nich
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 17
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Post by nich on Nov 19, 2016 16:16:13 GMT -5
What are some of your favorite rocks to tumble/polish? And why? Maybe its because they polish up the best for you or they are just the easiest and fastest to polish etc. or is it because you can collect them where you live, so you don't have to fork out tons of money for stuff polish. I look at different rock rough online all the time but there are just so many that I like, I get confused and want them ALL...
With Christmas coming soon my hubby has asked me for ideas of something he could get me and I thought, " hey, get me rocks, rocks and more rocks..." So I would love to know what some of your favorites are.. Thanks
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 19, 2016 16:26:56 GMT -5
Tough question. I tumble more unakite than anything else. It's because I collect it myself from Lake Superior. I throw it into other rough tumbles as filler because I can easily identify it and I like to keep my rock types separate in later stages. Last year, I decided that I wouldn't tumble any more for a while.
Petoskey stones are sort of fun because I also collect them myself and they're really quick to tumble.
But my favorite has to be higher quality rocks that I get from somewhere else. I think my all time favorite was crazy lace agate I bought from The Rock Shed. That stuff was really cool.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 19, 2016 16:57:02 GMT -5
Bahia agate has been a favorite for a while. Has variety, takes a great polish, hard to mess up and they are nice tumbled whole or fun to slice up. That's if you want 'favorite', which implies only one...but I'd love to be able to add Montana's also.
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ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
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Post by ubermenehune on Nov 19, 2016 17:04:16 GMT -5
Montanas & petwoods. They can start very homely and surprise you with their beauty when finished.
I also like unakite for the colors.
I've never tumbled ocean jasper, but I'd love to for the same reasons i like unakite, montanas and petwoods.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 19, 2016 17:15:20 GMT -5
Montanas & petwoods. They can start very homely and surprise you with their beauty Yup, pet wood too!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2016 17:19:59 GMT -5
Jasper's and agates for me. And any agatized organic matter too.
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nich
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 17
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Post by nich on Nov 19, 2016 18:45:55 GMT -5
Do any of u petrified wood lovers collect it yourself? Or do u buy it? I think all of it is so interesting but how in the world do you know what to look for... It seems like something I would never be able to identify..
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Nov 19, 2016 22:14:08 GMT -5
I seem to keep throwing all kinds of jasper in my barrels. But I say "buy them all". Throw them in the barrel and see what happens. It's what makes this hobby so much fun.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Nov 20, 2016 0:20:11 GMT -5
Lake Superior beach rock or anything self picked . Beach rock is so much quicker to finish , if ya start with decent stuff . We use mostly self picked rock for a few reasons . It is one of many things we enjoy doing together , gives us a better idea of what to tumble and what gets thrown on the driveway . And it is so much less expensive . We do buy some rock , mostly from rockshed.com , just to try different things . Crazy lace is pretty awesome , Tiger eye has turned out darn nice also , so many to pick from it is hard to choose a favorite . Some of ours have come from the Big Lake beaches or local rivers and gravel pits . Probably not giving you any good ideas , pick a color and go for it . Really can't go wrong with agates or jaspers . Rocksheds Zebra jasper shapes pretty fast and polishes nice , multi - colored also . Hope this helps a little . Have fun and experiment .
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 213
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Post by rodeodan on Nov 20, 2016 2:16:49 GMT -5
Right now, probably Desert Jasper (from Rock Shed), large obsidians, followed by petrified woo.
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Post by orrum on Nov 20, 2016 7:51:46 GMT -5
Other people's saw scrap#!! It's lots of shapes and chunks. Plus you don't know what you put in the tumbler! At clean out I am amazed at the way the grinding brought out shapes and colors that were not evident at the begginning!!!
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Post by Peruano on Nov 20, 2016 9:18:24 GMT -5
Do any of u petrified wood lovers collect it yourself? Or do u buy it? I think all of it is so interesting but how in the world do you know what to look for... It seems like something I would never be able to identify.. There is a knack to spotting Pet Wood, but it comes down to surface texture, hints of growth rings, and a whole array of colors. Actually that's a tough question to answer in a few words. Perhaps if you send me your email by PM, a small flat rate box of New Mexican wood will appear at your door before Christmas. It probably will be a broad enough array that you will have your own idea of how to id wood when you get the chance (and you will get the chance someday). I was quite surprised to find good pet wood in a gravel bar on the Missouri River (in Missouri). Here in New Mexico, its pretty abundant in the right spots, and I'd be glad to share some of my largesse with you. I can try to make it tumbler sized pieces just so it will be a longer lasting Christmas present. Tom
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Nov 20, 2016 11:04:09 GMT -5
Other people's saw scrap#!! It's lots of shapes and chunks. Plus you don't know what you put in the tumbler! At clean out I am amazed at the way the grinding brought out shapes and colors that were not evident at the begginning!!! Great answer, Orrum!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2016 15:18:11 GMT -5
+1 orrum (I have 50# of scraps! Can't wait!!) +1 Peruano, nich, take him up on this offer. Tom is a true gentleman and you gift will be wonderful no doubt. Plus you can ask him frog and lizard questions!!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 20, 2016 15:28:04 GMT -5
Montana moss agates and most petwood......Why-because they tumble great and you never have to check the loads out per cycle,just let them roll............
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 20, 2016 15:30:34 GMT -5
Other people's saw scrap#!! It's lots of shapes and chunks. Plus you don't know what you put in the tumbler! At clean out I am amazed at the way the grinding brought out shapes and colors that were not evident at the begginning!!! That's what I have in my tumbler now....LOL Everything and anything I found to fill the barrel.....End cuts,river rock,busted slabs,etc....
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kevinstalcup
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2016
Posts: 4
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Post by kevinstalcup on Nov 20, 2016 17:08:05 GMT -5
Lake Superior beach rock or anything self picked . Beach rock is so much quicker to finish , if ya start with decent stuff . We use mostly self picked rock for a few reasons . It is one of many things we enjoy doing together , gives us a better idea of what to tumble and what gets thrown on the driveway . And it is so much less expensive . We do buy some rock , mostly from rockshed.com , just to try different things . Crazy lace is pretty awesome , Tiger eye has turned out darn nice also , so many to pick from it is hard to choose a favorite . Some of ours have come from the Big Lake beaches or local rivers and gravel pits . Probably not giving you any good ideas , pick a color and go for it . Really can't go wrong with agates or jaspers . Rocksheds Zebra jasper shapes pretty fast and polishes nice , multi - colored also . Hope this helps a little . Have fun and experiment .
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kevinstalcup
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2016
Posts: 4
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Post by kevinstalcup on Nov 20, 2016 17:10:57 GMT -5
can someone tell me what grits to use from stage 1 to polish for tiger eye ,
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Post by paulshiroma on Nov 20, 2016 19:40:13 GMT -5
nich, if it's for a Christmas gift, maybe go through the Rock Shed's tumbling rough and buy a selection of different materials. Get the widest variety possible. That would definitely make it interesting. Here's the direct URL to the Rock Shed's rough: therockshed.com/crushedrock.html. By the way, I don't work for them but I do purchase a lot of supplies through them as do a lot of other RTH members. It's a good operation. I'll tumble just about any rock. No particular favorites, they're all interesting. Paul
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,178
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Post by jamesp on Nov 20, 2016 20:01:46 GMT -5
About any agate, jasper or petrification that is without cracks and of dense high quality. Something about a tumbled rock with no cracks in it.
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