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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 23, 2004 11:48:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I was out in my rock shop on Tuesday and I came across a box of the old glass insulators that used to be used for telephone lines, back in the fourties, fifties and sixties. Most of them had a chip or some other flaw in them (as when they are taken down they are generally thrown into the back of a truck as trash). There is a very wide variety of colors, when it comes to insulators. Some are highly prised for their colors and can be extremely rare. Anyway, has anyone ever tried to tumble this material?
I think I am going to put some into my next batch ... which, by the way ... WILL BE UP AND RUNNING TODAY ;D. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Just an idea ... I know you can find the broken glass insulators for next to nothing and thay might be worth a try.
Have a great day,
John
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Post by hermatite on Sept 23, 2004 11:57:19 GMT -5
Hey Bear...before you do that, check on ebay. I think some of those insulators are highly prized by collectors (I know of at least three people who collect them). So before you bust em up and tumble then you might be able to make some cash and buy...oh...let's say...MORE ROUGH!
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Post by mrbrett on Sept 23, 2004 11:58:52 GMT -5
That is so funny you where thinking that! Last week I was at an auction and they sold a box of old insulators and I was thinking I bet you can tumble those. Friday I am going to another sale if they have some I might see how much they go for. Good Idea John
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Post by hermatite on Sept 23, 2004 12:05:03 GMT -5
I have a cunning plan! Bear...sell the insulators to brett and buy...oh I don't know...MORE ROUGH!
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Sept 23, 2004 12:21:40 GMT -5
Well what an interesting topic. And to think I can actually contribute to it! My grandfather used to work for Owens-Illinois glass. One of the things he used to make and collect was glass insulators. He used to bring me jars full of broken insulator glass of every color. When I was a kid that is what I tumbled. So yes you can tumble it. What you would do with it when your finished is beyond me because it looks like...well, glass!
Otter
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 23, 2004 21:00:52 GMT -5
Hello Otter, When we attend show as a vendor, I have a box of freebies for the kids. Small pieces of rough petrified wood and tumbled stones. I enjoy the feeling I get when I see a childs eye's wide with excitement and curiosity. Who knows, maybe it will be enough to start a kid thinking ... "you know I can do that." If I am feeling a little mischevious ... I'll tell them that they are free if they can answer a science question for me. When they ask what is the question ... I simply reply ... explain quantum physics to me ... the look in their eyes is absolutely hilarious . I had one kid at our last show, give me this answer: I sure would if I could mister, but we are learning about leaves right now ... do you have a question about leaves! ... I truely enjoy the answers that I get from some kids. And yes, he got a stone for his answer ;D Have a great evening, John
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Sept 23, 2004 22:45:35 GMT -5
I have a few insulators that I would be willing to sell and my neighbor lady has quite a few more some the green "mickie mouse" ones. send me a message and I will take a couple of pictures and send them to you and make me an offer I would rather sell them here as ebay
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Sept 25, 2004 11:27:38 GMT -5
What's so hard to understand about quantum physics?
Oh right, I forgot, they don't teach much science in US schools - my mistake.
Just kidding.
SirRoxalot
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 25, 2004 19:42:53 GMT -5
I'm more into the "String Theory" myself.
cookie
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bcbunny
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 112
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Post by bcbunny on Sept 25, 2004 20:02:19 GMT -5
I was rock hunting today and guess what I found, a couple broken insulators, so yup I picked them up.
Let me know if you tumble any and how they turn out, then I know weather to drop these in the garbage or tumbler, hahah
Bunny
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 26, 2004 14:43:08 GMT -5
Hello again,
WarrenA - Thanks for the offer ... but, I have about thirth of these. I am sure they'll end up as future tumble projects!
Bunny - I'll let you know what I come up with ... it's going to be a while ... I just started a petrified wood, tiger eye, laguna agate, botswana agate load. I'm really looking forward to this batch ... the agates are absolutely spectacular!
Enjoy,
John
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Sept 26, 2004 22:43:49 GMT -5
an idea that I had was to fill the insulator with small tumbled agates and put a single christmas lite in the middle then seal the bottom and turn it over and energize the lite to see how it would look.
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 27, 2004 0:42:23 GMT -5
Looking forward to see the outcome and pictures of all of this original ideas! ;D
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