johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 14, 2016 18:03:48 GMT -5
Do you have kids? I bought a Lot O a month after I got the kids a Lortone for Christmas. I did this 'for the kids', of course. By the time she realizes what's up, it will be too late. I'll just have to slip them a few bucks to keep them interested a while. I have an 8 year old daughter that has always loved rocks. I bought her a "toy" tumbler for Christmas and it was her favorite gift. After doing some research on tumbling, I returned the toy to Hobby Lobby, found a local rock shop and bought a Lortone. Then more barrels, then a copious amount of grit and polish, then a ton of rocks, then a Lot-O, more barrels and rocks. "Hi, my name is John and I'm an addict." And my daughter couldn't care less until they come out nice and shiny. At least I have a new hobby!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 13, 2016 19:22:28 GMT -5
After a mere 4 months of rock tumbling, I made the plunge and purchased a single barrel Lot-O from The Rock Shed. I also purchased two additional barrels to have one exclusively for Stage 2, Stage 3 and Polish. And since they offer 20% off rough rocks with the purchase of a tumbler, I bought 25lbs of various rocks.
My wife is going to kill me.
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 13, 2016 18:17:01 GMT -5
Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing this "trick"!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 12, 2016 13:00:31 GMT -5
Thanks, Chuck!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 12, 2016 0:56:14 GMT -5
I disagree. As far as rock tumbling goes, there is not an app. There are several on identifying rocks (etc), but nothing on the hobby of tumbling/lapidary.
Please let me know if I'm wrong. I would LOVE to be able to view/post on this site via an app.
Thanks, John
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 12, 2016 0:22:58 GMT -5
After running out of patience with 80 grit (in a Lortone 33B), I recently started using 46/70 for Stage 1. Can I go straight to 120/220 for Stage 2, or should I spend a few days after 46/70 with 80?
Thanks for any and all advice!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 7, 2016 1:00:45 GMT -5
I also use gunny sacks too.............Don't like shrapel flying everywhere.......... I will NEVER break another rock without covering it in a gunny sack! OUCH!!!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 7, 2016 0:58:57 GMT -5
Welcome to the bloody-finger club. Wash it good, put some neosporin on it, cover with a band-aid when working/playing...leave it off when watching tv or can be sure you won't be bumping it. Ramp up your Vitamin-C intake considerably...it's very good for healing. Do watch out for infection. With the extreme pain that you mention you may have some rock still in your knuckle...you might want to get a doctor to look at it. I had a friend that back in highschool ended up with a mussel shell (current production, probably only a year or so old) stuck into his heel. We could see the dark shell in his foot so he got to make a trip to the ER. They dug it out and sent him on his merry way. About 25 years later his foot started hurting him (he was a barber and stood on his feet most of the day). He went to a doctor and guess what...they found more shell in his foot that the ER doctor missed!!! Keep an eye on it. I don't like the sound of it still being highly painful. Btw,...I bet that hurts. I always take extreme caution when busting rocks...I *never* bust my finger with an orange ball-peen hammer that jamesp gave me....never. Best wishs. Thank you for the info… I will be watching the cuts carefully for the next few days. I think the shards must have hit the bones in my fingers… I can't think of another reason why it hurts so much.
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 6, 2016 22:28:23 GMT -5
After seeing some amazing tumbled rocks on this site lately, I decided to search for some of those rocks in the rough. For the first time ever, I recently bought three rocks on eBay. - 1lb of Leopard Jasper (already broken down into tumble sizes) - 1lb, 9oz of Turritella Agate (a BRICK of a rock that I needed to break down) - 3lb, 1oz Coquina Jasper (has yet to arrive, but at only about an inch thick, it should be easy to break down) As I prepared to break down the Turritella, I knew that wearing safety glasses was a no brainer when taking a sledge hammer to a rock. I also read, on this site, that it was a good idea to wear protective gloves. I thought that was unnecessary and a little too OSHO for me. I learned my lesson the hard way… two thin shards of the Turritella broke off and became embedded into my knuckles. The pain is unbelievable, even with the slightest of bumps. If the cuts become infected, I cannot wait to tell my doctor that snail shells from a few million years ago caused the infection.
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 6, 2016 19:56:16 GMT -5
My 8 year old daughter would be THRILLED to get some new rocks! She loves seeing her "work" on this site, so posting pics would not be a problem.
Thanks, Daddy & Sarah
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 4, 2016 21:37:02 GMT -5
Is 46/70 SiC ok to use in a 3lb tumbler? I've heard it is mostly for larger tumblers, but I want to give it a try with my 33B.
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 3, 2016 0:49:36 GMT -5
You can tell that huh? John, without a saw, your options are kinda limited. From the auction listing, that is a 6mm thick slab. I don't think it's gonna take a hammer and chisel to break up! The listing says it weighs .36 pounds. Heck, step on it and it will break. Personally, I'd just start tapping it with a hammer. Wear eye protection. I really like that Coquina Jasper. It may not get shiny when tumbled, more of a nice matte finish. Should look very nice. ETA: Have you received the slab yet? Just wondering if you thought you were buying a 3 pound piece. From the listing: This fossil Coquina Jasper stone slab is 6 inches by 3 inches and 6 mm thick. This lovely unpolished semi precious stone slab weighs .36 lbs. He has several of these slabs up for sale and the #3 in the title was simply numbering the listing for his convenience. You gotta read the description area! Still a nice specimen! Thanks for all the info, captbob. I'm new to buying rocks on eBay and just assumed #3 meant 3lbs. I contacted the seller shortly after buying and he cancelled my order without a problem. I'm currently bidding on an actual 3ib rock… live and learn.
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 27, 2016 19:50:46 GMT -5
Hello all, I just bought this #3 rough of Coquina Jasper on eBay. My question is what is the best way(s) of breaking it down with a hammer/chisel, etc. I don't own a rock saw and I don't want to end up with half of the rock turning into unusable tiny pieces/dust. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, John
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 23, 2016 19:39:28 GMT -5
Meh, I went last summer with kids. More or less walked around looking for bacon agate (no luck). It gets very hot. There are some shade trees but those are way in the back. Its not as exciting as one thinks. I dont mean to be a debby downer, but there are quartz crystal places in the area that are much more rewarding! Do you remember the name(s) of the good quartz crystal places?
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 23, 2016 8:23:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the info!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 22, 2016 19:26:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Snuffy!
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 22, 2016 18:53:05 GMT -5
Hello all,
Has anyone on this board ever visited Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas? My 8 year old daughter and I are planning a trip there for this spring or summer. Looking for info on where to stay, what to do (when not searching for diamonds), etc. Any info from people that have been there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
John
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 22, 2016 18:47:43 GMT -5
Hello all,
Has anyone on this board ever visited Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas? My 8 year old daughter and I are planning a trip there for this spring or summer. Looking for info on where to stay, what to do (when not searching for diamonds), etc. Any info from people that have been there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
John
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 16, 2016 23:09:16 GMT -5
Being new to this hobby, I only use/own a small rotary (Lortone 33B).
As always, thank you for your info Chuck.
John
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johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
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Post by johnnymac1969 on Feb 16, 2016 22:30:07 GMT -5
As a newbie and soaking up all of the advice I've been given, I have been saving my slurry (especially on Stage 1 and then on a successful polishing stage).
Any thoughts on the Pros & Cons of reusing slurry would much appreciated.
Thanks, John
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