out on several, so I'm hoping another week in the rough grit will bring them out like I'd like...but we'll see. The vibe finished the polish stage tonight as well, but again, I couldn't get pictures to come out...but I think I solved that problem. LOL. It's supposed to be rainy/snowy tomorrow, but as soon as I can, I'll post pics of the finished vibe batch. They're not as brilliant as some of the tumbles I've seen on the forum, but I'm happy with the results of my first attempt.
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Post by Pat on Oct 16, 2020 22:35:48 GMT -5
jasoninsd. I know about smudges on camera lens. I will never put a chocolate chip cookie in the same pocket with my cell phone. Live and learn. Hopefully!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 16, 2020 22:57:05 GMT -5
jasoninsd. I know about smudges on camera lens. I will never put a chocolate chip cookie in the same pocket with my cell phone. Live and learn. Hopefully! LOL! Having chocolate chip cookies in your pocket is bad enough, let alone with a camera companion! It's the second time I've taken pics with a smudged spot on the lens and wondered what was wrong with my phone's camera! So... hopefully, the THIRD time I'll recognize the problem sooner...hopefully! LOL The other day I was spray painting my shutters (not while they were on the house) and I had paint all over my hands when I got a phone call...wasn't paying attention...my black phone case turned zebra for a few days! LOL
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Post by Mel on Oct 16, 2020 23:06:37 GMT -5
I'm liking what I'm seeing!! Especially like the jasper (?) with the yellow. Can't wait to see more. And your post reminded me I need to check my tumblers
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