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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 12:50:00 GMT -5
Informative post. I would almost venture to say that for the type of finished tumbles you posted that every one of them had prep work done. The material I have had has always been too fractured to just roll them. Plus most of the great features inside the rocks do not get exposed unless you cut them. Chuck Yes, Chuck, most of my Montana's get some type of prep work. I don't cab, but would still like to be able to capture particular features in my tumbles, so I spend some time at the tile saw with certain kinds of rocks.
Also, due to the size of some of my Montana's, they have to be broken down anyway. I have two boxes of varying size material. I don't buy crushed rock, ready for the tumbler.
The small/broken ones that can go right to the tumbler with minimal, to no, prep, other than maybe cutting off an odd protrusion.
The ones that would not do well, as is.
Too big for the tumbler?
I have a 10" tile saw that I can use to cut these, but normally I will just score them with the 7" tile saw and break them with hammer and chisel. I try to quarter them and then make more precise cuts with the little saw when I get them to a manageable size.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 12:34:22 GMT -5
Randy,those are killer pieces!!! The one with the tubes is totally awesome!!! My favorite material to roll, is Montanas, so many possibilities with that material, you just can't go wrong... I have the best of two worlds with my material, a customer that buys from me, wants her tumbled rocks, natural (Fractures, pits and all), they sell like hot cakes for her.. Than I can cut a few and cab many and they sell like crazy too, to my customers...LOL PS: Randy that tubed Montana is on the rare side....Not many around.. Thanks, Mike! I always check out your Montana agate videos. Sounds like you're moving a lot of rocks.
That little 'tuber' stays in the bowl on my coffee table. It is unique. Here is another piece off the same rock.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 10:55:42 GMT -5
Welcome from Kentucky! I spent a summer studying in Rennes and got to travel much of Brittany. It was beautiful. Really loved Dinan!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 10:44:32 GMT -5
Very well done, Chuck. Goes well with the shirt. Definitely a conversation starter.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 10:41:32 GMT -5
After looking at Fossilman 's great video on Montana agate and seeing some others interested in tumbling these stones, I decided to post some pics and information on my Montana's. It just so happens that I prepped some Montana agate last weekend and snapped a photo before they headed to the tumbling bucket. I don't load up a whole barrel of these, because they take so long to finish rounding into the kind of shape I prefer. I don't want to tie up a whole barrel and not have anything come out of it in...forever. They get thrown into different barrels, sparingly, with all the other material I have rolling. I know that once they go in, they will spend months in there. If I throw a couple in with other rocks at each cleanout, then there will be a somewhat steady stream of them finishing up.
Here is what I started with last weekend:
Most of these were smaller nodules and halves already, but still needed some work for tumble ready material. I cut through obvious fractures and flaws, trying to get clean pieces going into the tumbler. On some of them, I will grind off the rough outer skin. Others I leave alone. Once they go into the tumbler, there is no removing them for further grinding of flaws. I'm fairly passive once they go in, just let them work themselves into shape. I'm in no hurry.
Prepped Montana agate:
I realize I should have put something in the pics for a size reference, but I didn't. Here is a 'for instance' of the size I like to have coming out of the tumbler.
The one on the left is an average size and the one on the right is toward the larger end of my tumbles. It's a chunky one. These get rolled in my 6 and 12lb tumblers. The three pound barrel would take even longer, due to the decreased tumbling action going on in there.
When to remove the stones is a matter of personal preference. Some like to keep a semblance of their natural state, others like smooth and super shiny tumbles. I fall into the latter group, so these things stay in as long as they need to. There is no 'schedule'. Whichever route you go, they are a fun tumble and worth the effort. There is a lot of variety in them and they always seem to be a favorite with "the crowd".
Other examples of tumbled Montana's: (some were cut thin and shaped for pendants, then tumbled)
Check back about this time next year for photos of the finished result of all the prepped material pictured above.
Randy
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2018 3:53:10 GMT -5
Always love your trip reports, Jean. I may never get to hound Lavic, but doing it vicariously through you ain't so bad. Some nice material you picked up, too!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 21, 2018 18:47:47 GMT -5
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 21, 2018 13:01:54 GMT -5
They probably are for you, but for a third party, we can't see them... Photobucket is a pain!!!! That host site will make ya' pull your hair out..LOL Sorry! Re-hosted on Flickr. Let me know if these are working please! Pics are showing, but I'm no help identifying them.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 21, 2018 0:03:20 GMT -5
Spherify it! It's what you do. I'd sure like to see it.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 20, 2018 9:00:44 GMT -5
Bad news kids. Turned it on first time and it slung a counterweight. Further research reveals a poor tack weld from counterweight to ~16 gauge motor plate that the fan is riveted to. I am amazed at the polishing capabilities of this machine but must admit it is not the most well built. Has anyone ever pulled the fan assembly off the shaft ? Looks like there is a little galvanized compression clamp holding the fan assembly to the shaft. Looks like the other counterweight has a broken weld too. Left message with Uncle Tom to send me 2 new fan assemblies and instruction on how to pull it off the shaft without damage. Bummer! Figures that the guy who resisted, amidst all the rave reviews, gets dealt a lemon when he finally gives in.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 20, 2018 7:47:52 GMT -5
What's your plan, James? Which AO are you throwing in there? Any slurry thickener?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 19, 2018 15:37:43 GMT -5
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 19, 2018 11:27:22 GMT -5
Screams of no replyyyyyyyy... OK that's where I 'Draw The Line' That cab isn't 10", is it?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 18, 2018 18:54:24 GMT -5
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 18, 2018 3:55:26 GMT -5
Nice presentation. Gotta love Montana agate. If you don't, you're wrong.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 18, 2018 3:43:18 GMT -5
Another great cab, Paul. Love that material.
And, because you're begging for it...
And now, to cleanse that dude's image from the brain...
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 17, 2018 20:41:02 GMT -5
Billy, I'll take the other box, if still available. I've waited long enough. If nobody else has spoken up before now, it's their loss. PM your PayPal info again.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 16, 2018 11:47:30 GMT -5
No one asked about the big 'L' painted on the Lot-O foundation brick. I was going to ask when I got to the bottom of the thread, but you already answered it. James, are you going to fill the dimple in the bottom of the bowl with epoxy? I know Rob Jugglerguy filled his...not sure of others. Doing so apparently made cleanouts much easier, and small material doesn't get stuck there any longer. I don't Loto yet, so perhaps Rob can better explain the reasoning to you. Everyone with a Lot O should fill that dimple. It's a pain to dig out small crap that gets impacted in there.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 16, 2018 8:43:08 GMT -5
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 15, 2018 20:34:48 GMT -5
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