Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Dec 23, 2020 21:39:15 GMT -5
I've been reading RTH for about a year now after repeatedly being led here while doing research on tumblers. It's been a wonderful learning experience due to the wealth of knowledge of the members and the way they share that knowledge and help fellow members. After reading almost every new post for the past year, I feel like I've already come to know so many even if I've only been a fly on the wall all this time. From the rockin' hearts to Odin's Day - Turd Thursdays - Fairbun Fridays to the various cabbing contests, it's been wonderful reading about everyone else's journey.
I first came across RTH while researching tumblers. I have two young kids who seem to be interested in just about anything and rocks and fossils are no exception. Both have a tendency to pocket any interesting rocks they see and have inadvertently turned our washing machine into a giant tumbler! It probably helps that their friend's dad is a paleontologist and my wife has a geology professor friend. Or that my wife and I both have science backgrounds and try to get them interested in all things science. I wanted to get the kids a rock tumbler for Christmas last year, but time got away from me and I knew there had to be better options than the toy tumblers on Amazon. Since both my wife and I always wanted a tumbler when we were kids (but somehow neither of us ever got one), she was all for the idea.
By the time I finally settled on the model I wanted (Lortone 33B - two barrels for two kids!), covid had struck and plans slowed down. Luckily, Shawn at the Rock Shed (thanks RTH for so many positive reviews!) was great to work with and was able to get one for us, along with plenty of supplies. More research and the marketplace here has led to plenty of rough for us to play with. Living in the Philly suburbs (and lack of travel) limits the rock collecting a little, but the tips and reviews here have been immensely helpful.
Come Friday morning, we will officially be tumbling and hopefully we will put the past year's worth of reading RTH to good use!
With that, a belated thank you to all of those who have been so helpful without even knowing it (aside from the many likes that have been left behind by this unknown reader), and I look forward to contributing now that I will have some experience of my own.
Happy holidays to all!
-Brian
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2020 22:03:32 GMT -5
Welcome aboard- officially.  Great introduction. It's nice to hear how much people benefit from our banter. |
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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 Dec 23, 2020 22:04:48 GMT -5
Welcome from “ down south” in Maryland...really looking forward to reading about your tumbling adventures...Rocket
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 23, 2020 22:10:11 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
Great intro and I'm looking forward to your family's tumbling and rock collecting adventures.
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Post by mohs on Dec 23, 2020 22:20:56 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH  Brian ! & right on  EdMohs |
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Post by manofglass on Dec 23, 2020 22:39:03 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan
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Post by taylor on Dec 23, 2020 23:31:16 GMT -5
Welcome from southern Arizona!
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jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 463
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Post by jasperfanatic on Dec 23, 2020 23:34:45 GMT -5
Welcome, from Oregon. There's a great group here. Rock people, well...they rock |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 24, 2020 0:47:09 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! What a great introduction Brian! Just going to say you're probably going to need to get another 33B as it sounds like there's two more people in the house besides the kids who are going to want their own tumbles going too! I really think it's fantastic you've introduced some very positive and intellectual influences in your children's lives! Serious kudos to you both! I look forward to the previous "fly on the wall" posting updates of the many tumbles to come...as you know...we all love pics!  |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
Member is Online
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Post by Brian on Dec 24, 2020 20:46:49 GMT -5
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I was joking around with my daughter today and said if she didn't watch out Santa may leave her a box of rocks knowing full well I had already placed more than one box of rocks under the tree. She didn't miss a beat and said that would be really fun if they were pretty or cool like geodes. I have a feeling the kiddos will be having lots of fun with their rocks.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
Member is Online
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Post by Brian on Dec 24, 2020 20:48:20 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! What a great introduction Brian! Just going to say you're probably going to need to get another 33B as it sounds like there's two more people in the house besides the kids who are going to want their own tumbles going too! I really think it's fantastic you've introduced some very positive and intellectual influences in your children's lives! Serious kudos to you both! I look forward to the previous "fly on the wall" posting updates of the many tumbles to come...as you know...we all love pics! Too funny that you would say that about two more barrels, Jason! I already had that thought, but more along the lines of twin 6 lb barrels for a little more variety.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 24, 2020 23:04:45 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! What a great introduction Brian! Just going to say you're probably going to need to get another 33B as it sounds like there's two more people in the house besides the kids who are going to want their own tumbles going too! I really think it's fantastic you've introduced some very positive and intellectual influences in your children's lives! Serious kudos to you both! I look forward to the previous "fly on the wall" posting updates of the many tumbles to come...as you know...we all love pics! Too funny that you would say that about two more barrels, Jason! I already had that thought, but more along the lines of twin 6 lb barrels for a little more variety.  LOL - Even better! Careful, you're going to start thinking you might need a Thumler's UV-18 vibratory tumbler just to keep up with all the rotary barrels! This hobby can get as addicting as you want it to get...or let it get! LOL |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Dec 25, 2020 10:53:11 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,715 
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 25, 2020 12:28:54 GMT -5
Howdy..
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Post by MsAli on Dec 26, 2020 8:13:44 GMT -5
Hi Brian and welcome from Mn
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jan 2, 2021 17:14:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums from the Desert Southwest! It is very nice of you to mention that the RTH might have been a help to you in the past. I am sure that the forum regulars appreciate hearing that.
Many folks here have taken a considerable amount of time and effort to help me along personally in my rock hobby. Perhaps some day when I know enough to help others then I can repay the favor.
Hope to see you around!
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Post by Pat on Jan 2, 2021 17:16:22 GMT -5
Welcome from California.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
Member is Online
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Post by Brian on Jan 3, 2021 11:01:29 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums from the Desert Southwest! It is very nice of you to mention that the RTH might have been a help to you in the past. I am sure that the forum regulars appreciate hearing that. Many folks here have taken a considerable amount of time and effort to help me along personally in my rock hobby. Perhaps some day when I know enough to help others then I can repay the favor. Hope to see you around! Thanks for the welcome! The forum regulars have been an amazing source of knowledge and inspiration! I must admit that as a complete newcomer to rock tumbling that it has taken a while to even realize how much I did not know and how to make sense of the experience and wisdom of others. I wish I could remember all of the helpful posts I’ve read so I can personally thank the posters, but for now I’ll just post a big thank you right here and hope to make up for it later! Thanks RTH! |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jan 6, 2021 13:22:02 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums from the Desert Southwest! It is very nice of you to mention that the RTH might have been a help to you in the past. I am sure that the forum regulars appreciate hearing that. Many folks here have taken a considerable amount of time and effort to help me along personally in my rock hobby. Perhaps some day when I know enough to help others then I can repay the favor. Hope to see you around! Thanks for the welcome! The forum regulars have been an amazing source of knowledge and inspiration! I must admit that as a complete newcomer to rock tumbling that it has taken a while to even realize how much I did not know and how to make sense of the experience and wisdom of others. I wish I could remember all of the helpful posts I’ve read so I can personally thank the posters, but for now I’ll just post a big thank you right here and hope to make up for it later! Thanks RTH! My thing for remembering the helpful posts from others is to keep a extensive log book. I have a collections of notes from the best here at RTH, on all topics of interest. Whether is be tumbling glass, rocks, slabbing or cabbing rocks, etc. I use Microsoft OneNote.
I am always asking questions. Today I will ask a couple more to the community as a matter of fact, and I thought that I knew a thing or two about tumbling.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
Member is Online
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Post by Brian on Jan 6, 2021 13:53:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome! The forum regulars have been an amazing source of knowledge and inspiration! I must admit that as a complete newcomer to rock tumbling that it has taken a while to even realize how much I did not know and how to make sense of the experience and wisdom of others. I wish I could remember all of the helpful posts I’ve read so I can personally thank the posters, but for now I’ll just post a big thank you right here and hope to make up for it later! Thanks RTH! My thing for remembering the helpful posts from others is to keep a extensive log book. I have a collections of notes from the best here at RTH, on all topics of interest. Whether is be tumbling glass, rocks, slabbing or cabbing rocks, etc. I use Microsoft OneNote.
I am always asking questions. Today I will ask a couple more to the community as a matter of fact, and I thought that I knew a thing or two about tumbling.
The log book is an excellent suggestion! I’ve actually been trying to figure out the best way to keep notes on tumbling and I think I may have to modify what I was thinking of to keep track of information like that, too. Not only on what was said, but who said it so I know who to ask if more questions ever come up. |
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Great introduction. It's nice to hear how much people benefit from our banter. 
Brian ! 
