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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 9, 2011 12:31:43 GMT -5
Very cool! Congrats!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 8, 2011 12:11:40 GMT -5
I made my own 50# tumbler with a 10" PVC barrel. I get better grinding from it than with my 15# hex side Star Diamond (same as Thumler's 15#). Of course, I did put in sleeves over the threaded rod inside the barrel; they improve the tumbling action quite a bit.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 8, 2011 12:06:48 GMT -5
Just got back. Thanks for the tip on the dobe diamonds in Lewistown! A little hard to find, but had fun collecting them.
I was in Glendive collecting agate over Memorial Day. It's still really wet there and difficult to get a hotel room because of the ND oil boom.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 28, 2011 11:29:49 GMT -5
Yes, it is safe. I would not cross the border from El Paso to Juarez, but Big Bend is safe. The desert around it is pretty forbidding, as are the canyon walls on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande. We did see a few Mexicans selling trinkets or songs (one guy wanted to sing for money in the canyon; the canyon provided a nice echo).
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 28, 2011 10:35:32 GMT -5
We're off to a camping trip in Glacier National Park tomorrow. Does anybody have any rockhounding recommendations along the way from Minneapolis that would be easy on the wife and kids?
I've got plenty of Montana (Moss) Agate and I'm not too interested in the sapphire gravel, although we may do that if we get tired of Glacier.
I'm mostly an agate person, although I won't turn up my nose at good jasper, if that helps.
Thanks in advance! Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 27, 2011 12:48:08 GMT -5
Looks like silkstone to me. I especially like the patches of red jasper in it. I've found both Binghamite and Silkstone to have uneven chatoyancy. Sometimes it's just the jasper that is chatoyant.
Congrats on the find!
Chuck
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9:11
Jul 21, 2011 15:15:06 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 21, 2011 15:15:06 GMT -5
LOL Rich!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 21, 2011 15:13:27 GMT -5
My favorite is: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, don't get fooled again." ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) :nono: ;D
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 20, 2011 13:51:25 GMT -5
It's too bad they killed it. It would have been something to see. Beautiful cats.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 20, 2011 13:45:54 GMT -5
Hey Shan,
Good to hear from you again. I think it's much better to be busy than the opposite, especially when all those things are good!
Morgan has a good eye and obviously Lillie knows how to ride a horse.
Glad to hear your job is going well. Best of luck with the new house----hope you have time to use that new room!
Best wishes to you and Dennis, Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 20, 2011 13:40:36 GMT -5
Obviously we feel the same way, Adrian! You're definitely one of the "rock stars" of this site.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 19, 2011 14:13:44 GMT -5
Damn Roger, you continue to find awesome agates. I'd be happy with some of those with specimens even with the cracks.
My wife is planning a Black Hills trip for Labor Day. I'm trying to convince her to let me do some hounding. Unfortunately that's our anniversary, so I may not win that argument.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 15, 2011 17:52:56 GMT -5
Hey Charlie,
My wife is thinking of going to the Black Hills for Labor Day weekend, but that probably means little to no rockhounding.
Good advice from Don. Zeitner's book really helps, as does the Grasslands map. They'll even mark it for you if you ask.
Railroad Buttes is easily accessible from Rapid City.
Chuck
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Keokuks
Jul 12, 2011 15:58:46 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 12, 2011 15:58:46 GMT -5
Those look pretty typical of Jacobs bed, except not as much kaolinite as I normally find. Did you get wash it out, or did you just not have much?
Did you find any marcasite?
They're fun to cut, regardless. I'd also like to see the closeups.
Chuck
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TiO2
Jul 7, 2011 12:44:52 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 7, 2011 12:44:52 GMT -5
That was the first polish I bought, but switched to cerium when cerium was cheaper. Glad I still have some TiO2 left.
And yes, it is hard to get out of pits and cracks. A dry cleaning spot gun comes in handy.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 21, 2011 12:59:53 GMT -5
I've said it before, but I think the 303C blade is fantastic and John's pricing is, as well. I currently use a 10", but when my 18" Felker blade dies I plan to replace it with a 303.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 17, 2011 21:56:03 GMT -5
The composter is a great idea if it can handle the weight and keep the polish from leaking out. I think a giant tumbler would be fairly straightforward to build. Might need a 2 or 3 hp motor, though, and maybe chain drive. You could also turn it by hand with a long handle; you probably wouldn't need to turn it that many times.
I'd have trouble with the weight, myself, but you could easily make a hoist to lift the barrel.
I love an engineering challenge, so I'll let you know if I come up with anything better.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 17, 2011 13:55:18 GMT -5
A beauty!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 17, 2011 13:52:30 GMT -5
I would guess that without fossils it's relatively young, but what do I know...
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jun 17, 2011 13:50:27 GMT -5
We usually use plastic in rotaries, ceramic in vibes. You can keep reusing the slurry at each stage as long as you want. I've never had it turn into mud.
I add the same amount of grit each time.
Chuck
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