RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 19, 2024 16:57:08 GMT -5
The metaphysical and mystic stuff is a turnoff for me too, thus I've decided to let my subscription run out and not renew when it comes time. Bob Jones is always interesting but he is getting pretty old and his days are numbered. Steve Voynick is probably my favorite author and if it weren't for him I might have bailed earlier. Rocks do have healing powers, but you have to be a believer for it to work. You take a believer, a rock, and with enough force, you can heal the world of an idiot. But to be serious, do they really talk about that stuff in a professional publication? I have some back issues from my rock club and never saw it there, but that would be a dealbreaker for me starting a new subscription. Also, how prevalent are advertisements in the magazine? It seems that the metaphysical articles have crept in over the last couple of years and I get the impression the magazine staff is testing the receptivity of subscribers. I'm pretty intolerant of this stuff but am trying to not come across so negative about it to others. Unfortunately, I committed a faux pas several years ago while showing part of my rock collection to a woman. As she was admiring a crystal, she exclaimed something about its healing energy and I responded negatively that people who believe that stuff are gullible idiots. I hurt her feelings and she hasn't spoken to me since. No loss to me actually, but I'd rather not bruise the feelings of the unenlightened.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 18, 2024 9:21:11 GMT -5
Chad, you rock! I'll guess 3650 grams and in the off chance I win I'd like my prize to go the next person in line because I already have enough rocks. It's just fun to participate in the guessing game.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 17, 2024 7:22:28 GMT -5
I can only take so many articles about how rocks make you feel. Not that there is anything wrong with how rocks make you feel. Anyway, enough there to keep me subscribing for the moment anyway. I also get the print magazine. And I couldn't agree with you more, Chris. I've written in to the editor a couple of times, but I'm starting to think that might even be encouraging them to keep up that nonsense.
I guess they are trying to pull in more different subscribers.
I enjoy that they still offer the print magazine, I'm not sure how people cope with all the electronic only magazines, I mean, what do they read at the breakfast table ?
Patty
The metaphysical and mystic stuff is a turnoff for me too, thus I've decided to let my subscription run out and not renew when it comes time. Bob Jones is always interesting but he is getting pretty old and his days are numbered. Steve Voynick is probably my favorite author and if it weren't for him I might have bailed earlier.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 17, 2024 7:09:55 GMT -5
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 16, 2024 20:32:52 GMT -5
I get the paper copy and have enjoyed it for many years. I inherited some old versions from the 1970's from my grandpa and I like those much more. They were full of vendors with everything to do with the lapidary hobby and it was fascinating to browse through because it was like being transported back to the glory days of the hobby. What I wouldn't give to rock hound back in the 1960's!
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 14, 2024 19:46:34 GMT -5
At this very moment I'm using this. It works.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 14, 2024 19:45:39 GMT -5
Muriatic acid as stated above. I've used diluted muriatic acid for many years and it's as safe as the person using it. Of course, make sure your specimen isn't part calcium or else you'll damage it. Wear appropriate protection to not get it in your eyes, on your skin or in the lungs. It's the stuff brick layers and stone masons use to remove efflorescence from their work. I'm using the Klean Strip one from Home Depot with the lower fumes as it's all they have at my location.
Thanks again!
The Klean Strip product is absolute trash. Use the real stuff.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 14, 2024 6:48:51 GMT -5
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 13, 2024 20:01:45 GMT -5
Dave, you post a lot of interesting things. Thanks
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 13, 2024 19:57:45 GMT -5
Rocks that have a high calcium composition and Iron should be soaked in HCl/muriatic acid first, to remove calcite. If you soak in Oxalic Acid first the oxalic acid combines with the calcium making calcium oxalate (common type of kidney stone) which is hard to remove. usually has a light yellow tint. I have heard radio advertisement for some OTC med that prevents oxalate kidney stones. Can't remember the name but when I heard it I thought about cleaning calcium oxalate off stones. might be worth a try. Muriatic acid as stated above. I've used diluted muriatic acid for many years and it's as safe as the person using it. Of course, make sure your specimen isn't part calcium or else you'll damage it. Wear appropriate protection to not get it in your eyes, on your skin or in the lungs. It's the stuff brick layers and stone masons use to remove efflorescence from their work.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 12, 2024 19:25:57 GMT -5
Thanks to a couple of artists here on RTH I had a bunch of gorgeous wire wraps and pendants to gift to the women in my life. They were delighted.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 11, 2024 13:20:22 GMT -5
They're all very nice, and the bristlecone pine oolite really catches my eye.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 11, 2024 10:45:11 GMT -5
How do you take payment, if you don't mind me asking? I've used paypal in past transactions with him.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 10, 2024 23:05:11 GMT -5
It doesnt have the energy output to trigger a carrington event, but one is always possible From what I've read the Carrington event was the real deal and statistically it's bound to happen again. I wouldn't want to go through it but the silver lining in that cloud is it would probably stifle the news media for a few moments.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 10, 2024 20:06:06 GMT -5
Me too. They've lost their credibility.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 10, 2024 19:59:10 GMT -5
Gonna be a massive energy wave that knocks out the internet 😂 Merchants of fear fishing for clicks. Only problem is it might be for real one of these days and how do we know what's legit? Ha, five minutes after I post this the net will probably go down.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 10, 2024 9:27:47 GMT -5
I was wondering if she was ok. I'm sure it's been hard since Vince passed and life has a way of throwing curve balls in clusters.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 9, 2024 15:06:09 GMT -5
The wife and I bought a new 21' toy hauler about 22 years ago and we learned some things....
We selected that length because that was the minimum needed to park our two ATV's inside. Once we reach our destination the ATV's come out and the space is quickly converted to living space. It's worked well for us in our rock hounding trips.
Lessons learned are: Keep an eye on the roof because they develop leaks easily and if they do the water will run down and damage things. Keep an eye out for dry rot inside the ceiling, floor and walls. Many trailers aren't properly sealed underneath and road water splashes up and contributes to deterioration.
The tires that come on almost all trailers are trash and if you tow it very much you might want to put on 10-ply truck tires for safety and durability. Most used trailers have tires full of checking and dry rot.
Make sure your truck is rated to tow a trailer of your choice. One of the most ridiculous and dangerous things I often see is some guy towing a 26' tandem axle trailer with a half-ton pickup. Consider buying a hitch mounted load stabilizer for safety unless you're going with a fifth wheel model.
Make sure the fridge works because the computer board in them is often toast. Plumbing lines should be carefully checked. Be aware that almost all plumbing systems parts in trailers are not compatible with residential parts which need to be bought at trailer supply places.
Time is the enemy of trailers because the materials used in their construction is not durable against years of weathering. Plastics get brittle with time and that's a huge issue with trailers. If possible, buy one that is not too old.
That's all I can think of for now.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 9, 2024 7:07:30 GMT -5
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,241
|
Post by RWA3006 on May 8, 2024 20:54:42 GMT -5
The last I saw it was located somewhere in the Georgia or maybe Florida area but it appears it's being moved to Arizona. I heard it was a big attraction to the area. Good for George Frandsen who owns the display and more power to him. His collection has a great variety of coprolites from many species and is a wonderful display. That being said, I know it's not the worlds largest collection and not even close. Back in 2017 when I helped the Hammers liquidate their rock shop and coprolite collection we sold 24 honest, weighed tons to just one investor who rented U-Haul trucks to haul it away. Others bought a fair amount also. I bought the rest and have added greatly to my investment by many field trips to find my own. It's significant to note that the coprolites in Poozeum are different than mine which are so highly agatized that most rock hounds would just assume they are some kind of strange agate nodules. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges.
|
|