terramar
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2017
Posts: 1
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Post by terramar on Dec 2, 2017 13:14:36 GMT -5
Hi everybody!
While I do have the capability to look straight ahead, I've always been the sort to look down on the path/beach/etc. I have a lot of random rocks and fossils - some of which are pretty nifty (I'll get around to pics at some point). Since moving here the fam and I have really come to love the beaches here - especially the rocks! I have amassed quite a collection and have settled on the various translucent ones and sea glass as my favorite things to look for when I'm looking down instead of at the beautiful pacific. I want to start tumbling specifically to get them to look dry like they did wet when I picked them up in the first place. Most of the ones I'm excited about are quite smooth already and obviously let a lot of light through so for my upcoming Christmas present I'm thinking about a tumbler. With such smooth input stock typically what reading I've done leads me to believe a vibrating vs. rotary is likely where I should start, but I'll take to the forums to ask that!
Once I have them more polished I also hope to identify some of them, but my ultimate goal is, either through slicing or sticking to the flat ones, to lead them together ala stained glass so that I can hang them in windows to remind me of those days at the beach.
Thanks! -JC
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 2, 2017 14:52:11 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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Post by MsAli on Dec 2, 2017 14:53:29 GMT -5
Welcome from Central Cali
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Post by Pat on Dec 2, 2017 15:47:22 GMT -5
Welcome from San Jose 😀
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,684
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Post by Tommy on Dec 2, 2017 17:33:01 GMT -5
Welcome! thanks for the nice introduction.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 2, 2017 18:15:25 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum . Should check the RTH Marketplace , ChicagoDave has some awesome deals on a couple vibes and rotaries .
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Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 2, 2017 18:32:33 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan!
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Post by gmitch067 on Dec 2, 2017 18:57:50 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern California JC!
I really love my vibratory tumbler(s), but I need the rotary tumblers to prepare the rough rocks first (knock off the sharp edges that can shorten the life expectancy of a vib's bowl when running the first 80 grit stage of tumbling). Just a rotary tumbler alone will put a nice shine on those beach rocks, but it will take a lot more time than a vibe tumbler.
Beach rocks are usually nice and pre-tumbled to a comfortable shape that can go straight to a vibratory tumbler... but what happens when you find some that are not so smooth? You will probably need a good rotary tumbler to smooth them out first before throwing them into the vibe. Sooo....
If you only want to do a small batch at a time, I would recommend a small Lortone 3A (single barrel) or a 33B (double barrel) to start out with.
For equally small vibratory loads, I would recommend a Mini-Sonic MT-4SV. The Mini-Sonic owners manual states that it will handle all stages of tumbling - including the coarse grit first stage... but members here at the RTH say even the beefy Mini-Sonic 4 lb. hopper is not immune to 80 grit wear and tare.
I hope this helps you choose.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Dec 2, 2017 21:00:55 GMT -5
Welcome from San Diego. If you could tell us where abouts you are we can recommend a rock club to join. Most do field trips to places known to have cool rocks and have shops where you can slice and polish them up.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 4, 2017 10:19:58 GMT -5
Howdy and welcome!!
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Dec 4, 2017 14:20:45 GMT -5
Welcome from Colorado. Have fun and enjoy. Don't forget to look up once in awhile. Don't need you walking off any beach cliff's.
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Post by TheRock on Dec 5, 2017 2:17:55 GMT -5
To RTH Forum terramar from ~ Duke in SW Michigan
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