Hello from Moab, Utah! A rock wonderland!!
Jul 20, 2022 11:48:18 GMT -5
drocknut, rockpickerforever, and 3 more like this
Post by utahtom on Jul 20, 2022 11:48:18 GMT -5
My name is Tom. I work at a family run weekly newspaper. It has been in my family since 1915 when my grandfather Bish bought it. I am 60 years old with four grown children (One in heaven from a rappelling accident) and five grandkids. I'm a 5th generation Moabite. My great-great-grandfather Norman Taylor was with the first permanent settlers here. I married, had four kids, divorced, raised some of the kids myself (my oldest son was a free agent for 4 teams in the NFL, star lineman for the Utah Utes, led the OL in the slaughter of 'Bama in the Sugarbowl, made Terrance Cody his bitch, sorry Tide fans). 15 years a single dad. in 2010 I met and married a Missouri gal who loves rocks and reignited my rockhound instincts.
When I was a teen my father bought a single barrel 3lb tumbler kit to polish the beautiful agates we have around here. Dad is long gone and my son-in-law uses that tumbler to clean silver. I started with two twin-barrel Chicago Electric tumblers (which are now still running strong after eight straight months). I also am running a Lortone QT12 and Rebel 17. Added a 3rd twin 3 lb. And just learning how to use my new Lot-O. Also have a Hi-Tech 10" saw and 8" flat lap, which it is too hot to use right now with temps over 100.
Moab Utah has some of the best agate around if you know where to look. Lots of real good "pre-tumbles" along the banks of the Colorado River too. My wife and I found a real nice 'sweet spot' area for pigeon blood agate and have been hounding there a lot.
My workshop is a converted cargo trailer with its own power box. I put a Dometic Brisk Air II on top to keep the tumblers happy in the summer. I have a big sturdy plastic work sink with water for washout and cleaning just feet away from the workshop.
Though he does not even know me the Michigan Rocks guy on Youtube has taught me SO MUCH about rock tumbling. I think he would approve of some of the polished pigeon blood agates I have come up with. Theo Kellison has helped with rockhounding tips, cutting and lapping.
I look forward to making some friends here and gaining AND sharing some knowledge.
When I was a teen my father bought a single barrel 3lb tumbler kit to polish the beautiful agates we have around here. Dad is long gone and my son-in-law uses that tumbler to clean silver. I started with two twin-barrel Chicago Electric tumblers (which are now still running strong after eight straight months). I also am running a Lortone QT12 and Rebel 17. Added a 3rd twin 3 lb. And just learning how to use my new Lot-O. Also have a Hi-Tech 10" saw and 8" flat lap, which it is too hot to use right now with temps over 100.
Moab Utah has some of the best agate around if you know where to look. Lots of real good "pre-tumbles" along the banks of the Colorado River too. My wife and I found a real nice 'sweet spot' area for pigeon blood agate and have been hounding there a lot.
My workshop is a converted cargo trailer with its own power box. I put a Dometic Brisk Air II on top to keep the tumblers happy in the summer. I have a big sturdy plastic work sink with water for washout and cleaning just feet away from the workshop.
Though he does not even know me the Michigan Rocks guy on Youtube has taught me SO MUCH about rock tumbling. I think he would approve of some of the polished pigeon blood agates I have come up with. Theo Kellison has helped with rockhounding tips, cutting and lapping.
I look forward to making some friends here and gaining AND sharing some knowledge.