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Post by Bob on Feb 10, 2021 11:45:04 GMT -5
I had no idea you were a newbie as you seem pretty knowledgeable to me! You are certainly starting out with a higher quality of rough than I did. Most of mine was just stuff I found on the ground and boy did I pick up some real crap in the beginning. The quality of the shine is so high, you must have been very fastidious about cleaning your rocks before polish as I see plenty of places in which grit could have been carried into polish. As you know one of the things I enjoy about the way I do it is never having to clean my rocks like that since I cull out the ones that have any pits or cracks.
Your 8th photo starting at the end provides an example of something I would do and learned. It's that mostly red one with the light fixture reflection. If it's true that what I think I see is really there, a fracture that goes almost all the way across it in the 2:30 to 7:30 orientation, and you don't like that, this is what I would have done. First off, as you know I don't let those continue in the process. That is a good example of a fracture that is probably simple to cleave off with a chisel hit at the right angle. But--doing that on a rock that is already polished or rounded is next to impossible. So, the goal is to do it in rough grind. Then before they are too rounded give them a whack, and continue with the two pieces.
Of course, if one owns a saw, you can saw it, or saw just a bit into the rock such that a chisel can get a bite and do the rest, but cleaving it actually has two advantages over sawing. 1) it's quick and can be done in seconds, 2) the resulting surface is not that ugly, artificial, flat sawn surface that looks terrible in a bowl of polished rocks. Of course, some rocks are so tough, that even if the fracture goes in quite a ways, it won't cleave and has to be sawn. That's one of the reasons I'm setting up a rock saw for myself.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2021 14:02:43 GMT -5
Bob - Thank you for taking the time to post all of what you did! Thanks for the compliment Bob. I try to preface most of my posting as being newer to hounding, tumbling, and cabbing. I've poured through a lot of threads on the forum trying to absorb from others and have picked up everything I know from right here...and a "little" experience. Being able to hound here in South Dakota, I have access to tons of rocks. When I first started, I though every rock was tumble-worthy. However, I've learned very quickly that is not the case. I have a five-gallon bucket full of Bubble Gum agates I was so excited to run through the tumblers. I have quickly learned that a good 80% of those won't even go into stage one as I can see they won't make it due to fractures. The same goes for the tons of Prairie Agates I've picked up along the way. I was very careful with cleaning those rocks between stages. I knew a lot of them had no business being moved along in the process, but I did it anyway. So, a toothbrush and water went a long way between stages! LOL With regards to that rock in the 8th from bottom photo...that's one that I was going to let slide. I absolutely know what you're saying with regards to "how" to make it perfect by eliminating the fracture. But that particular one was found in almost the same oval shape as you see it there. It was larger and I really wanted that one to be a "calming palming" rock. One that was just the right size to roll around in the palm of my hand. I do own a trim saw and a 10" wet saw. I've used them both to try and save time with the tumbles by cutting through fracture lines on some and trimming off pitting areas on others. I know as time progresses with this hobby, I will definitely be shooting for a higher level of outcome. But, with this being only the beginning for me, I'm mainly having to work on the "patience" aspect. I think I just need a few more rotary tumblers in order to get enough good material through stage one to keep the vibe fed! LOL (I know that's "kind of" a joke, but realistically I can see where that would help out with my patience...or lack thereof! )
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 10, 2021 15:55:45 GMT -5
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 10, 2021 16:15:10 GMT -5
What?!! Are you serious? These are gorgeous... I love that shine! You should be hi-5-ing yourself. I would put them in a pretty candy dish and set them where everyone could see them. (Especially myself) 😂 Then wait for the compliments and oooh’s and ahhh’s... at this point you give them an “awww shucks, really?” response and maybe blush a little. 🤣🤣🤣 And please, give yourself a few extra pats on the back for the beautiful crazy lace, (my fav🤗) As anyone that’s ever worked with it knows, the name Crazy Lace isn’t about the rock, but rather the effect it has on the individual working with it!😂
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2021 18:55:19 GMT -5
What?!! Are you serious? These are gorgeous... I love that shine! You should be hi-5-ing yourself. I would put them in a pretty candy dish and set them where everyone could see them. (Especially myself) 😂 Then wait for the compliments and oooh’s and ahhh’s... at this point you give them an “awww shucks, really?” response and maybe blush a little. 🤣🤣🤣 And please, give yourself a few extra pats on the back for the beautiful crazy lace, (my fav🤗) As anyone that’s ever worked with it knows, the name Crazy Lace isn’t about the rock, but rather the effect it has on the individual working with it!😂 Thank you. Yeh...I will say a lot (if not most) of them ended up in my "favorites" dish! It's a 15" diameter glass dish with a mirror base. My wife got it for me for Christmas just for rocks. The shine was pretty good with this batch. And the family members that did pick rocks out the "seconds" pile were oohing and ahhhing over them all...but mostly the Crazy Lace!
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 10, 2021 19:34:21 GMT -5
I love that bowl, it’s perfect! I’ve been working on a 10# batch of Mexican crazy lace since September 😳 I’m almost done. I bought myself a Dremel and diamond bits to take care of some ugly spots, but lordy is that rock tough. I can see why people break down and buy the rock cutting saws! 😂😂😂
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2021 19:40:23 GMT -5
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 10, 2021 19:49:29 GMT -5
Now that looks like something that would get the job done. I may check into those. No wonder experienced rock tumblers don’t recommend crazy lace for beginners!😂 oh well, I might have listened if the CL wasn’t so darn beautiful!😂😂😂
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2021 20:12:58 GMT -5
Now that looks like something that would get the job done. I may check into those. No wonder experienced rock tumblers don’t recommend crazy lace for beginners!😂 oh well, I might have listened if the CL wasn’t so darn beautiful!😂😂😂 I know Crazy Lace isn't always recommended to start with...but sometimes you just have to create your own path: In other words: (Just the "Go your own way" part...not the "loving you" part...just to clarify! LOL)
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Post by Bob on Feb 11, 2021 0:34:27 GMT -5
...the name Crazy Lace isn’t about the rock, but rather the effect it has on the individual working with it!... OMG do I agree with that! Spent over a year on one large one, almost there, then another bad place. I grew to hate that rock.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 11, 2021 12:45:40 GMT -5
...the name Crazy Lace isn’t about the rock, but rather the effect it has on the individual working with it!... OMG do I agree with that! Spent over a year on one large one, almost there, then another bad place. I grew to hate that rock.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Feb 11, 2021 12:57:51 GMT -5
🤣🤣🤣that’s hilarious....I guess it’s easy to develop a love/hate relationship with Crazy Lace. I’ve been obsessed with this batch for months. So, I start thinking that I probably shouldn’t buy any more CL. Then, I’m browsing through rock for sale or someone posts their CL finished tumbles, ( jasoninsd) 😂 and I’m like, “Oh look! Omg, there’s some Crazy Lace!” 🤣🤣🤣
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2021 13:18:39 GMT -5
🤣🤣🤣that’s hilarious....I guess it’s easy to develop a love/hate relationship with Crazy Lace. I’ve been obsessed with this batch for months. So, I start thinking that I probably shouldn’t buy any more CL. Then, I’m browsing through rock for sale or someone posts their CL finished tumbles, ( jasoninsd ) 😂 and I’m like, “Oh look! Omg, there’s some Crazy Lace!” 🤣🤣🤣 Then you are a full-fledged card-carrying member of the Fortification Freakniks!
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Post by miket on Feb 11, 2021 14:44:34 GMT -5
🤣🤣🤣that’s hilarious....I guess it’s easy to develop a love/hate relationship with Crazy Lace. I’ve been obsessed with this batch for months. So, I start thinking that I probably shouldn’t buy any more CL. Then, I’m browsing through rock for sale or someone posts their CL finished tumbles, ( jasoninsd ) 😂 and I’m like, “Oh look! Omg, there’s some Crazy Lace!” 🤣🤣🤣 Then you are a full-fledged card-carrying member of the Fortification Freakniks! And welcome...the more the merrier!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 11, 2021 21:42:47 GMT -5
A little misleading, don't you think? I came here expecting a train wreck and got something else completely. Great material and a super shine. As far as I can tell, that's a great batch of tumbles. In my experience, Crazy Lace is a crowd pleaser and is gifted ("can I have it") often. I'm sure that bowl will look bigger and bigger over the foreseeable future.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2021 21:52:37 GMT -5
A little misleading, don't you think? I came here expecting a train wreck and got something else completely. Great material and a super shine. As far as I can tell, that's a great batch of tumbles. In my experience, Crazy Lace is a crowd pleaser and is gifted ("can I have it") often. I'm sure that bowl will look bigger and bigger over the foreseeable future. It's a bit of a train wreck compared to a lot of the tumbles people post on here. I will definitely have to concur about the Crazy Lace assessment. It's amazing how many people automatically gravitate toward this material. Thank you for the comment on the bowl. I hope it does find a lot more "keepers" as time goes on.
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Post by greig on Feb 11, 2021 22:53:54 GMT -5
If you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner or a fabric gun, a toothbrush with dish soap and hot water works fine to clean polish out of the cracks. Or put them into the dishwasher cutlery basket for a cycle...Just don't tell your wife.
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Feb 11, 2021 23:30:18 GMT -5
If you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner or a fabric gun, a toothbrush with dish soap and hot water works fine to clean polish out of the cracks. Or put them into the dishwasher cutlery basket for a cycle...Just don't tell your wife. See, these are the kinds of things I just don't tell my husband...
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2021 23:33:23 GMT -5
If you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner or a fabric gun, a toothbrush with dish soap and hot water works fine to clean polish out of the cracks. Or put them into the dishwasher cutlery basket for a cycle...Just don't tell your wife. See, these are the kinds of things I just don't tell my husband... Which part? That you're using HIS toothbrush for this?!?! (Teasing! )
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Post by stephan on Feb 12, 2021 0:32:03 GMT -5
If you don't have an ultrasonic cleaner or a fabric gun, a toothbrush with dish soap and hot water works fine to clean polish out of the cracks. Or put them into the dishwasher cutlery basket for a cycle...Just don't tell your wife. That depends on the wife. Mine believes if it can’t go through the dishwasher, what’s the point? In my experience, though, not everything will tolerate it. A big hunk of Gary Green turned into Gary Brown for us. Probably just surface oxidation, but still..... I think cascade may have been used, too. Not ivory.
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