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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 21, 2023 20:57:20 GMT -5
For the last few months, tumbling hasn't exactly been on the back burner, but hasn't exactly been fore front either. Things were getting messy and if rocks were starting to grow legs in some spots and roots in others. Time to overhaul my priorities, the deck was looking pretty rough despite my half ass efforts.
May not look terrible, but it was driving me nuts...
First thing first, lets go thru everything I've found in WA and get rid of 1/2
I take 20 random rocks, pick my favorite 10 and repeat until the entire pile has been gone thru.
Much better, I forgot about some of these finds already!
Next up was the Morrocan Agates being used as filler in my 12lb, some of these were ready for polish.
If there is a Kung Fu Panda for rocks, this is one of the things they would do to test for vision, patience, and decision making. Dunno if it's worth lol
Next was taking before pics of my next batch of Bahias, if you want to see why the before is crucial check this out
I thought this entire box was banded hematite. NOPE. Apparently I just effing threw everything in the box before moving.
Time to sort the Lake Michigan finds. Same story, 20 rocks, divide and conquer.
Everything in this pic was in some stage of coarse tumbing, but a variety of sizes was getting unruly....so let's fix that.
White bucket is WA finds way down in the que. Orange is anything that needs serious smashing in the 12lb. The big clear tote on right is everything ready for the 3lb tumblers. Banded Hematite separated as well as Dalmation stone, Amethyst, and Tiger's eye. These will be next, they've been sitting too long. Unfinished Morrocan Agates as fill, ready to go. It looks like one of those drug bust police presentations
All and all 3 hours of work, but it was well over due and I'm ready to rock and roll once again
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 434
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Post by hypodactylus on Oct 21, 2023 23:20:58 GMT -5
If there is a Kung Fu Panda for rocks, this is one of the things they would do to test for vision, patience, and decision making. Dunno if it's worth lol
Haha, this is relatable. Sorting through rocks that just completed a round of stage 1 is usually my most frustrating rock hobby time. It is not uncommon for me to question why I keep doing this.
I am pretty good on 'vision' and 'patience', but I really struggle with the 'decision making' part. All three together? Demoralizing at times.
I have so many rocks, but I have the hardest time getting rid of any. They each have so much potential! Even if they obviously probably don't.... haha!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 22, 2023 1:13:39 GMT -5
Well look at you...you organized little beaver you! *It's late...that's the best I've got right now! LOL Seriously worth the effort though Chad! (I totally remember that timeline thread...and that Bahia in that thread! )
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,436
Member is Online
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2023 2:09:06 GMT -5
I enjoy tumbling these Morrocan Agates very much. Some started to show really interesting patterns but still had defects, which made me struggle a lot, whether I should move on to stage 2, or keep tumbling at stage 1 to remove these defects at the risk of losing some very interesting features.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 892
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Post by dshanpnw on Oct 22, 2023 8:14:40 GMT -5
If there is a Kung Fu Panda for rocks, this is one of the things they would do to test for vision, patience, and decision making. Dunno if it's worth lol
Haha, this is relatable. Sorting through rocks that just completed a round of stage 1 is usually my most frustrating rock hobby time. It is not uncommon for me to question why I keep doing this.
I am pretty good on 'vision' and 'patience', but I really struggle with the 'decision making' part. All three together? Demoralizing at times.
I have so many rocks, but I have the hardest time getting rid of any. They each have so much potential! Even if they obviously probably don't.... haha!
Very relatable indeed, I think I know what you mean anyway. I have been tumbling a 12 pound barrel of Montana agates for probably over a year and I think I've reached that critical juncture to use what's in the barrel as filler because they are pretty fractured and add a couple large Montana agates that have real potential. I question my vision of a box of perfect Montana agates.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 22, 2023 8:20:23 GMT -5
Haha, this is relatable. Sorting through rocks that just completed a round of stage 1 is usually my most frustrating rock hobby time. It is not uncommon for me to question why I keep doing this.
I am pretty good on 'vision' and 'patience', but I really struggle with the 'decision making' part. All three together? Demoralizing at times.
I have so many rocks, but I have the hardest time getting rid of any. They each have so much potential! Even if they obviously probably don't.... haha!
Very relatable indeed, I think I know what you mean anyway. I have been tumbling a 12 pound barrel of Montana agates for probably over a year and I think I've reached that critical juncture to use what's in the barrel as filler because they are pretty fractured and add a couple large Montana agates that have real potential. I question my vision of a box of perfect Montana agates. If you ever find one of those, hold onto it...you would've hit the lapidary lottery! LOL
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,436
Member is Online
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2023 12:26:51 GMT -5
Haha, this is relatable. Sorting through rocks that just completed a round of stage 1 is usually my most frustrating rock hobby time. It is not uncommon for me to question why I keep doing this.
I am pretty good on 'vision' and 'patience', but I really struggle with the 'decision making' part. All three together? Demoralizing at times.
I have so many rocks, but I have the hardest time getting rid of any. They each have so much potential! Even if they obviously probably don't.... haha!
Very relatable indeed, I think I know what you mean anyway. I have been tumbling a 12 pound barrel of Montana agates for probably over a year and I think I've reached that critical juncture to use what's in the barrel as filler because they are pretty fractured and add a couple large Montana agates that have real potential. I question my vision of a box of perfect Montana agates. I feel it is much easier to adjust the definition of "perfect"
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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 22, 2023 12:51:24 GMT -5
If there is a Kung Fu Panda for rocks, this is one of the things they would do to test for vision, patience, and decision making. Dunno if it's worth lol
Haha, this is relatable. Sorting through rocks that just completed a round of stage 1 is usually my most frustrating rock hobby time. It is not uncommon for me to question why I keep doing this.
I am pretty good on 'vision' and 'patience', but I really struggle with the 'decision making' part. All three together? Demoralizing at times.
I have so many rocks, but I have the hardest time getting rid of any. They each have so much potential! Even if they obviously probably don't.... haha!
My two favorite parts are pre-sorting and checking batches every week. Something about watching the helplessly slow progress is interesting to me. I like to rank and organize things, so pre-sorting helps with a couple of things. One, it lets me prioritize the best looking rocks with the most potential and two, it really does help alleviate some of the stress of having too much stock on hand. Getting rid of rocks that aren't quite up to snuff is like getting rid of extra baggage in your life. Therapeutic in a way lol.
Someone had a piece of advice I ran into a while back but I forget who said it. Something to the effect of why not tumble the best rocks first, you never know if you'll get to them all, so why not do the best ones first? Definitely paraphrasing here.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 22, 2023 12:52:22 GMT -5
Well look at you...you organized little beaver you! *It's late...that's the best I've got right now! LOL Seriously worth the effort though Chad! (I totally remember that timeline thread...and that Bahia in that thread! ) I've been called worse, for less.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Oct 22, 2023 13:48:31 GMT -5
Too organized! But I just "found" a small bag of Bahia agates I got last year. They were under the bag of Lake Superior agates I was using as filler before I got a box of Moroccan agates that fit that bill better. Anyway I decided that I wanted to make some fridge magnets for Christmas gifts for this year. I have a bunch of smaller Brazilian slabs so despite my best organized plans for rock Tumbling, I am going to try to tumble polish 20 plus small Brazilian slabs before Christmas. My only problem is all my barrels are full right now! I could vibe them (actually I will vibe them, but want to run them thru at least 1 run of course), Now I just need to find where I put all my small Brazilian slabs. I got to get organized this winter.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,208
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Post by RWA3006 on Oct 22, 2023 13:58:45 GMT -5
I can relate to the clean it up urge. I've been trying to put a dent in my pile and thankfully a lot of RTHlings bought my stuff lately. Win/win
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 892
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Post by dshanpnw on Oct 23, 2023 7:22:12 GMT -5
Very relatable indeed, I think I know what you mean anyway. I have been tumbling a 12 pound barrel of Montana agates for probably over a year and I think I've reached that critical juncture to use what's in the barrel as filler because they are pretty fractured and add a couple large Montana agates that have real potential. I question my vision of a box of perfect Montana agates. I feel it is much easier to adjust the definition of "perfect" Absolutely right, especially for Montana agates.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 23, 2023 7:32:59 GMT -5
I don't tumble and I don't collect rough, but I seem to accumulate it. I just found a bin right where it shouldn't be with random who-knows-what-rocks in it. I need to go through the forgotten milk crates outside, too. Have to remove a layer of leaves first.
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geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 280
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Post by geoff59 on Oct 23, 2023 11:55:08 GMT -5
When I see photos like this, it reassures me that the conditions within my home are just normal symptoms for this illness. And I am at peace with it. 😀
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 675
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Post by iamchris on Oct 23, 2023 22:01:42 GMT -5
When I see photos like this, it reassures me that the conditions within my home are just normal symptoms for this illness. And I am at peace with it. 😀 Very well put! 😆
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Post by Mel on Oct 28, 2023 18:26:57 GMT -5
It looks like one of those drug bust police presentations
Hahahahahaha. Glad I'm not alone. Now I almost feel bad about my tumbling pile in the garage.... You are a very brave man for having that much carpet and so many rocks in such close proximity. The sorting is the worst part and this looks so good and clean!
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