llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 20, 2004 22:51:09 GMT -5
to tumble the rocks!
If I wouldn't have already caught the rock tumbling bug before I found this site (I did), I would certainly have caught it here!
Have read the entire site - thanks Andy for the tips and don'ts on rock tumbling! I would have poured that stuff right down the sink.
The photos of the rocks - before and after - are AWESOME! And William's South Africian order of rocks has me drooling! And, I don't even have a tumbler yet. Ordered a cheapie one today on ebay. Don't know how good it is, but the price was right and I think it will be enough for me to play around with.
I am a full time RVer, so I am limited on space and really don't have anywhere to put it so that whatever noise it makes won't be heard in the RV. I may not be able to live with the noise, so didn't think it feasible to spend alot of money on one at this time.
If I love tumbling rocks as much as I love collecting them everyplace I go, I will have to figure out a way to make it work! So, any suggestions on a way to cut down the noise in such a small area will be appreciated!
I don't know if I will be able to order extra barrels, so I am wondering what is the best way to clean the barrel to get the grit out before polishing.
Can't wait to get the tumbler so I can tumble all the rocks I have found around here. Lots of rocks and minerals in this area - granite, llanite (been told this can only be found here in Llano County, Texas), marble, topaz and all sorts of really pretty rocks that look like quartz with various colors running through them. I don't know a thing about rocks and minerals, but I do love finding a pretty rock. There's a rock shop I visited a few days ago - spent the cash intended for groceries on rocks! Plan to go back in the next couple of days and get a rock and mineral book so I at least can identify the rocks I find.
Enjoying reading all the posts and will at least have a little bit of an idea of what I am doing and how to do it when my tumbler arrives.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 21, 2004 11:14:45 GMT -5
i'd suggest the largest trailer you can pull with that rv and fill it to the brim with tumblers, grit, polish, rocks, saws, grinders - yep that's what i'd do ;D
kim
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Jan 21, 2004 12:45:23 GMT -5
My husband received one of those cheap "toy" tumblers for Christmas last year. It has a plastic barrel and boy is it noisy!! I bought him a Lortone 33b this year for Christmas and it makes a huge difference in the noise level. So my amateur advice to you llanago would be to invest in a tumbler with rubber barrels. Some are small enough that they don't take up alot of room and you could probably stick it in the bathroom and shut the door and you'd hardly notice it was there.
May I also recommend the National Audobon Society's North American Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals. It has lots of nice pics to help identify rocks. It also tells you the hardness of each and where they are usually found. I purchased mine from Barnes and Noble.
Otter
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jan 21, 2004 13:12:43 GMT -5
i'd suggest the largest trailer you can pull with that rv and fill it to the brim with tumblers, grit, polish, rocks, saws, grinders - yep that's what i'd do ;D ******************* HeHe! Have a feeling that's where I am going with this new found hobby! Probably couldn't pull another trailer behind the RV without buying a medium duty truck to pull it with, but I can sure toss out some heavy things, such as the sofa, and replace it with more fun stuff. Thing is UGLY as sin anyway! My girlfriend has the tumbling bug too and she has a house with plenty of room for us to build a workshed. We've been talking about doing that for a couple of other arts and crafts projects. We will just have to build a bigger one for our tumblers!
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Post by Otter on Jan 21, 2004 13:23:59 GMT -5
My girlfriend bought one of those toy ones - said it's not as loud as she thought it would be, but probably won't last very long because it is made of plastic.
The one I bought does have a rubber barrel. It's a Chicago Electric Rotary Tumbler. Really couldn't afford to spend alot right now, esp. on something that might create a noise level I can't live with. If I can live with the noise, I am sure I will look into purchasing a better tumbler and multiple barrels. I am already thinking of where to put it and how to "soundproof" that particular area.
Thanks for the advice on a rocks and mineral book.
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blueangele
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2003
Posts: 86
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Post by blueangele on Jan 21, 2004 19:39:34 GMT -5
I don't know about the chicago one, but I just got my two 3 pound barrel lortone and I have a cheapy plastic one. I am planning putting the lortone in the bedroom to act as "white noise' to down out the sound of the little one! I have had to be running a fan at night to drown at the sound and this way I can run the lortone and still be warm!
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WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
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Post by WilliamC on Jan 24, 2004 11:08:28 GMT -5
Greetings All,
Welcome to the message board llango. It sure is easy to get addicted to the rocks, I know.
Sorry I don't have any good advice about tumbling in an RV, except maybe to rig a barrel that will roll along behind you as you are traveling ;D More seriously, I've seen RV's with a small rack on the back like for coolers and such, would it be possible to run power to something like that and have your tumbler outside? Or, you could potentially trade rough for rocks that are pre-polished and only run the polish stage, using plastic beads as cushioning maybe it wouldn't be too loud. And it would take care of only having one barrel. Just a couple of random thoughts. Whatever happens, you can undoubtedly learn a lot by being able to travel around and collecting rocks.
WilliamC
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Post by Stoney joe on Jan 24, 2004 12:10:44 GMT -5
I got it!!! That last post gave me the idea... put the rocks inside one of your road wheels, add grit and some water and hey presto you have your own rubber barrell, nice and quiet (from inside the rv anyways)! .........sorry couldn't help myself on that one Cheers sj
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 24, 2004 14:19:30 GMT -5
I haven't even recieved the Chicago Electric tumbler I ordered and am already trying to decide between a Lortone 3 or 6 lb. double barrel one!
I have two spots I can put them so the noise won't be so bothersome - if it is REALLY that bad. Since the one I ordered has a rubber barrel and the one I will order has rubber barrels, it might just be a minor problem.
One way or another I will figure it out 'cause I have the bug, big time!
My girlfriend that got the toy one also has been bitten bad. She is thinking of getting a Lortone 3 lb. single barrel tumbler.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 24, 2004 14:49:16 GMT -5
Welcome to the message board llango. It sure is easy to get addicted to the rocks, I know.
Thanks for the welcome. I have always picked up neat rocks and hauled them home. Never thought much about tumbling them, but I am afraid since I have started learning about tumbling, my love of picking up rocks is going to become an addiction! I have already been all over the net looking at some fabulous rocks, minerals and gems that I would love to have!! There is lots of quartz of all colors around here and everytime I take the dog for a walk, I come home with a load of it, so I have an abundance of material to start learning with.
Sorry I don't have any good advice about tumbling in an RV, except maybe to rig a barrel that will roll along behind you as you are traveling
LOL! Don't think I will have to resort to that! I have a washer/dryer closet (no W/D) that I can put some shelves in and soundproof, if I need to. It already has hookups for water and electric, so I think it will make a perfect tumbling place.
Now, all I have to do is clean out the junk and get the tumbler then I am good to go. Can't wait!
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 24, 2004 14:54:36 GMT -5
I got it!!! That last post gave me the idea... put the rocks inside one of your road wheels, add grit and some water and hey presto you have your own rubber barrell, nice and quiet (from inside the rv anyways)! .........sorry couldn't help myself on that one
LOL! I love your sense of humor - much like mine! I can't believe I didn't think up something like this and William's suggestion. That is how my mind works. believe me, I have rigged up some things to get something done that would have you on the floor in stitches! But, they always worked! With me, it's never say never and don't ever tell me "that can't be done" cause I will sure figure out a way to do it. May not be pretty, but it will probably work.
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Post by stoner on Jan 24, 2004 22:27:48 GMT -5
LOL! I love your sense of humor - much like mine! I can't believe I didn't think up something like this and William's suggestion. That is how my mind works. believe me, I have rigged up some things to get something done that would have you on the floor in stitches! But, they always worked! With me, it's never say never and don't ever tell me "that can't be done" cause I will sure figure out a way to do it. May not be pretty, but it will probably work.[/quote]
AMEN BROTHER.
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