|
Post by stardiamond on Jul 8, 2023 21:34:23 GMT -5
When a person finds material they can do whatever they want with it. I have to buy all my material and the good stuff is expensive. When I see tumbled pieces of gem Owyhee or Morrisonite..... Tahoma has become a very tough find. I picked up this parcel of Tahoma on ebay and will convert the larger pieces to cabs.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
|
Post by khara on Jul 8, 2023 22:16:10 GMT -5
I was at a rock show once years ago. A seller had a large bin of basically trim saw drops but they weren’t tiny. They were actually quite good size. Could get a cab or two out of each. I was meticulously sifting through them and choosing with the intent to cab the material. A woman came along and just started scooping all the material into a box to buy it all. She scooped materials right out from in front of me that I was looking at even. I can’t remember how he had it priced but it was enough that I had to be discerning as to how many I chose. I asked her what she was going to do with it all and she said she’d throw it in the tumbler. I was a bit annoyed.
|
|
hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 466
|
Post by hypodactylus on Jul 8, 2023 22:54:36 GMT -5
I don't know. I feel like tumbling can preserve more of the 'expensive' material, depending on the pieces and how it is prepared. Smashing with a hammer is certainly a no-no. Also, this is probably less true for the softer expensive material (which many wouldn't dare tumble).
That said, cabs can really make a material look great. For those of us who don't make cabs, tumbled scrap and smaller slabs can look real nice as well.
|
|
|
Post by Son Of Beach on Jul 8, 2023 23:16:34 GMT -5
There was a recent conversation on this forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/100469/cabber-tumblerI think cabs can potentially bring out the best possible section of a slab, but there is something about getting a tumble just right that is as satisfying if not more than a cab...for me anyway. Not every slab can be tumbled and it feels like not every piece of rough is going to make a perfect cab. I'm open to disagreement on that point lol
|
|
realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,215
|
Post by realrockhound on Jul 8, 2023 23:34:30 GMT -5
Here’s my opinion. Tumbling is for scraps, for rocks that are too small, too awkward to cut, or for material you just can’t get a slab for cabs out of. Obviously that’s just my view, as others have their own reasons they like like tumbled material. Sometimes when I’m out I collect small pieces just for the purpose of tumbling. I like cool looking rocks and sometimes tumbling is the only way to bring out their beauty.
|
|
|
Post by vegasjames on Jul 9, 2023 1:35:12 GMT -5
There is all sorts of good stuff out there to be found. Better known in my opinion does not mean better. Some of the coolest looking rocks I have seen are some of the lesser known ones. Kind of like jeans. Jordache jeans may cost a hell of lot more, but that does not make them better than the cheaper jeans on the market. People are simply paying extra for a name, not quality.
|
|
|
Post by HankRocks on Jul 9, 2023 7:16:14 GMT -5
The one thing that I have noted after selling at somewhere near 25 Shows over the last 6 years is that high end named material does not always mean much to the average "Craft Show" buyer. Their main focus is "is it attractive", "my daughter-in-law likes anything that's green", etc, etc... At a Gem and Mineral Show there may be a higher percentage of knowledgeable buyers who are familiar with high end material but there are still those there that buy for looks.
Now in some cases I can help sell things that may be the one higher end side; "That's polished Dino Bone", "That's Texas Palm Wood", That's a very nice scenic Jasper". I don't need to do that for crystal lined geodes, or an Amethyst Cluster, or nice Quartz crystals. They are attractive and sell themselves. I have seen folks at Gem and Mineral Shows who are selling really nice high end pendants, but don't always sell many and my $7 to $12 pendants are moving pretty well. It really depends on reaching the right buyers. It's probably why high end material is better sold online where reaching the discriminating buyer is easier. It's also why a lot of the less educated buyer will jump on the dyed Brazilian slabs that most folks out here frown on.
Hope I did not offend any of the folks who make really nice pendants with higher end material.
|
|
wargrafix
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,020
|
Post by wargrafix on Jul 9, 2023 15:59:58 GMT -5
I was at a rock show once years ago. A seller had a large bin of basically trim saw drops but they weren’t tiny. They were actually quite good size. Could get a cab or two out of each. I was meticulously sifting through them and choosing with the intent to cab the material. A woman came along and just started scooping all the material into a box to buy it all. She scooped materials right out from in front of me that I was looking at even. I can’t remember how he had it priced but it was enough that I had to be discerning as to how many I chose. I asked her what she was going to do with it all and she said she’d throw it in the tumbler. I was a bit annoyed. Nah dude, she have no class. A simple excuse me or can I sort while you are here, costs nothing. Hopefully you got some awesome pieces!
|
|
skrapyard
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 74
|
Post by skrapyard on Jul 10, 2023 16:23:42 GMT -5
The one thing that I have noted after selling at somewhere near 25 Shows over the last 6 years is that high end named material does not always mean much to the average "Craft Show" buyer. Their main focus is "is it attractive", "my daughter-in-law likes anything that's green", etc, etc... At a Gem and Mineral Show there may be a higher percentage of knowledgeable buyers who are familiar with high end material but there are still those there that buy for looks. Now in some cases I can help sell things that may be the one higher end side; "That's polished Dino Bone", "That's Texas Palm Wood", That's a very nice scenic Jasper". I don't need to do that for crystal lined geodes, or an Amethyst Cluster, or nice Quartz crystals. They are attractive and sell themselves. I have seen folks at Gem and Mineral Shows who are selling really nice high end pendants, but don't always sell many and my $7 to $12 pendants are moving pretty well. It really depends on reaching the right buyers. It's probably why high end material is better sold online where reaching the discriminating buyer is easier. It's also why a lot of the less educated buyer will jump on the dyed Brazilian slabs that most folks out here frown on. Hope I did not offend any of the folks who make really nice pendants with higher end material. I totally agree with this. Ive only been selling for about a year now at local shows (flea markets, local festivals, etc...) and most of the buyers I have barely pay attention to the cabs and pendants unless they are cheap. Cabs that I have of higher end materials almost immediately are placed back on the table when people see the price of them, but the $10-20 pendants will actually sell. The tumbled bits that I have always sell but they are only a few dollars and people seem to have no issue spending a dollar or two on a rock they like. Dont even get me going on the gemstones that I have faceted, no one wants to spend that type of money lol. The facets seem like theyre definitely going to have to sell online. In regards to tumbling vs. cabbing; both have their place. Personally, I prefer to see material cabbed and I really like seeing slabs that are face polished too. I do take all of my bits left over from sawing, and the "butts" that are left and I tumble them. Its mainly because I cant seem to waste any material, I have to find a way to use it all lol. The only rocks that get tossed are the ones that absolutely look like junk and I cant see any reason to spend time working with them. The junk is now what surrounds my firepit in the backyard so it still has some sort of purpose.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
|
Post by khara on Jul 11, 2023 1:59:53 GMT -5
I’ve been avoiding typing this because I actually wear myself out. I’m quite particular. I feel a rock should either remain and look natural, or pretty much be fully worked. Display specimens I prefer to be mostly natural. I’m ok with a single slice to show the interior but want the raw rough outside to still be intact. Tumbled stones I feel should be left whole and naturally shaped or a natural looking break and then tumbled. I don’t much care for obviously man made cut edges to be tumbled. The only exception are the very tiny trim saw drops, little triangles and slivers that are way too small to cab. I think these look pretty all tumbled up and in a display bowl or jar and then the last bits haven’t gone to waste. I’m not sure what I’d do with large tumbled slabs. And also I don’t have a vibe. Maybe a wind chime. If I had a project in mind I could see tumbling slabs but in general I want my tumbles to look natural. Also back when I started tumbling I’d never heard of anyone using a vibe. Everyone I knew used rotary and batches took months and most stones lost so much volume that I couldn’t imagine putting really premium material into the tumbler. It kind of became more for just medium quality agates and jaspers and I think that stuck in my mind. Then the final most man worked of all would be the cab. This is where I’m ok seeing all man made edges. Like I said, pretty particular.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Jul 11, 2023 5:56:26 GMT -5
The one thing that I have noted after selling at somewhere near 25 Shows over the last 6 years is that high end named material does not always mean much to the average "Craft Show" buyer. Their main focus is "is it attractive", "my daughter-in-law likes anything that's green", etc, etc... At a Gem and Mineral Show there may be a higher percentage of knowledgeable buyers who are familiar with high end material but there are still those there that buy for looks. Now in some cases I can help sell things that may be the one higher end side; "That's polished Dino Bone", "That's Texas Palm Wood", That's a very nice scenic Jasper". I don't need to do that for crystal lined geodes, or an Amethyst Cluster, or nice Quartz crystals. They are attractive and sell themselves. I have seen folks at Gem and Mineral Shows who are selling really nice high end pendants, but don't always sell many and my $7 to $12 pendants are moving pretty well. It really depends on reaching the right buyers. It's probably why high end material is better sold online where reaching the discriminating buyer is easier. It's also why a lot of the less educated buyer will jump on the dyed Brazilian slabs that most folks out here frown on. Hope I did not offend any of the folks who make really nice pendants with higher end material. VERY WELL SAID and I LOVE the higher end stuff but unless you're really into rocks it doesn't matter to the non-rock crowd. Also quality over quantity. I've seen some really nice material and the cab is so bad I'd have to redo it
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Jul 11, 2023 11:28:31 GMT -5
Here’s my opinion. Tumbling is for scraps, for rocks that are too small, too awkward to cut, or for material you just can’t get a slab for cabs out of. Obviously that’s just my view, as others have their own reasons they like like tumbled material. Sometimes when I’m out I collect small pieces just for the purpose of tumbling. I like cool looking rocks and sometimes tumbling is the only way to bring out their beauty. I agree! Tumbling is for scrap. The only time I ever tumbled was a batch of star garnets. I only did it to see where the stars were for orienting the finished cabs. I can't bring myself to cab a beautiful slab. That is a unique work of nature I feel I have to preserve. Why slab? How else will you know what is inside?
|
|
realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,215
|
Post by realrockhound on Jul 11, 2023 12:12:00 GMT -5
Here’s my opinion. Tumbling is for scraps, for rocks that are too small, too awkward to cut, or for material you just can’t get a slab for cabs out of. Obviously that’s just my view, as others have their own reasons they like like tumbled material. Sometimes when I’m out I collect small pieces just for the purpose of tumbling. I like cool looking rocks and sometimes tumbling is the only way to bring out their beauty. I agree! Tumbling is for scrap. The only time I ever tumbled was a batch of star garnets. I only did it to see where the stars were for orienting the finished cabs. I can't bring myself to cab a beautiful slab. That is a unique work of nature I feel I have to preserve. Why slab? How else will you know what is inside? you and me both. I preserve more slabs than I cab. They go in the display cases.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
|
Post by Fossilman on Jul 12, 2023 21:00:46 GMT -5
I tumble a lot of material because I don't have to be there while it's being worked. If a piece comes out of the tumblers that I like, it goes into a container for later use. I tumble scraps and rough, the beauty of the stone comes out during tumbling, just as cabbing. That creates ideas for some stones to keep and the rest to sell.... Some of the stones do get cabbed after I've seen what it represents.. I also cut slabs and a few slabs will never get worked, they are perfect as they are...
|
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
|
Post by dillonf on Jul 12, 2023 21:16:39 GMT -5
I read a book that described how vikings decided if a young warrior would be a swordsman or an axeman. If a warrior possessed quickness, dexterity and flexibility they favored the sword. If the warrior was durable, stout, and posessed endurance they favored the axe. I think of cabbers as the swordsmen, and tumblers as the axeman. This coming from a tumbler . . .
|
|
|
Post by victor1941 on Jul 13, 2023 17:52:00 GMT -5
My interest led me to use both the flat lap and wheels for shaping cabs, small flat slabs, and other shapes where all final steps were completed in the vibe. I enjoy finding shapes and color patterns in slabs to cut patterns and have no hesitation in cutting them but sometime I will also shape flats and finish them in the vibe if a larger pattern is more interesting. Occasionally I will tumble a small specimen but smooth the surface contours before using the vibe so I get a good polish. I am past the buying stage so I can understand the decision one must make when deciding how expensive material should be used and money is involved.
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jul 13, 2023 20:14:39 GMT -5
I read a book that described how vikings decided if a young warrior would be a swordsman or an axeman. If a warrior possessed quickness, dexterity and flexibility they favored the sword. If the warrior was durable, stout, and posessed endurance they favored the axe. I think of cabbers as the swordsmen, and tumblers as the axeman. This coming from a tumbler . . . There are different types of cabbers. A lot of them are ticklers. I had my only two cabbing lessons from a tickler. Draw the shape on the top and make a few passes against the wheels, put the preform against a template, rinse and repeat. I mark the top for the trim saw, trim leaving plenty of room, redraw on the bottom and grind the preform staying outside the lines. Mark the girdle and dop. This is where I use my aggressive 80 grit wheel, I call the bulldozer. I use it too melt rock, chunks flying everywhere. I have two objectives; stay outside the shape line on the bottom and above the girdle line. I cut as fast as I can and maintain control.
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Jul 13, 2023 21:38:20 GMT -5
I read a book that described how vikings decided if a young warrior would be a swordsman or an axeman. If a warrior possessed quickness, dexterity and flexibility they favored the sword. If the warrior was durable, stout, and posessed endurance they favored the axe. I think of cabbers as the swordsmen, and tumblers as the axeman. This coming from a tumbler . . . SWORDMAN and AXEMAN ! I like that. You could add watchman, dabbler, apprentice, Sorcerer!
|
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
|
Post by dillonf on Jul 13, 2023 22:45:27 GMT -5
I read a book that described how vikings decided if a young warrior would be a swordsman or an axeman. If a warrior possessed quickness, dexterity and flexibility they favored the sword. If the warrior was durable, stout, and posessed endurance they favored the axe. I think of cabbers as the swordsmen, and tumblers as the axeman. This coming from a tumbler . . . SWORDMAN and AXEMAN ! I like that. You could add watchman, dabbler, apprentice, Sorcerer! True!
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by rockbrain on Jul 14, 2023 8:23:10 GMT -5
I read a book that described how vikings decided if a young warrior would be a swordsman or an axeman. If a warrior possessed quickness, dexterity and flexibility they favored the sword. If the warrior was durable, stout, and posessed endurance they favored the axe. I think of cabbers as the swordsmen, and tumblers as the axeman. This coming from a tumbler . . . I'm of Danish descent so I might have a good bit of Viking blood line, but I think from your description I would have been a farmer!
|
|