ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 15, 2017 14:01:45 GMT -5
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 15, 2017 13:19:05 GMT -5
I always had a few that didn't quite make it all the way thru polish. A scratch or crack would appear. A chip would break off. Saw this in quartz and obsidian. I just toss them back in the first stage until they're ready again. BTW, great job on getting these nicely shaped!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 15, 2017 13:15:05 GMT -5
Those are some super shiny rocks. And great job on the photography!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 15, 2017 13:13:50 GMT -5
Really great shine! Thanks for sharing. Love the color on the third picture. Also enjoying the fourth picture from the end.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 14, 2017 21:26:40 GMT -5
Looks like a world class shine! You should enter a contest sometime. But I'm retired!!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 14, 2017 13:57:00 GMT -5
That looks like fun. I feel like it's a crime I live so close to Lake Michigan but don't own a boat. I keep saying I'm going to buy one just to say I've done it once.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 14, 2017 6:14:10 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! Here are the rocks I sent in. Out of all the rocks I started with I only had 6 or 7 that I would consider "finished". I think I swapped one of these for another before sending in my box. I was very lucky to get these five together without more pits or cracks showing up while tumbling.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 13, 2017 16:57:24 GMT -5
And as a celebration, I just started my QT12 again after installing the new replacement motor.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 13, 2017 16:56:14 GMT -5
Well, RTH has the top 2 spots. Just found out that I got first place! I guess I need to purchase an RTH shirt for my picture! OK, let's see if we can sweep this year. Congratulations to Rob for second place! And thank you to everyone who I bugged when first joining this board. It pays to listen!! Dave
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 12, 2017 18:24:21 GMT -5
Having tumbled some of this material before, these are amazing. They take forever! Great batch!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 12, 2017 11:08:24 GMT -5
I followed the same tutorial and my wire and stone ended up across the room multiple times. That's not me blaming the tutorial either! You did a great job on this wrap. Keep up the good work!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 12, 2017 10:46:00 GMT -5
I don't have an MT4, but I use a 1/2 teaspoon of polish in my (4 pound) Lot-O and have no standing water. I simply wet the rocks and then dump out the water. 3 tablespoons seems like a TON of polish!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 12, 2017 8:04:09 GMT -5
Here is the info from the contest rules on their website. It looks like this year, both rounds are being done by judges.
8. During round one, judges will examine all submissions and determine the top seven as finalists. 9. During round two, judges will examine the finalists’ rocks under a hand lense. 10. Judges look for the following: polish left in cracks, flaws in the workmanship (not the rock), coatings or anything that brings out the polish other than the work and wheel marks on the stone. Wheel marks will disqualify the applicant.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 12, 2017 6:20:02 GMT -5
There is a post on their Facebook page saying the winners should be announced right after their show, which is this weekend. They also mentioned they might post pictures while the show is going on. So a few more days to wait.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 11, 2017 13:05:15 GMT -5
Isn't that snowflake obsidian?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 9, 2017 21:06:09 GMT -5
Really liking this finished batch. Great job!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 9, 2017 21:04:41 GMT -5
Beautiful batch. Glad to see you're getting good use out of that mixed box. That unakite came from the Rock Shed and I really enjoyed tumbling it! Their website says the material is from Brazil.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 9, 2017 7:50:36 GMT -5
Nice mixed batch. Great job!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 7, 2017 11:10:49 GMT -5
The tiger eye might need another month or two. It all depends on how smooth and rounded you want it to be. Don't pay attention to how long it takes. Pull out only the rocks you are 100% happy with and load the tumbler up with more rough. Before you know it, there will be a nice pile ready for stage 2.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Sept 7, 2017 6:13:34 GMT -5
Here is my Standard "recipe" 46/70 (or 60/90) SiC in my QT-66. Weekly clean outs. Pulled rocks when ready. 2 tablespoons 120/220 SiC for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon 500 AO + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon 1000 AO + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon Polish + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 2 tablespoons Borax as a final burnish for 5 hours in Lot-O
I did not notice any gas buildup with this material.
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