Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on May 22, 2022 19:56:34 GMT -5
"best" means what though?
These criterion, point 10, in particular, make it seem like it's all about the surface quality. If I have an ugly brown poo-poo rock, but it's flawless, with a uniform high gloss finish. That should win, in principle, right?
If it has a cool design, color scheme, pattern, but has a polish filled crack... That should rank a little lower, right?
Does cool rock with minor surface imperfections win over boring rock with a perfect finish? I don't know.
Does cool rock with perfect finish win over boring rock with perfect finish? Probably.
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doublebluff
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 55
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Post by doublebluff on Jun 4, 2022 0:01:59 GMT -5
My rocks are tumbling... weirdly. I have no skill so I thought I would just do odd stuff. We will see...!
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jk49
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2021
Posts: 23
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Post by jk49 on Jun 22, 2022 17:23:25 GMT -5
I am getting tired of tumbling lahontan agates
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jun 22, 2022 18:03:06 GMT -5
I am getting tired of tumbling lahontan agates Bit of a grind, eh?
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Post by perkins17 on Jun 22, 2022 18:26:59 GMT -5
I am getting tired of tumbling lahontan agates Bit of a grind, eh? I'll say! Lol
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Post by jasoninsd on Jun 22, 2022 18:31:26 GMT -5
I am getting tired of tumbling lahontan agates Bit of a grind, eh?
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,215
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Post by quartzilla on Jun 23, 2022 3:12:34 GMT -5
I will say this stuff can shine. Majority of mine are done. Still contemplating my 5 to send. The black chert material does take a high shine and and is basically fracture free.
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 1, 2022 17:23:11 GMT -5
Mine came out of tripoli today, and are burnishing now. They took an amazing shine, and I might now have to use any AO on this batch. They are looking great, with a few ugly exceptions.
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doublebluff
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2021
Posts: 55
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Post by doublebluff on Jul 17, 2022 20:02:58 GMT -5
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Post by vegasjames on Jul 17, 2022 20:46:38 GMT -5
Facebook has a trade board. You can trade some of your rough or tumbled for tumbling rough.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 434
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Post by hypodactylus on Jul 18, 2022 11:31:26 GMT -5
Well, I am done tumbling for the contest. They generally turned out pretty nice with some more interesting than others. The material has lots of voids and cracks, so the end result was certainly not perfect. I did what I could, but sometimes new voids would be revealed as I tumbled. Overall, I had fun. I am still trying to figure out the best way to photograph shiny rocks...
[Click for larger]
Some individual rock photos: Selection group shot: The starting point:
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 434
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Post by hypodactylus on Jul 18, 2022 11:41:30 GMT -5
My general process: - 60/90 Silicon Carbide (SiC) grit - Many weeks (or months) - Rinse and recharge grit each week - No media - National Geographic Pro, Lortone 3A - 150/220 SiC grit - 1 week - Ceramic media - Lortone 3A - 500 Aluminum Oxide (AO) grit - 1 week - Ceramic media - Lortone 3A - 1000 AO pre-polish - 2 weeks - No rinse/recharge between weeks - Ceramic media - Lortone 3A - AO polish - 2 weeks - No rinse/recharge between weeks - Ceramic media - Lortone 3A
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jul 18, 2022 13:30:50 GMT -5
Those look really nice and clean. Killer shine on some strange and frustrating material
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Jul 18, 2022 14:28:24 GMT -5
Just checked The Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society webpage and the contest rocks for 2022 are Lahontan Agate from western Nevada.
Good luck all.
Do you know what rocks they are using for the 2023 contest ?
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,215
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Post by quartzilla on Jul 18, 2022 19:58:20 GMT -5
Just checked The Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society webpage and the contest rocks for 2022 are Lahontan Agate from western Nevada.
Good luck all.
Do you know what rocks they are using for the 2023 contest ? It hasn’t been announced yet but the way they are going it might be hunks of cinder block.
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 18, 2022 20:21:34 GMT -5
Do you know what rocks they are using for the 2023 contest ? It hasn’t been announced yet but the way they are going it might be hunks of cinder block. Or if we're lucky, sandstone.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 18, 2022 21:31:18 GMT -5
doublebluff - That write-up was FANTASTIC! Loved the read on that one!! hypodactylus - Great looking shine on your entry pieces! Way to go!!
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jul 18, 2022 22:22:18 GMT -5
Just checked The Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society webpage and the contest rocks for 2022 are Lahontan Agate from western Nevada.
Good luck all.
Do you know what rocks they are using for the 2023 contest ? They usually post that info in December.
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Post by Bob on Jul 26, 2022 13:26:05 GMT -5
I have tried to resist adding my own two cents to how it's going for me--though it's been hard. This year, since I trimmed off the bad parts before starting, I thought I would be done well before the deadline. Usually, I can't get it done w/o sweating the deadline.
Well, I had a few looking okay after months in rough grind, and also after finer grinds, so was optimistic. Then, just before polish, coming out of either 600 or 1,000, suddenly some hole opens up--not just along a face but often on a edge or worse on a corner! Other than that, some of them look great, but those holes, and not just tiny pinholes, really bug me because they look horrible. So suddenly, with only 2+ weeks left, optimism has turned to reality, again.
My wife thinks this is some form of self-flagellation. It would be easier to just hit myself with a stick and get it over with.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,215
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Post by quartzilla on Jul 26, 2022 21:41:51 GMT -5
I mailed my five out on Monday. It was frustrating which ones to pick. I had my mind made up on which to send but kept reevaluating my picks. Out of my originals I planned on sending only 2 made the final cut. Instead of sending the rocks I liked the best I sent what shined the best and had the least flaws. I’m still wondering if I shouldn’t have sent my original picks in lol. I honestly think they were better but one had a couple tiny pits and another had variegated material so part of it shined great and part was just ok. Oh well it’s up to the judges now lol.
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