rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Oct 15, 2007 3:55:48 GMT -5
A very big thanks to everyone who commented on my recent Montana Agate thread! As I mentioned in that thread, I had another batch ready to photograph and post, so here it is.... This is locally-collected petrified wood. It can be rather chippy and stubborn to shine, but hey, it's local, it's free, and I enjoy collecting it! Anyhow, here's some hammer-cracked rough, ready to tumble. (This is not the exact stones tumbled in this thread, but is very similar.) And here's the results of tumbling a batch: I hope you can make out the hexagonal pattern in the large piece in this next picture.... although I've seen it occasionally, this pattern is very rare here, and I've never understood how it came to be. So I PM'd Curt (Texaswoodie) awhile back to ask his opinion, and he sent me a link to an excellent article on how this pattern develops in petrified wood in Texas. I always wanted it to be a preserved pattern from an ancient cycad or something, but in reality it seems that it is just a physical cracking/recementing pattern that occurs after the wood first became silicified. Thanks to Curt for solving that! And now, a few pics of close-up patterns of this tumbled wood: That's all for awhile. My tumblers remain silent, but hopefully I will change that over the next few days. Thanks for looking, -Don
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Post by texaswoodie on Oct 15, 2007 4:26:48 GMT -5
Dang Don, that is just too awesome! I can't believe how you consistently turn out perfect batches every time. Looks like there are several pieces in there with the hexagonal fracturing. Congrats on such a beautiful batch of pet wood.
Curt
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erbojones
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2006
Posts: 659
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Post by erbojones on Oct 15, 2007 5:41:23 GMT -5
That is a fabulous batch - I've had to turn the brightness down on my monitor - the shine was damaging my eyes!!!!!
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Oct 15, 2007 6:39:26 GMT -5
Don, What can you say about that batch!?! Those are incredible. They came out so smooth and PERFECT!!! You are definitely the King of Tumbles my friend. How long did you let that stuff roll?? It had to have been rolling for quite some time. The hexagonal patterning is unusual...and I wonder if you just solved Beef's mystery dino bone look-alike. Awesome batch and thanks for sharing. BTW...you can't stop tumbling! Steve
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Post by Lady B on Oct 15, 2007 8:47:28 GMT -5
Absolutely beautiful tumbles. I get the chills each time I look at one of the pix of your work. As with your OJ and your Montana Agates I want to reach through the monitor and run my fingers through the tumbles. Your work always brings home the limitations of the Internet--we can look and seriously drool, but we can not touch! Lucky you. With that gorgeous shine they must feel so wonderful to the touch.
Thanks for sharing.
Lady B
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 15, 2007 9:37:37 GMT -5
that is THE most magnificient batch of tumbled pet wood EVER! the grain, the shine, just over the top!!!!
KD
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 15, 2007 13:56:00 GMT -5
No excuses required for that pet wood, its incredible! There are some absolutly great patterns there and that shine, boy howdy is that good. Thanks for the awesome pics.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 15, 2007 14:31:46 GMT -5
Man that stuff is pretty! You did another outstanding job on this batch Don. Looks flawless to me....
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Oct 15, 2007 18:40:00 GMT -5
So chocolatey, so caramely...halalalahhhhhh! They are absolutely sensational. You have to ability to consistently pull off the kind of tumbles that all of us are aiming for. Thanks.
Mike
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Oct 15, 2007 18:42:45 GMT -5
Man that is one heck of batch of wood. Great shine.
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Post by beefjello on Oct 15, 2007 22:28:47 GMT -5
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,789
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 17, 2007 0:26:33 GMT -5
If I say "awesome shine on them" I will become really boring, 'cause that's what I have to say when looking at all your tumbled rocks! Being local woods they are more special! You HAD to find some local pet wood, with so many forests arround ;D
Adrian
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 17, 2007 10:36:27 GMT -5
DON!!! THat has to be the FINEST pet wood tumble EVER!!!! Congrates!
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Oct 17, 2007 10:51:03 GMT -5
Very awesome wood Don! I love the grain patterns and the colors make it look just like you got it off the tree! Spectacular shine as always!
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 17, 2007 16:43:38 GMT -5
HOLY COW!!! These are dazzling. The patterns are amazing and that shine cant be beat. Your batch really gives me something to aspire to.
Thanks for sharing you pics.
=~~Mitzi~~
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 18, 2007 12:29:22 GMT -5
Man that is one nice batch! john
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Oct 19, 2007 2:34:25 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the head-swelling compliments!
Steve, I think most of these would have run about 6 weeks in coarse grind. I recycle them through weekly coarse grinding, and move them ahead when they appear done, but I think pretty much all of them would be completed in 6 weeks of coarse grind. This petwood is hard enough to take a decent shine, but it seems softer than pure agates.
Curt, I think you are right that the hexagonal pattern is present in numerous stones, far more than I had realized. The pattern is much less distinct in the stones in this tumble than compared to the photos of an older tumble that I sent to you (or in the links to hexagonal Texas petwood you sent back to me), so I should be a bit more aware from now on that this pattern can be rather subtle yet still distinctive.
-Don
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,789
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 19, 2007 9:08:05 GMT -5
Don, if this one is "DECENT shine", I wander what means to you great shine. But please make a warning when you post them for wearing a welding mask when looking at them.
Adrian
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Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 20, 2007 16:48:02 GMT -5
Great job, those are beautiful!!
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