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Post by Original Admin on Apr 21, 2011 16:40:02 GMT -5
Time is flying by. KD ! - Sorry for the delay - ok - they completed a second round in 80 and they are rounded off enough now. I left them on the kitchen side until I could get round to digging out some fresh plastic pellets. I put them in a barrel today for a round in 220 - sealed it all up and put it on the tumbler. When I listened - they were sliding not rolling in the barrel as I took a chance and used one with no rubber strips stuck inside to "flip" them as the barrel span? spun? round (span I think - thats a tricky one ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) So - I wasnt contented with that - so I took the barrel off - opened it up cleaned it out - stuck some rubber car mat strips in - reloaded - resealed and got it going again. I avoided doing it first up and took a chance because I had no super glue - which I normally use - but once I found the trusty araldite (its an epoxy brand over here I dont know if you have it in the US as a brand) I was in heaven and knew I could sort it out. So off they go for 10 days in 220 and a hefty load of plastic pellets. Shape didnt change much after the second 80 - only size reduced as you will know really so no need for a pic. Roll on 10 days!!!!
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 25, 2011 8:22:23 GMT -5
Oh dear - looks like ive got some samples there to seriously match up to. Who knows if mine will turn out as good as that? Ok - so after the first 6 or so days at 80, we have the following. Rounding nicely - and I was 50/50 as to whether they were done. ![](http://www.rocktumblinghobby.com/bp/apachet1.jpg) but back in they go at 80 for another round of shaping. ![](http://www.rocktumblinghobby.com/bp/apachet2.jpg) I almost filled (about 2cm from the top) the barrel first time round - so the barrel above shows a drop of about 3cm volume - I would say now its at the right level for a round of 80. The barrel there is probably about 3/4 full. Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 25, 2011 8:18:14 GMT -5
I check for the gas - but thusfar - there hasnt been any. The lids on my barrels are sucked in by a vacuum as I press them in from the middle - so they are concave (is that the right way round?) So there would be a bit of play for any gas to level the lids off. Touch wood - no probs sofar. crgator - beautiful batch! and nicely photographed. 1Mark - don't forget to burp yer barrel often, obsidian, glass and apache tears tend to outgas something terrible...and it makes such a mess when a barrel goes "pop". adding a bit of borax can help this a little. nice to see you rolling again!!! good luck with this batch! KD
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 24, 2011 15:32:44 GMT -5
Cheers all - I forgot until my mother in law rang this morning at 8.20am and started singing happy birthday down the phone. I bet you think im kidding - im not - I totally forgot. Then I realised my forgetting is all due to the age. Its no thanks for me - you guys are the forum - it wouldnt be here without you! I think I will have burger chips onion rings and a tonne of chilli sauce for tea - total stodge the way I like it ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 19, 2011 4:48:59 GMT -5
Rockrookie - yup - this is just great - I got up this morning and had to go to the garage just to look at the barrel going round!!!! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Stefan - sure I missed putting the 220 stage in after the 80 they are in. Going for the plastic pellets - all mine are dirty and even my old "polish only" ones wont cut it for these so I will get some new ones. Also - ive got new barrels for this aswell for the 400 - 600 - polish phase - a new barrel for each phase. Im determined to get these looking "the business". ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 18, 2011 12:08:54 GMT -5
Ive not done any tumbling for a while - so I bought some Apache Tears from Gary (kasag4). Im totally impressed - heres the pic. I would recommend Gary as a seller to anyone. ![](http://www.rocktumblinghobby.com/bp/apache1.jpg) Ok - they are in 80 now with a few left over which I might put in once the main lot is ground down. Ive never done them before - I believe they can be hard to shine but I know folk here have had them looking like black diamonds in the past so Im going to be asking questions in the final stages. I was thinking 400 600 Cerium Oxide Does that sound about right? A guy in a rock shop the other day told me that this would bring the shine out (the CO) but I have some tin oxide aswell. Its great to have the barrel rolling again - granted only 1 3LB barrel but that noise doesnt half bring back memories of having 12 going at once!!! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Feb 23, 2011 15:34:19 GMT -5
Theres 3 films I think that I havent seen for years The Good The Bad and the Ugly A fist full of Dollars A few dollars more.
Which one is the one with the watch with that haunting chime on it.
Since we are on Clint - my best of all time is probably "The Outlaw Josey Wales".
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Post by Original Admin on Feb 22, 2011 12:17:03 GMT -5
Falling off my chair!!! Oh no - I think wiz has zapped himself!!!
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Post by Original Admin on Feb 20, 2011 12:35:56 GMT -5
Way too funny. Wizard can stay. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) LOL
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Post by Original Admin on Jan 29, 2011 14:27:42 GMT -5
Howde,
I look at it this way. For my 3LB barrels I pile it in for phase 1 - say 6 full heaped tablespoons of 80. I roll them until all the grit is gone. You can see when its gone as theres very few glistening fragments of it dotted about in the slurry. You can put too much in - ive done it in the past where ive put too much in and eventually the slurry becomes too viscous - like thick mud and its a mess and doesnt work!
The next stages I tend to be more conservative - for whats left of the rock in a 3LB barrel its just 1 and a half table spoons of 120 and then 400 for me. Both these tend to end up in a 1.5LB barrel because theres not as much bulk left in the rocks - but that depends on how much you want to grind them down.
So in my experience of rushing (or trying to rush) the 80 - yup - i'd say you can put too much in and clog things up.
Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Dec 22, 2010 15:19:55 GMT -5
Hey - for those who saw it (or missed it I suppose aswell!!!) it was a rare one. "This is the first total lunar eclipse in three years, and the first such eclipse corresponding to the winter solstice in 372 years (since 21 December 1638)."
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Post by Original Admin on Dec 17, 2010 9:08:55 GMT -5
Sands Im sure you want to be there - but dont forget all that noise and running round mad keeping littleones entertained doesnt do the back any good - maybe a small consolation!! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Original Admin on Dec 16, 2010 6:04:14 GMT -5
Hey sands - congratulations. (You sure that isnt you playing sants?) ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Nov 18, 2010 18:31:00 GMT -5
Congrats KD - I think you are definately a non-smoker!!!! (Dont listen to anyone who says you are a "recovering smoker" LOL - a non-smoker it is in my book) ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Nov 2, 2010 7:04:26 GMT -5
Tonnes of good ideas here - i think im getting a picture
1 Stone Type (I think - am I correct here? Someone said it may be boring though) No sawing Fixed Weight of Stone in competition per person Rocks Prize (How do we make the prize up then? Each person who enters sends some rock in?)
I had an idea as I realise the photo judging is hard and possibly would result in a misleading outcome. How about we decide that each tumble - you MUST do something with it - like make an ornament or something craft wise with the rocks - or at least some of the batch you tumble? This way entrants can add to creativity and that can be accounted for in judging? So aswell as the tumble (and it must be good to win) theres another angle of creativity involved in winning - this may help overcome the photo problem?
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 23, 2010 5:31:33 GMT -5
Keep on posting folks -
I think sofar preference is for a prize of rocks so free entry instead of a donation entry. (BTW if cash prize - this board doesnt take a cut so you are aware its 100% to the comp less paypal fees or whatever)
I think a fixed rock type would be VERY hard to judge. Imagine the photos. Pic after pic of the same. Very tricky and doesnt allow for artistic impression when it comes to choice? Can people have a think - im am easily swayable!!!
Hmm - rules and guidelines - I hate rules - but I agree I need to draw some up.
Maybe (Tumbling Comp) Pre Shaped category and a Natural Category (Cabbing) - As is - one category?
I will do a banner next week for this and stick it on top of the board.
Pls keep ideas coming.
Need to nominate judges aswell.
Lots to do. Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 17, 2010 14:53:29 GMT -5
LOL Par - I think on reflection now that I get your reply I may have one of these myself so the missus can find me as I get old, ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Edit - just thought - thats if she wants to!!!!!
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 17, 2010 14:37:50 GMT -5
Cabbers aswell - could we judge cabs against tumbles? probably not really. Needs some thought - could there be enough cabbers for a good prize fund? I wouldnt want to split a larger tumbling prize fund with a less funded cab comp - but then again that would assume that the cab fund was smaller - things may not turn out that way - I dont know ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) - its all in the air at the moment. Separate categories funded by entrants in that category would (I think) be the way to go.
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 17, 2010 14:34:37 GMT -5
Ive been thinking about the one kind of rock - in some ways that makes the comp fairer? I dont know - the more I think the more I go out of my head. I was thinking that maybe some veterans would take the challenge and do some Apache Tears whilst the beginners could do some easier stuff like Amythyst or Rose Q - I think at the end of the day the "entrant" should choose his/her poison and take their chances!!!! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Im not even sure what constitutes a WINNING TUMBLE - that - I am thankful - would be down to the nominated judges ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Original Admin on Oct 17, 2010 13:07:17 GMT -5
All,
Ive been toing and froing about a RTH Championship Competition. Ive talked briefly about it with Sands already but havent ironed out any details.
Its a competition for the RTH Champion of the Year. I got the idea from the world champion competition but thought (unashamedly I admit) that such a comp here may be good so I am gauging interest as it were.
Outline would be as follows.......
10 or 20 $ entry fee paid to sands up front (paypal) 3 judges from the board - need nominating. All members over 50 posts welcome 80% top prize 10% runner up 1 10% runner up 2 (I guarantee it will be close) Me and sands cant judge or enter Certificates for 3 winners (Ill produce and mail them)
If its started this year it would be the 2010 champion - hopefully if it goes well / is popular then we would start say Aug/Sept for 2011 - it would be great anually. Winner this year cant enter but it would be nice if they were a judge next year type of rollover.
Can everyone interested pass the word and show interest here in this thread so I know whether or not its worth setting up?
Cheers Mark
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