lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Apr 30, 2022 23:03:07 GMT -5
I know I’m not alone here. Whyyy do I get so impatient to finish a batch of rocks knowing that I’m just going to start another batch and be just as impatient to finish it… andddd repeat? ughhh, I wish there was a “microwave-quick” method for rock tumbling. Of course, the rational part of my brain realizes if it was a quick process I’d soon run out of room for my finished tumbles. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing sometimes.🤣🙄🤣
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Apr 30, 2022 23:15:57 GMT -5
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on May 1, 2022 6:24:29 GMT -5
🙋🏻♀️ Ummmm, how did you just describe me? You don’t know me! 🤣🤣🤣 No patience is how I ended up with 2 Lortone 33bs and a Lot-O within months of starting this hobby…
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on May 1, 2022 6:59:47 GMT -5
Patience? Well here is a GREAT exerciser in patience. Run every step for one week longer than normal. I used to be so bad with the patience thing. I would post all those pictures that were just cringe worthy. Of course I would get the advise to try this and try that, and that I was really doing a good job. Then a (since passed) member reached out to me with some wonderful advise. He pointed out the problems in my tumbles, and clued me into where I was failing, and where I was doing things right. His advise to me was to DOUBLE every stage. SO instead of the 2 to 4 weeks of course- I now run 4 to 8 weeks (actually I recharge the course stage every 2 weeks and sort the rock, pulling that stuff that is ready, and adding new stuff to replace the removed rock). My 1 week 120/220 went to 2 weeks (and now is 3 weeks!). Man what a difference I saw. It forced me to evaluate my tumbling and gave me a greater appreciation of what was required to make a REAL excellent batch. Give it a try- you might amazed yourself!
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 1, 2022 7:25:00 GMT -5
CLErocks, We’ve never met, but seem to have similar symptoms. Since this addiction began 2 years ago, I should refer to it as Covid related. 🤣 At this point, I have a Thumler ar-12, 2 raytek-5 vibes, (but am short a bowl right now, I hate paying 25 bucks for just a bowl when you can get the tumbler WITH a new bowl for $89) and a wet saw. From what I’ve seen here on rth, some high ranking members have phenomenal collections of equipment and connections, (secret, dark web connections I’m guessing) where they get incredibly beautiful and rare rocks that I can only dream about, and have YouTube channels, create all manner of jewelry, wind chimes, sun catchers, Christmas tree ornaments, resin countertops and tables, etc etc. And don’t get me started on their fancy rock hounding trips! So although I stumbled into this world by chance, it’s obviously MUCH bigger than I initially thought.🤣🤣🤣
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 1, 2022 7:52:57 GMT -5
stephen Those are definitely words of wisdom. I think I’ll start applying them. I just need to allow for the extra tumble time for each stage, mark my calendar when I’m “allowed” to open the tumbler to recharge and evaluate the batch, and try to not think about them in between times. (The really hard part) I may need an intervention from time to time if and when I relapse. 🤣🤣🤣
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Post by jasoninsd on May 1, 2022 8:53:49 GMT -5
I started this "hobby" with tumbling...but this is exactly why I took up cabbing and wrapping...quicker results! LOL
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on May 1, 2022 10:10:33 GMT -5
Tumblers and vibe’s going, high electric bill. Boxes of rocks everywhere. No I don’t have a problem. It does teach you patience, it did for me. I don’t sweat any of the small stuff. Had tumblers pop open when I wasn’t around, it was easy to save the slurry all dried out. It’s a great hobby.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 1, 2022 12:54:42 GMT -5
jasoninsd well I definitely see the reasoning behind that (you’ve definitely produced some incredible stuff) I’ve never cabbed, but have used my saw to shape some pieces into thick ovals (think cough drop shaped) 🤣 I’m planning on making some charms and pendants, and hopefully some wraps but keep procrastinating while accumulating pretty tumbles… I think I’m just a little intimidated about taking that next step ….but one day 🤣🤣🤣
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Post by jasoninsd on May 1, 2022 15:31:23 GMT -5
jasoninsd well I definitely see the reasoning behind that (you’ve definitely produced some incredible stuff) I’ve never cabbed, but have used my saw to shape some pieces into thick ovals (think cough drop shaped) 🤣 I’m planning on making some charms and pendants, and hopefully some wraps but keep procrastinating while accumulating pretty tumbles… I think I’m just a little intimidated about taking that next step ….but one day 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you for that. Don't feel like you're the only one "intimidated" by an aspect of this hobby. I've sold a couple items here and there, but I haven't taken the big step of actually listing things for sale...because I'm a bit intimidated by the potential results...you know...maybe people really won't want them. Baby step, right? - Maybe that's just another aspect of the whole "patience" thing this hobby is supposed to be instilling in us.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 1, 2022 22:37:27 GMT -5
jasoninsd seriously? 🙄I’ve seen pics of some of the stuff you’ve done. Trust me…. People will love it and the only issue you’ll have is keeping up with demand. 😊😊😊
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Post by Son Of Beach on May 2, 2022 16:42:59 GMT -5
I started this "hobby" with tumbling...but this is exactly why I took up cabbing and wrapping...quicker results! LOL My Lot O Tumbler will be here Wednesday and I am already shopping for a Cab machine which one should I buy, take your time responding I all the patience in the world............... "HURRY"!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you like the Lot-O, it took me a while to really find that sweet spot, but it really changes the game as far as finish and speed.
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Post by perkins17 on May 2, 2022 16:57:36 GMT -5
I started off with one little tumbler, bought a 33b about a year in, bought and mt-4 a year and a half in, got a poly arbor, won a 4 lb tumbler, bought a 15 inch vibrating flat lap, got a pixie, and most recently picked up a 6 inch trim saw I need to get motor on. That sounds worse when written, but man I love this hobby. My patience is pretty good, but I need results or I get a little bored.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 2, 2022 17:41:25 GMT -5
I started this "hobby" with tumbling...but this is exactly why I took up cabbing and wrapping...quicker results! LOL My Lot O Tumbler will be here Wednesday and I am already shopping for a Cab machine which one should I buy, take your time responding I have all the patience in the world............... "HURRY"!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL - That last part made me laugh! Asking which cabbing machine you should buy will illicit a lot of different responses. Any of them will "get the job done"...but I'll tell you the main reason I bought the Kingsley North Cabber 6 with Nova Wheels was due to the spacing between the wheels. Most 8" cabbing machines have decent spacing between the wheels, but most 6" machines do NOT! The KNC6 has about the same spacing as most 8" wheels. That's a huge benefit when you're working larger cabs...it gives a lot of room to maneuver the cab over the entire surface of the wheels. I also like the fact there is a "clean" water supply to the wheels from the overhead system. I just can't get it out of my head that a machine with a geyser system is spitting contaminated water back onto the wheels...I'm sure people will say that system is just fine...but it's something I definitely don't have to think about.
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Post by rmf on May 2, 2022 18:14:31 GMT -5
lparsons Well you have started with the wrong part of the hobby. Tumbling is slllllllllloooooooooooowwwwwwwwww. You should start with slabbing. Of course that creates its own problem, what to do with the slabs. For me tumbling was only started once I had scrap left over from cabbing. Yep That is faster than tumbling too. But more expensive to start off. Enjoy your new hobby.
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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 May 2, 2022 18:36:55 GMT -5
After you Tumble a few years You can forget to do a cleanout for 2 weeks
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snetbonaut
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2022
Posts: 129
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Post by snetbonaut on May 2, 2022 22:17:59 GMT -5
I know I’m not alone here. Whyyy do I get so impatient to finish a batch of rocks knowing that I’m just going to start another batch and be just as impatient to finish it… andddd repeat? ughhh, I wish there was a “microwave-quick” method for rock tumbling. Of course, the rational part of my brain realizes if it was a quick process I’d soon run out of room for my finished tumbles. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing sometimes.🤣🙄🤣 Here's the quickest version that I've got. During my 6-8 months with this hobby I am still in the place where I am checking every three or four days because I'm using a mixture of rocks that I haven't used before or a different recipe or a new grit. As a result, I have discovered one or two rocks every once in a while in coarse that are clearly "done", so I take them out and reach for my tray of rocks that finished coarse but clearly needed more time. This does not happen every time or even close to every time. It is intermittent reinforcement. Just like retrieving the mail. The closer you get to your mailbox, the more expectant you become. The fact is that we MAY see something truly exciting or important every month or so in the mail, but the expectation that it WILL happen generally outstrips our ability to cope with the anxiety of waiting to find out. I have found that alcohol sometimes helps.
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 2, 2022 22:24:19 GMT -5
I started off with one little tumbler, bought a 33b about a year in, bought and mt-4 a year and a half in, got a poly arbor, won a 4 lb tumbler, bought a 15 inch vibrating flat lap, got a pixie, and most recently picked up a 6 inch trim saw I need to get motor on. That sounds worse when written, but man I love this hobby. My patience is pretty good, but I need results or I get a little bored. perkins17 I know what you mean… So many people on rth grew up around/with others that were already into rocks, but not me. I kind of stumbled upon the hobby. I had never even heard of rock tumbling!🤣I’ve only been into tumbling for a couple years, and have had a few mechanical issues and lots of frustration (mostly with myself) but never, ever got tired of the hobby or lost interest. I love it.
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Post by perkins17 on May 2, 2022 23:01:55 GMT -5
I started off with one little tumbler, bought a 33b about a year in, bought and mt-4 a year and a half in, got a poly arbor, won a 4 lb tumbler, bought a 15 inch vibrating flat lap, got a pixie, and most recently picked up a 6 inch trim saw I need to get motor on. That sounds worse when written, but man I love this hobby. My patience is pretty good, but I need results or I get a little bored. perkins17 I know what you mean… So many people on rth grew up around/with others that were already into rocks, but not me. I kind of stumbled upon the hobby. I had never even heard of rock tumbling!🤣I’ve only been into tumbling for a couple years, and have had a few mechanical issues and lots of frustration (mostly with myself) but never, ever got tired of the hobby or lost interest. I love it. My grandma was the person who first got me into this and my great-great-grandparents were into this hobby like I am now. I sort of stumbled in as well. I got really lucky to meet the people I have in order to get into this further. I got/get frustrated with some things in this hobby too. Three pieces of my equipment need some sort of work right now. Idle hands are the devil's workshop! (I guess I'm not going to hell)
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on May 2, 2022 23:43:45 GMT -5
perkins17 I know what you mean… So many people on rth grew up around/with others that were already into rocks, but not me. I kind of stumbled upon the hobby. I had never even heard of rock tumbling!🤣I’ve only been into tumbling for a couple years, and have had a few mechanical issues and lots of frustration (mostly with myself) but never, ever got tired of the hobby or lost interest. I love it. My grandma was the person who first got me into this and my great-great-grandparents were into this hobby like I am now. I sort of stumbled in as well. I got really lucky to meet the people I have in order to get into this further. I got/get frustrated with some things in this hobby too. Three pieces of my equipment need some sort of work right now. Idle hands are the devil's workshop! (I guess I'm not going to hell) perkins17 you’re lucky to have had a grandma and g-g-grandparents like that! I believe my family thought I’d lost my mind when I got into rock hunting and tumbling. 🤣🤣🤣 When my grandbabies get older, (they’re only 1 and 3 years old) I plan on involving them in the hobby also. 🤗
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