tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 13, 2020 22:00:26 GMT -5
My name is Tracy. COVID-19 helped me with something! I found a new hobby back early May and have really been really hooked. It helps that there are a lot great spots in Oregon to find material and also get some much needed exercise while having fun.
I started with a cheap Harbor Freight dual tumbler and have since bought two Lortone 12QTs, a twin Lot-O and a Thumbler's UV-10.
I have cut some stones and did some shaping (hearts & an arrowhead) on a 7" tile saw I had in the garage from the home improvement days.
I wanted to get into cabbing and just laid out a down payment for the new Highland Park C8 (this can't some in the mail fast enough, but I think it'll be a long wait since they are back ordered and ship from the Philippines).
Rob from Michigan Rocks referred me to this forum when I was having issues with performance of the Twin Lot-o (still doesn't work as well as his single Lot-o ) I should remove the glue and try re-tuning it, but when I got the UV-10, the Lot-o was somewhat ignored for several weeks.
I'm 57 now with very few bills, so I have been very fortunate to be able to splurge on getting a few toys for the new hobby.
Bummed that the traditional Oregon wet season is upon us now and I won't be getting as much of the exercise that I have enjoyed the last 4 months.
Look forward to chatting with all of you!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 13, 2020 23:06:52 GMT -5
Hey Tracy! Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! Holy shamoley, you really are hooked! You've come to the right place! Most, if not all of us on the forum are hooked as well!
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tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 14, 2020 0:08:56 GMT -5
Thanks Jason! Kinda weird how the hobby happened. My son's fiance was staying with us and she loves crystals. I remembered getting a few nice petrified wood pieces from my parent's yard and left them in one of our gardens. I grabbed a few to show her and started thinking it would be great to process the stones to make them look terrific.
My dad had a brief hobby of polishing agates back in the 70's. I got a box of them (can't find them now) and never really thought much of them over the years. Initially, just finding cool stones was the most exciting part of the hobby. I am now really enjoying trying shape them into something even cooler.
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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 14, 2020 7:01:23 GMT -5
Envious of you living in Oregon for the rocks.
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Post by Peruano on Oct 14, 2020 7:04:58 GMT -5
Welcome from New Mexico where we worry about having enough water to drink on our hikes, rather than whether it will rain too much today. We are in extreme drought for the year. You have the right attitude and energy for the job. Keep us informed of your frustrations and successes. Oregon has wonderful resources in the rock world.
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rocket
spending too much on rocks
Quality slabs for quality cabs in 2022
Member since September 2020
Posts: 292
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Post by rocket on Oct 14, 2020 7:58:25 GMT -5
Welcomed Tracy, from Baltimore. I just watched the HP C8 video...it looks awesome. I found a decades old Covington that I am slowly rebuilding. Trying to decide which wheels to put on it is making me crazy...what wheels did you decide on?...Rocket
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 14, 2020 8:02:50 GMT -5
Welcome to the addiction from Northern Arizona!
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Oct 14, 2020 8:09:39 GMT -5
Greetings from South Carolina!
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2020 9:53:08 GMT -5
Welcome to Virginia- I'm at the beach where there are no rocks and yet I'm a rock junquie. Go figure. When the fever hits, it hits- can't do too much about it, I'm afraid. Except buy (or hound) more...
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 14, 2020 11:25:29 GMT -5
Howdy from Oregon
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tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 14, 2020 14:01:52 GMT -5
Welcomed Tracy, from Baltimore. I just watched the HP C8 video...it looks awesome. I found a decades old Covington that I am slowly rebuilding. Trying to decide which wheels to put on it is making me crazy...what wheels did you decide on?...Rocket Hi Rocket - I'll probably outfit the machine with the DP Nova wheels.
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tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 14, 2020 14:04:33 GMT -5
Welcome to Virginia- I'm at the beach where there are no rocks and yet I'm a rock junquie. Go figure. When the fever hits, it hits- can't do too much about it, I'm afraid. Except buy (or hound) more... Is that Virginia Beach area? I did a few tours in the Navy there and still own my former home there (near Pembroke Mall).
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2020 14:16:16 GMT -5
Welcome to Virginia- I'm at the beach where there are no rocks and yet I'm a rock junquie. Go figure. When the fever hits, it hits- can't do too much about it, I'm afraid. Except buy (or hound) more... Is that Virginia Beach area? I did a few tours in the Navy there and still own my former home there (near Pembroke Mall). Yup, Pembroke/Town Center area. We're a big Navy family.
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tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 14, 2020 14:26:11 GMT -5
Is that Virginia Beach area? I did a few tours in the Navy there and still own my former home there (near Pembroke Mall). Yup, Pembroke/Town Center area. We're a big Navy family. Small world. I left VA Beach in '93 and haven't been back, so I have only seen pictures of the Town Center.
Where do you rockhound in that part of the country?
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2020 14:29:21 GMT -5
Yup, Pembroke/Town Center area. We're a big Navy family. Small world. I left VA Beach in '93 and haven't been back, so I have only seen pictures of the Town Center.
Where do you rockhound in that part of the country? I really wish I could tell you, but it's slim pickens for day trips. There are some nice spots more south of us, though.
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tswish63
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by tswish63 on Oct 14, 2020 14:31:47 GMT -5
Welcome from New Mexico where we worry about having enough water to drink on our hikes, rather than whether it will rain too much today. We are in extreme drought for the year. You have the right attitude and energy for the job. Keep us informed of your frustrations and successes. Oregon has wonderful resources in the rock world. We need to send you some bottled water! LOL
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thecrystalisle
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 142
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Post by thecrystalisle on Oct 14, 2020 15:08:15 GMT -5
Small world. I left VA Beach in '93 and haven't been back, so I have only seen pictures of the Town Center.
Where do you rockhound in that part of the country? I really wish I could tell you, but it's slim pickens for day trips. There are some nice spots more south of us, though. I didn't know you were a fellow Virginian! <3 I myself am in the Shenandoah Valley at the moment.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 14, 2020 15:40:04 GMT -5
I really wish I could tell you, but it's slim pickens for day trips. There are some nice spots more south of us, though. I didn't know you were a fellow Virginian! <3 I myself am in the Shenandoah Valley at the moment. The Shenandoah Valley is gorgeous! Lucky you. Our beaches are too crowded, so it's really no fun.
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thecrystalisle
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 142
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Post by thecrystalisle on Oct 14, 2020 16:42:56 GMT -5
I didn't know you were a fellow Virginian! <3 I myself am in the Shenandoah Valley at the moment. The Shenandoah Valley is gorgeous! Lucky you. Our beaches are too crowded, so it's really no fun. They should definitely not be crowded at this time! 😬 I am very lucky I had the owner of Merlin's Gem in Maryland come by to purchase some stuff for a sale he was having and he asked me if I get used to the views and don't notice them. I said not a day goes by that I don't appreciate it Where I am at right now, I can see Shenandoah on one side and blue ridge on the other. Breathtaking and always will be! Will never take it for granted. Even the Shenandoah river is right down the road
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Post by opalpyrexia on Oct 14, 2020 16:54:03 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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