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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 16:31:03 GMT -5
I've had a little break from rock activities, but the tumblers kept rolling, so the Lot O still kicked out a couple batches in March. I hadn't done pics in a while either, so there were too many to post them all. I picked some of my favorites to share here, but there are plenty more to see (maybe 40+ more). If you have spare time and want to look at any more rock pics, here's the link to the rest of the album. March tumbles
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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17
18
19
20
21 I named this one 'Five'
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23
24
25
26
27
Sorry for the overload, I always come back from a hiatus with renewed vigor.
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Post by aDave on Apr 4, 2017 16:44:50 GMT -5
OMG Garage Rocker . Amazing...just amazing. Too many to pick a favorite, though I do really like #11. It looks like a structure encapsulated in a stone. If you don't mind me asking, what's your photo/lightbox setup? Regards. Dave
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 4, 2017 16:57:29 GMT -5
You are the master of shine, Randy! Brilliant, amazing, gorgeous!
If this one is 5 (Duh, obviously)
then you should call this one
SMILE!! Even has some little rounded off teeth, lol.
Very much loving the agates, but if I could only pick one, it would have to be the moss in #7, on the right.
Or, maybe the red one in #18? One could go crazy trying to pick a fav!
Very nice tumble, Garage Rocker!
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Post by adam on Apr 4, 2017 17:25:04 GMT -5
Nice rios. Purdy.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Apr 4, 2017 18:26:00 GMT -5
Simply gorgeous . And don't apologize for an overload like that .
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 4, 2017 19:59:41 GMT -5
Amazing tumbles and photos as usual. My favorites are the multiples of six and number 25. What are the red and white banded agates? Lakers or something else?
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Apr 4, 2017 20:02:49 GMT -5
Beautiful job! may us beginners as your process? Thanks
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 20:30:56 GMT -5
OMG Garage Rocker . Amazing...just amazing. Too many to pick a favorite, though I do really like #11.  It looks like a structure encapsulated in a stone. If you don't mind me asking, what's your photo/lightbox setup? Regards. Dave Thanks, Dave, there's a lot going on in those Lagunas. I don't know if you've looked, but click on that photo (#11) and it will take you to that image in flickr. Left click inside that image and you can zoom and pan around. Amazing structures in there. I spend too much time looking at them.
I've shared my photography set up in other threads. I think it was covered best in this thread.
November tumbles The photo talk starts on page two.
But here's what it looks like.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 20:38:19 GMT -5
then you should call this one
SMILE!! Even has some little rounded off teeth, lol.
Very nice tumble, Garage Rocker ! Thanks, Jean, I really had a bunch of tumbles I liked in these batches. So much so that I had to take two nights just to photograph them all the way I wanted. So many that they got their own album.
I will go with the name 'smile' for that one. As in, I'm happy they finally came out the way I hoped. They took quite a while, many imperfections and they're so clear they show everything. I didn't do any grinding on them, so they just rolled forever.
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Post by aDave on Apr 4, 2017 20:46:37 GMT -5
Thanks, Dave, there's a lot going on in those Lagunas. I don't now if you've looked, but click on that photo (#11) and it will take you to that image in flickr. Left click inside that image and you can zoom and pan around. Amazing structures in there. I spend too much time looking at them.
I've shared my photography set up in other threads. I think it was covered best in this thread.
November tumbles The photo talk starts on page two.
But here's what it looks like.
Thank you, sir! Still trying to figure out a photo setup, so I appreciate the information. There are some fairly inexpensive lightbox setups on Amazon, but I just haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'm kind of slow when it comes to researching stuff like this. When you say "lagunas," should I presume that they are laguna agates? Did you self-collect somewhere, or do you have a favorite source/supplier (not meaning to step on toes)? Thanks and regards. Dave
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 20:49:32 GMT -5
Amazing tumbles and photos as usual. My favorites are the multiples of six and number 25. What are the red and white banded agates? Lakers or something else? Thanks, Rob, I like your taste. I think #6 is my favorite photo in the bunch (at the moment) and has one of my favorite rocks also. It's got a lot of depth to it and took a great polish.
The lakers are in pic 13 and the one I named 'Five', the other crazy banded agates are Lagunas. I got a nice assortment a (long) while back. They are tough if you are trying for perfection, so I left a few flaws I could live with and photographed around them. I grabbed a box of Mexican material from Mel not long ago, based on the potential I saw in these.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Apr 4, 2017 20:55:48 GMT -5
I've had to put my rocks aside for the past few months. School has been more challenging this year so I had to take an involuntary hiatus. Anyway your rock photos are both inspiring for me and discouraging at the same time. Those rios are exactly how I dream mine will eventually come out. Unfortunately mine always fall much short of what you show here. Well it is the challenge that keeps it interesting but a success like a couple that look like what you show here would really be a booster. Thanks for posting.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,664
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Post by Tommy on Apr 4, 2017 21:06:10 GMT -5
Holy crap Randy - that's some serious eye candy. Amazing tumbles AND photography. bow-down
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 21:06:56 GMT -5
Beautiful job! may us beginners as your process? Thanks Thanks! I use the same process many folks on here use. All of my rotary barrels are dedicated to the course grind stage and then I use a Lot O for the finishing stages. That process is pretty standard, no secrets, and there have been many threads on here detailing the proven technique. There's even a thread with a Lot O recipe.
Lot O recipe
The hardest part of getting these kind of results is the patience to leave your rocks rolling in the first stage long enough. Some of the rocks above tumbled in the rough grind for four months. However long it takes to get a surface free of cracks and divots. You can speed up that first stage by grinding out problem areas, but I tend to just throw them in and let them go.
I only attempted one batch in the rotary, but got tired of the wait and bought a Lot O before I even got through to the polish stage, so that probably doesn't count. If you are needing process help on finishing out a batch in a rotary, I'm afraid I'm all reading knowledge and no practical knowledge. The answers are all on the forum though. Just learn how to search for information properly.
How to search the forum
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 4, 2017 21:08:26 GMT -5
Love #26 and #27. Great shine and an amazing group of materials!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 21:11:15 GMT -5
I've had to put my rocks aside for the past few months. School has been more challenging this year so I had to take an involuntary hiatus. Anyway your rock photos are both inspiring for me and discouraging at the same time. Those rios are exactly how I dream mine will eventually come out. Unfortunately mine always fall much short of what you show here. Well it is the challenge that keeps it interesting but a success like a couple that look like what you show here would really be a booster. Thanks for posting. Thanks, Richard, missed seeing you around on here. I remember seeing a couple nice batches out of you before you disappeared. You're a bright guy, I'm sure you'll get those Rio's whipped into shape soon. Look forward to seeing them.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Apr 4, 2017 21:13:29 GMT -5
How important is the Borax? I have been avoiding it since it will kill the vegetation and I don't really know how to get rid of the slurry with borax in it.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Apr 4, 2017 21:17:19 GMT -5
Awesome I clicked on the first pic to see more of the rock on the right and it looks like "puppy agate": very realistic.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 22:00:33 GMT -5
Awesome I clicked on the first pic to see more of the rock on the right and it looks like "puppy agate": very realistic. Ha! I've got all the puppy agate I need right now, Colin. I thought that would take you to the album, but I suppose it went to the photostream. Here's the album link.
March tumbles
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 4, 2017 22:02:24 GMT -5
How important is the Borax? I have been avoiding it since it will kill the vegetation and I don't really know how to get rid of the slurry with borax in it. I don't know that it's imperative, but it just helps carry the grit, or polish. There must be something else you can use. or nothing at all.
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