panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Apr 3, 2021 5:52:42 GMT -5
Fantastic video Rob! You do such a good job and they just keep getting better.
You're the David Attenborough of rocks.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 16, 2020 18:15:40 GMT -5
Great advice Jim. Thanks. I will post an update when I get progress.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 15, 2020 12:15:43 GMT -5
You may have to call the supplier to find out if this white HDPE can be fused to black pipe grade HDPE before purchasing black end caps. I had never seen white HDPE pipe. It shouldn't be much different than the black. I'm guessing it is the same and fuses, but I better check before investing/buying the black. I was thinking about fusing 2 reducers together if I can't find the right end caps. Would look odd, but should work??? |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 13, 2020 18:36:25 GMT -5
[ My reading of that is that there are two "lots" of 5 each - if you get 10 and want to sell one or two drop me a msg...
Received the reducers. It was for a lot = 2 items , not lot =5 items. Too bad, but it was still a heck of a deal. They are hdpe, so now when I get some hdpe end caps and figure out how to butt weld them, then I will be in business! The SDR11 is very thick!!! |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 9, 2020 14:03:48 GMT -5
Just ordered 2 of them. I'll let you know how they work. Thanks Jim!!! Again. 😀 |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Oct 4, 2020 12:41:02 GMT -5
8 and 10 inch sch 40 PVC may have to be rotated a bit fast to avoid slippage(not climbing the pipe). 6 inch can have the same problem depending on abrasive. More slippage likely with finer abrasives. Which can force spinning the barrel a bit fast during polish operations when it is best to have slower rotation speeds. life is never simple. [/quote] I have pondered this slippage problem quite a bit . Caulking/Gluing some kind of ridges inside seems problematical in terms of them wearing out quickly. I was wondering if the Piston sleeve idea would work here. Cut large windows out of the sleeve before gluing it in and it would interrupt the sliding. ? ? ? |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 29, 2020 8:52:03 GMT -5
Proof that Rocks can be essential for life!!. An interesting article on how life adapts to using a clearish quartz as a soothing greenhouse.
Moss Uses Quartz as a ParasolIn the Mojave Desert, a translucent crystal offers bryophytes much-needed respite from the heat of the sun. To humans, a desert oasis may conjure an image of a blue pool encircled by a coronet of palm trees. But to certain mosses, an oasis takes the form of a pebble of milky quartz. The cloudy crystal dilutes the sun’s piercing ultraviolet rays and, in the dry desert heat, traps moisture beneath it, creating a microclimate perfect for a moss. You can read the whole article at Story link |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jun 8, 2020 12:19:41 GMT -5
I cannot imagine the skill and experience required to make these amazing masterpieces. I never realized how different they could look. Some remind me of the pattern in meteorites (spacing the name now?). Some look so organic, yet in steel! This one looks like the back of a Brook Trout.   Hope you enjoy them all. See them at Amazing examples of Damascus |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
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Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 24, 2019 12:17:51 GMT -5
Now why ya figure the center of the end has the most wear? Seems the outer edges would have more rock contact. Engineer reasoning for center wear? I puzzled on that a bit also Bob. I think perhaps it is because the center is ALWAYS in contact with rocks, whereas the outer edge has a period in each rotation where there is no wear going on (no rocks touching). Over time a 15% "rest period" might really be significant. Just my guess. |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 18, 2019 9:34:07 GMT -5
Very interesting article here: Mining the ocean floorIt would be so incredible to look through what they pull up. And to slab some of them! |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Sept 16, 2019 5:29:56 GMT -5
Just to clarify, my understanding is that Cladopoa were coral, not plants.  ? |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Sept 16, 2019 5:20:14 GMT -5
Mel, it's not clear where you are staying, but it sounds like you are within pretty easy striking distance of The Blue Forest. Really nice petwood and you can usually find some good surface pieces if you don't like digging (which I don't). There are some incredible Green Lake fossil fish digging pay locations down in Kemmerer which is a bit further. I can recommend which is the best if you are interested. Have fun. It's too hot here now, but Fall should start this week and the leaves will color up. Thank You I will check that out!! I am very interested in the fossil digs. I think your hot and my hot are very different hahaha As orrum mentioned I don’t have a problem digging AT ALL. I’ve been Butt deep in a hand dug hole on a side of a mountain with vegasjames and quite a few other of our members. I have tried a couple different ones in Kemmerer, but my favorite by far is American Fossil (http://www.fishdig.com/) . Last time we were there we found many more fish than at the other places, and even found a stingray fossil. And the great thing about American fossil is they let you keep everything you find. And the staff there is real crate and helpful. We had a great time. |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Sept 5, 2019 5:34:43 GMT -5
Mel, it's not clear where you are staying, but it sounds like you are within pretty easy striking distance of The Blue Forest. Really nice petwood and you can usually find some good surface pieces if you don't like digging (which I don't). There are some incredible Green Lake fossil fish digging pay locations down in Kemmerer which is a bit further. I can recommend which is the best if you are interested. Have fun. It's too hot here now, but Fall should start this week and the leaves will color up.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 20, 2019 22:40:05 GMT -5
Nice tutorial Rob!
But where is the U of M shirt? (I guess you slipped on the maize and blue for the final segment)
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 6, 2019 22:48:26 GMT -5
I would be interested. Total newbie here. I just started my second Step 4 in my lortone duo 3 lb tumbler. I have what I believe is mostly granite that I am tumbling. These are pretty rocks that I have collected from my brother-in-laws cottage on Lake Ontario. Would love to have some different material to try. Happy to pay shipping. Hi lethornton, I may have enough for another box in a bucket out in the shed. Not sure exactly what is in there, but I will check and send you a PM |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
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Post by panamark on Mar 6, 2019 22:46:13 GMT -5
Do you only have the one box? As I’d love to have some of that to test out my new tumbler (on order!) I should be getting my brand new tumbler in the mail any day now, and I don’t have a lot of rocks to test it out yet (not much for variety for me yet). Though I am in Canada, I would gladly pay the shipping to get some different stones to try out! Please let me know, thanks! Hi minniek, I am sorry but the last time I shipped to our friends up north in Canada it was a real hassle with custom papers, possible duties, etc. It should be easier. Sorry |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 2, 2019 7:28:59 GMT -5
Those look beautiful Dave!
One note though, be careful with that braided line. It is VERY strong and also cuts skin quite easily. (I know from fishing accidents). Be sure none of the recipients work where there can be a necklace entanglement issue.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 2, 2019 7:25:08 GMT -5
I have a full MFR box of odds-n-ends I have been collecting over the last year. It has lots of agate, some Blue forest petrified wood, other petwood, gary green, jaspers, some weird stuff, maybe even the stray cat. I will ship it to any new tumblers for the cost of shipping ($15). Note that none of it is AAA material and some of it may be junk, but I am sure there is some good stuff in there, especially if you are just getting started. I even put a few pieces of AA material in there just because. (Please don't ask if you already have a huge horde of rocks, I would like this to go to someone struggling to find "food" for their tumbler.) Have a great day.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Nov 15, 2018 22:00:51 GMT -5
On my HP it was doing similar. Turned out the brass threads had worn so that the split nut wasn't closing enough. The bottom of the nut was making contact with each other before the threads were well engaged. So I carefully ground away a bit at the contact point on the split nuts until it was fully engaging the threads. Problem fixed. I hope this helps.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Oct 22, 2018 22:39:03 GMT -5
following this thread with interest James.
I have spent a LOT of time drilling cabs and beads of stone. The THK bits are the best I have found so far, at least in the 1.5 to 3 mm size.
One suggest is that I have found using a drill press HUGELY improved the speed AND the quality of the hole. Just like any drill press beats hand held for about any material. I drill in water using a small metal tray of water with a preformed piece of wood that roughly holds the cab just slightly submerged. If I want to get even better I can glue the cab in the wood with a slow-water-solvent glue. The wood allows me to better hold the bead/stone and consistently hit the hole perfectly as I use the tap-tap-tap drilling technique.* One thing I am doing more and more with some success is to keep the water just to the surface of the rock and fill the hole that is forming with a slurry of silicon carbide grit. This can really increase the drilling speed. The ancients use this slurry with bamboo drill bits to pretty good effect.
Anyway, as always it is a joy to watch you think and tinker!
* =still working on a practical underwater stone micro-vice. No good solutions yet. And I have used modelling clay to hold the piece in place, but with limited success.
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