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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 27, 2019 17:55:28 GMT -5
This was my second week of tumbling slabs in the mini sonic tumbler. Still trying to figure out if it is a worthwhile endeavor. I have a bunch of extra slabs and the process works good but I am using enough grit for a whole load of rocks just to tumble 4 slabs at a time. The other concern is what to do with them. Do I want to have a whole bunch of these in my personal collection or is there a market for them at $4 to $5 each? If the polished pieces are not worth anymore then the original slabs it may be a waste of time. 1 2 3 (sorry about the dust on this picture) 4 Thanks for looking Chuck
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Jan 27, 2019 18:35:49 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous! First one makes me think of an aquarium.
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Post by stonemon on Jan 27, 2019 18:46:36 GMT -5
Very nice results. That last one.....
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 27, 2019 18:54:53 GMT -5
This was my second week of tumbling slabs in the mini sonic tumbler. Still trying to figure out if it is a worthwhile endeavor. I have a bunch of extra slabs and the process works good but I am using enough grit for a whole load of rocks just to tumble 4 slabs at a time. The other concern is what to do with them. Do I want to have a whole bunch of these in my personal collection or is there a market for them at $4 to $5 each? If the polished pieces are not worth anymore then the original slabs it may be a waste of time. Thanks for looking Chuck What size are the slabs?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 27, 2019 21:01:34 GMT -5
This was my second week of tumbling slabs in the mini sonic tumbler. Still trying to figure out if it is a worthwhile endeavor. I have a bunch of extra slabs and the process works good but I am using enough grit for a whole load of rocks just to tumble 4 slabs at a time. The other concern is what to do with them. Do I want to have a whole bunch of these in my personal collection or is there a market for them at $4 to $5 each? If the polished pieces are not worth anymore then the original slabs it may be a waste of time. Thanks for looking Chuck What size are the slabs? Largest dimension usually about 3"
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 27, 2019 21:16:45 GMT -5
Wow! I love the first and last ones. I think those would sell for four or five dollars easy. Then again, I don’t know much about selling stuff.
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 27, 2019 21:46:22 GMT -5
Largest dimension usually about 3" I would say about $4 to $5 each, then it's simple math and what else you are running with them that you can sell. In my case I am running these in a 15 pound barrel so I can do more slabs and bigger ones. Usually run them with a batch of Preforms, so maybe about 10 to 15 - 3 inch slabs along with 2 or 3 about 4 to 5 inch along with 40 to 50 Preforms and a 3 pound mixture of Pea Gravel and small trim pieces. Of course in the rotary it takes me about 5 weeks. I am able to sell the larger polished slabs between $7 and $10 and the smaller ones around $4 to $5. So far I am only selling at one Gem Show where I would be able to sell raw slabs. Not much use of selling them at a Craft Show.
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Post by fernwood on Jan 28, 2019 4:09:32 GMT -5
Those are very nice.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 28, 2019 7:00:02 GMT -5
Largest dimension usually about 3" I would say about $4 to $5 each, then it's simple math and what else you are running with them that you can sell. In my case I am running these in a 15 pound barrel so I can do more slabs and bigger ones. Usually run them with a batch of Preforms, so maybe about 10 to 15 - 3 inch slabs along with 2 or 3 about 4 to 5 inch along with 40 to 50 Preforms and a 3 pound mixture of Pea Gravel and small trim pieces. Of course in the rotary it takes me about 5 weeks. I am able to sell the larger polished slabs between $7 and $10 and the smaller ones around $4 to $5. So far I am only selling at one Gem Show where I would be able to sell raw slabs. Not much use of selling them at a Craft Show. Thanks. As usual I will probably end up keeping way more then I ever sell. I really just want to avoid turning a slab that might sell for $6-$8 for cabbing into a $4 polished slice. The mini sonic hardly ever gets used though and I have boxes of slabs collecting dust so I'll keep going till I get bored. Chuck
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 28, 2019 7:48:43 GMT -5
I would say about $4 to $5 each, then it's simple math and what else you are running with them that you can sell. In my case I am running these in a 15 pound barrel so I can do more slabs and bigger ones. Usually run them with a batch of Preforms, so maybe about 10 to 15 - 3 inch slabs along with 2 or 3 about 4 to 5 inch along with 40 to 50 Preforms and a 3 pound mixture of Pea Gravel and small trim pieces. Of course in the rotary it takes me about 5 weeks. I am able to sell the larger polished slabs between $7 and $10 and the smaller ones around $4 to $5. So far I am only selling at one Gem Show where I would be able to sell raw slabs. Not much use of selling them at a Craft Show. Thanks. As usual I will probably end up keeping way more then I ever sell. I really just want to avoid turning a slab that might sell for $6-$8 for cabbing into a $4 polished slice. The mini sonic hardly ever gets used though and I have boxes of slabs collecting dust so I'll keep going till I get bored. Chuck That's another good point, I do not consider just any slab a candidate for tumbling. If it's high end material, or fractured then it's not going into the tumbler instead saving those for cutting out preforms. Most that I tumble are un-fractured Brazilians or similar patterned material. Usually end up with plenty of incomplete pattern or fractured Brazilians for the Preform pile. Henry
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Post by orrum on Jan 28, 2019 8:30:17 GMT -5
Great Chuck, I really like that t-egg!!!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 28, 2019 8:53:39 GMT -5
Those look good- esp the last one.
I think you could sell them as palm stones. Seems everyone is selling them lately. I don't know- they seem to be worth more than a few bucks to me.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,680
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 28, 2019 10:40:17 GMT -5
Nice rolls! I tumble slabs and sell them... They sell fairly easy and people like them... I don't tumble them a lot, but I sell them all.. Except for the ones my wife takes! Hahahaha
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Post by miket on Jan 28, 2019 10:45:32 GMT -5
Super nice! #1 and #4 would look great in my house...
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 28, 2019 11:49:11 GMT -5
Nice rolls! I tumble slabs and sell them... They sell fairly easy and people like them... I don't tumble them a lot, but I sell them all.. Except for the ones my wife takes! Hahahaha Happy wife; happy life.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 29, 2019 7:56:46 GMT -5
I am with orrum on this batch. The thunderegg is my favorite by a landslide. I did a little photo cropping and like the new picture of it. Chuck
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,648
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Post by Tommy on Jan 29, 2019 9:57:47 GMT -5
Those are real nice Chuck! I'm wondering how was the under-cutting on #4 at the plumes? I vibe tumble flats every now and then to give out as gifts and plumes that reach the surface get wiped out every time it seems.
The above being said - I still haven't hooked up the new Lot-O yet due to moving. I'm saving a spot for it on the new bench layout though.
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Post by aDave on Jan 29, 2019 23:59:31 GMT -5
I am with orrum on this batch. The thunderegg is my favorite by a landslide. I did a little photo cropping and like the new picture of it. Hmmm...guess I missed this. They are all very nice, but throw me in the egg camp. Great work.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 30, 2019 7:07:59 GMT -5
Those are real nice Chuck! I'm wondering how was the under-cutting on #4 at the plumes? I vibe tumble flats every now and then to give out as gifts and plumes that reach the surface get wiped out every time it seems. The above being said - I still haven't hooked up the new Lot-O yet due to moving. I'm saving a spot for it on the new bench layout though. Thanks Tommy - Yes the matrix on #4 undercuts in the tumbler. Still looks good but not a smooth feel. Here is a picture I took of the thunder egg that shows what the undercut areas look like tumbled. Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jan 30, 2019 10:10:55 GMT -5
Chuck that t-egg looks even more awesome with the closeup!!!
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