teah
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2014
Posts: 4
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Post by teah on Jul 18, 2014 7:55:56 GMT -5
I just started getting very excited about tumbling rocks. I never even heard of it until yesterday. My question is what kind of rocks do you tumble? Can I just go find rocks? I live in Illinois. Or do you have to buy a certain kind? I'd really rather collect them myself. That's half the fun! Is this an expensive hobby?
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Jul 18, 2014 8:03:50 GMT -5
The harder the rock, the better the shine. Yes you can go find your own rocks, but they should be of similar hardness to be successful. Is it expensive? yes, because it becomes addictive...at least for me.
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Post by deb193redux on Jul 18, 2014 8:41:45 GMT -5
Learn to spot agate, jasper, flint, maybe some quartzite. If you want to do dolomite, marbles, banded onyx, obsidian, or other softer stones it is best to do those separate and after you get some savvy.
Finer grain stones do better, as well as stones w/o obvious chips. If there are long thin areas or points, these will take a very long time to grind down. It can be useful to break some stones first.
I would recommend you get a bag of small/mixed rough of a single rock type from an online provider. Learn the mechanics of filling the barrel with enough smalls, getting the water right, the amount of grit, the sound of the tumble as it starts to make mud, and how all this is a little different on whatever machine you buy.
I recommend you get at least a 6lb machine, because it is instinct to want to put in stones into 3lb barrels that are really too large. If you like the hobby, you might add a vibrating tumbler to take care fo the later stages and the polish - it is a lot faster.
If you should come to want flatter pieces that might be used for jewelry, you may eventually get an inexpensive tile saw and buy slabs of rock from a slabber.
There really is a lot of variety in what folks do - including how polished/natural they want their rock to turn out.
Good luck
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teah
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2014
Posts: 4
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Post by teah on Jul 18, 2014 9:06:26 GMT -5
Thank you guys for all the info! I can already see how it's addicting! My son just turned 3 and I'm hoping to start a rock collection
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jul 18, 2014 12:05:58 GMT -5
Hello teah and welcome from a fellow Illinoian. Unfortunately Illinois is not a great rock collecting state although some tumble worthy stones can be found. Agates are rare and came here with the glaciers. I think that I have only found about 10 true agates in my time searching here. Some quartz and quartzite can be found, again these are glacial till. Most of what I collect and tumble I believe to be chert. I find it along the Illinois river and it's tributaries. If you like fossils your in the right state for that. I find corals , crinoids and brachiopods regularly.
Do some research on the mohs hardness scale. A simple test is to try to scratch a rock with a good pocket knife or steel file. Bear down hard and if the knife or file scratches the rock it likely will not polish. If a metallic streak is left on the rock or no mark is left then it will likely shine.
To start I would buy some agates or jaspers from an online supplier. They are "easiest" to get good results with. I started with Mexican Crazy Lace and Lake Superior Agates. The Crazy Lace was a bit frustrating because of the softer materials that are in the rocks. The Lakers are very hard and will take a lot of time but are well worth the wait.
You have found the right place to ask questions. Lots of experience and knowledge here. It can get expensive depending on your level of interest and addiction. Good luck and happy tumbling!
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teah
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2014
Posts: 4
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Post by teah on Jul 18, 2014 12:49:39 GMT -5
This is so exciting! Yes I'm very interested in fossils! that's actually how I discovered the tumbling, from researching the fossils and talking to my Grandpa.
How and where do you look for fossils? I have no idea what to look for. Thank you again!
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Post by deb193redux on Jul 18, 2014 13:56:26 GMT -5
Most marine/leaf fossils you do not polish. Especially ones from the Midwest. Well silicified fossils, like pet wood, and even some silicified fossils in limestone will polish. You can surely do both, but "what to tumble" and "where to find fossils" are two different conversations. I would start with a rockhound book for the Midwest or even Illinois. BUT, the best way to get good at tumbling may be to start with quality size-screened rock of uniform hardness form a supplier, and then try to polish rocks you hound. therockshed.com is popular: therockshed.com/crushedrock.htmlEasy batches might be: Crushed Dalmatian Stone, Desert Jasper from Madagascar, or Small South Dakota Prairie Agate - these are some of the easiest they offer. Beginners should always get sizes that start at 5/8 or 3/4 (really some smaller than 3/4 is needed). Avoid the mistake of putting a bunch of 1" plus rocks in a small barrel.
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roundrock
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Holding on to the Stone of Destiny
Member since June 2014
Posts: 91
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Post by roundrock on Jul 18, 2014 15:52:30 GMT -5
Teah, have you bought a tumbler yet, or do you have access to one? If so, what size?
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jul 18, 2014 17:03:39 GMT -5
This is so exciting! Yes I'm very interested in fossils! that's actually how I discovered the tumbling, from researching the fossils and talking to my Grandpa. How and where do you look for fossils? I have no idea what to look for. Thank you again! Most of the fossils I find are along local waterways. Fox River, Vermillion River, Illinois River and even the creek that runs along the edge of my home town. Like deb193 said most are not for tumbling. The only ones I tumble polish are the agatized corals. The Mazon Creek is a famous collecting area although as I understand it's getting harder to find them. There is a park where you are allowed to collect with a day pass. Haven't been there myself but it is on my someday list. A link. www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R2/MAZONIA.HTMHere's a link to the Illinois State Geological Survey page about fossils. Some nice pictures and info here. isgs.illinois.edu/?q=outreach/geology-resources/common-types-illinois-fossilsHope this is helpful.
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teah
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2014
Posts: 4
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Post by teah on Jul 19, 2014 11:48:21 GMT -5
I do not have a tumbler. I wanted to learn more before I invested too much. My interest was peaked when I thought I could use pretty much any rock (like the river rock in our landscaping.) At the moment I'm looking for inexpensive hobbies to do with my son, so I'm thinking fossil hunting might be more down our ally at this time. But if money were no object, I'd be all over this tumbling thing, it sounds awesome!
My Grandpa told me that years ago he bought a rough Opal and polished it by hand with sand paper and eventually his jeans while he'd drive long distance. I saw on eBay you can get them for very cheap and that's something I'd really like to do. I know it will take a long time by hand but I think it'd be very rewarding.
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jul 19, 2014 17:53:20 GMT -5
Here's a nice article for you Teah. I notice chert, flint, jaspers and agates turn out with really nice polishes...and these tend to be fairly common. I like "quartz" except I tend to have chipping problems with them. Stay away from softer stones for the time being, until you've gotten fairly comfortable with your tumbling. rocktumbler.com/tips/rocks-for-tumbling/Henry
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