orangecream
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2019
Posts: 1
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Post by orangecream on Mar 7, 2019 9:02:55 GMT -5
So my 8 year old got a little toy rock tumbler for Christmas... and he likes looking at the finished results and everything, but I've found a hobby for myself I never expected to love so much. I initially started tumbling about half of the rough the tumbler came with... it was mostly dull grey stones that showed some mild patterning but otherwise were very unimpressive. So I ordered some mixed rough online and I'm having way more exciting results. This is my batch moving into Week 2 (stage 2 grit) last Sunday: I think I need to use significantly more filler (and perhaps even invest in some ceramic filler media) to get better results, but these already are turning out way better. Would love any help with ID on these and also some next steps for sources for interesting rough. Do note I live in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, so I think there is definitely some opportunity for me to source my own rough. I just have no experience with rockhounding/geology so don't even know what I'm looking for, exactly.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 7, 2019 9:25:48 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
I don't tumble, but there are lots of world class tumblers on the board who will be around to help you out.
Good luck!
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Post by miket on Mar 7, 2019 10:33:29 GMT -5
I hate to be the one to tell you this...
But you're hooked. Glad to have you aboard!
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Post by MsAli on Mar 7, 2019 10:37:16 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Fresno Ca It is an addiction for sure! I highly recommend reading through these threads as they are incredible help from some really amazing tumblers forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/board/22/rock-tumblingLooks from what I can see you have a mix of amethyst, quartz, & jaspers, although dont quote me on that-my ID skills suck Some members here offer some really great material for a really great price You can also check out The Rock Shed, Thegemshop, & Kingsley North
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,651
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Post by Tommy on Mar 7, 2019 10:52:30 GMT -5
Welcome orangecream! Thanks for the introduction and welcome to the forum
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Mar 7, 2019 11:26:32 GMT -5
Welcome from southern Arizona.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Mar 7, 2019 11:54:01 GMT -5
Top left could be petrified wood, hard to tell from picture. Welcome to the right side of crazy!
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mgrets
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2011
Posts: 321
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Post by mgrets on Mar 7, 2019 17:42:04 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!
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Hiya!
Mar 10, 2019 10:41:30 GMT -5
Post by As I in does tries! on Mar 10, 2019 10:41:30 GMT -5
Greetings from Scotland, United Kingdom!
I currently have the following Lortone QT12/66 rotary tumbler, Lortone C300 rotary tumbler, 2x Viking Vibrasonic 2x 14lb and 2x 6lb hoppers (Diamond Pacific) (USA) vibrating tumblers, Hans lapidary 6 wheel rock grinder and polisher, 6 inch blade and wheel combo unit that is currently under redevelopment, with Silicon Carbide grit Fixed80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) and Aluminum Oxide (0.3 micron) polishes.
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Hiya!
Mar 10, 2019 19:54:40 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Mar 10, 2019 19:54:40 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH.
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Hiya!
Mar 10, 2019 20:07:31 GMT -5
1dave likes this
Post by stonemon on Mar 10, 2019 20:07:31 GMT -5
Howdy from Western Oregon....
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tomg
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Hiya!
Mar 10, 2019 22:10:40 GMT -5
Post by tomg on Mar 10, 2019 22:10:40 GMT -5
I'm new here too. Welcome from Northern California!
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Hiya!
Mar 10, 2019 22:58:17 GMT -5
Kai likes this
Post by aDave on Mar 10, 2019 22:58:17 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
Make sure you head over to the tumbling forum. I see you mentioned you're moving to stage 2 after one week (or it at least appears that way). Not long enough IMHO. The directions that most toy tumblers come with only speak to doing stages at one week intervals, and the one week estimate for the coarse stage is pretty lacking. Most of us here run our coarse stage for weeks, if not months to accomplish the smoothing and shaping we're looking for.
Just keep in mind that your first stage will dictate what your rocks will look like when you're finished. If you want a more natural looking rock, then you won't run for too long a time. If you want "perfect" rocks that are totally smoothed without defects, then you're looking at a LONG first stage run - much longer than the one week that your instructions mention.
Take some time and look around. Lot's of great tumbling info here...so much so that you could probably discard your instructions and look for info here. Good luck.
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Kai
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2018
Posts: 331
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Hiya!
Mar 11, 2019 0:36:05 GMT -5
Post by Kai on Mar 11, 2019 0:36:05 GMT -5
Welcome from another hooked newbie! I got my first tumbler around the time you did and I found a ton of precious advice on this forum.
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Hiya!
Mar 14, 2019 1:39:26 GMT -5
Post by TheRock on Mar 14, 2019 1:39:26 GMT -5
To RTH Forum from ~Duke in SW/Michigan
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