slapdasherie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 25
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Post by slapdasherie on Feb 25, 2011 22:56:17 GMT -5
Hi folks. I am pretty much brand new to rock tumbling. I bought a Thumlers A-R2 for Christmas, along with a set of the 4 different grits. We had a collection of quartz that we had picked up at my husband's childhood home over last summer. I'm not entirely sure I prepared the slurry correctly, but they've been through their initial tumble and we were so excited to inspect them. We'd like to put them through another first tumble, but I haven't had a chance to order more of that grit yet. At some point (it's all a bit hazy), I had a baby in the middle of all that. This is my second, so I now have a toddler and a 1 month old. All that excitement has put tumbling on the back burner, although I feel bad that I'm losing all this time when the tumbler ought to be turning.
I have vague plans to make Christmas ornaments with tumbled rocks, or to use them to decorate hair ornaments. I've never made jewelry before, so wire wrapping, drilling, etc is all new to me. Other than scrounging in the dirt for that quartz last summer, I've never been rockhounding either. I'm a little unsure if there are any rock clubs nearby, even if I had the time to attend one right now. I'm in northeastern Massachusetts.
Since I'll be up at all hours of the night with the new baby, I plan to do a lot of lurking here. I may not post a lot, but I'll be busy reading, learning, and trying to find answers to all my questions.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 25, 2011 23:09:48 GMT -5
Welcome aboard. You've come to the right place to read and learn. As for getting answers to questions, don't be afraid to ask. There are folks on here all hours of the day and night. Someone will have an answer for you. Don
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Feb 26, 2011 0:20:33 GMT -5
welcome, i'm pretty new at this too, i have learned a lot here, and all these people are willing to help. if you want any rocks to tumble i would be willing to send you a small flat rate box to get you started free. i bought a bunch at a rock auction last year and really need a larger tumbler. i also have been buying rock from a guy selling all but his large rock.
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 26, 2011 2:29:10 GMT -5
Welcome! You will like it here.
Have a great day............Tony
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 26, 2011 6:11:52 GMT -5
Welcome to the board. As has been stated, ask your questions and someone on here will answer. WARNING.....this is an addictive 'hobby'. ;D It can also be very expensive. With a new baby, it may be more than you can handle right now. But, give it a go. It is very rewarding to see your first tumble come out of the barrel. Take marinedad up on his offer of some free tumble rocks. It is what a lot of people on here do to help newbies get started. Good luck, Ken
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Feb 26, 2011 12:07:19 GMT -5
Welcome!! As Ken said, and I've recently learned, it can get quite addictive -- FAST. I've now had to put a moratorium on buying any more stuff. LOL
I lived in southeast NH for 18 years and worked in Andover MA for the same time. I still work for the same company but from my house in MI. I make a couple of trips back east every year and I cannot WAIT to make the spring/summer one this year. I'm going to push for a 2-week stay because I want to re-visit my favorite beach haunt and go rock hounding over the weekend.
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wyobrian
fully equipped rock polisher
GO VIKINGS
Member since February 2009
Posts: 1,739
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Post by wyobrian on Feb 26, 2011 17:45:42 GMT -5
PM me your Addy ill send you more Grit to finish tour tumble if you want.....Oh and Welcome have fun here Brian
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crgator
starting to shine!
Member since January 2011
Posts: 31
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Post by crgator on Feb 26, 2011 17:58:57 GMT -5
Welcome from another newbie to the forum and tumbling. I bought my girlfriend the same model tumbler for Christmas (I thought she was a bit daft for wanting one), and now I'm on the verge of addiction.
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Post by rockrookie on Feb 27, 2011 8:38:23 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH !! --paul
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Post by roy on Feb 27, 2011 12:21:16 GMT -5
welcome to agreat place to learn your new hobbie ! its one the hole famaliy can enjoy if you want you can pm me your addy and i will gladly send you some tumbler rough i have way more than i need pet wood jasper agate ect!! again welcome!!
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slapdasherie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 25
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Post by slapdasherie on Feb 28, 2011 23:30:18 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your welcomes! I haven't used the search feature here yet, but do people generally encourage newbies to try to search for the information they need first, or do they just start new threads for their questions?
I've been having so much fun just poking around and looking at the beautiful things people make. It's wonderful to see how helpful people are with their step by step photos and tutorials. It makes me appreciate the art inherent in this hobby so much more, as well as also make it feel like I may one day be able to also create beautiful things.
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Mar 2, 2011 0:36:24 GMT -5
slapdasherie, box of rocks went out this morning, i hope you enjoy them.
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Post by montanamuskrat on Mar 4, 2011 16:15:59 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH - it is the best rockhound site around. Debby & Tom
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metalartz
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2011
Posts: 69
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Post by metalartz on Mar 6, 2011 11:27:55 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH I'm also from MA Have never been to but know of the North Shore Rock and Mineral Club they meet in South Hamilton MA www.nahant.com/nsrmc/2011-Welcome.htmlThey have a show at Topsfield Fairground 4/30 to 3/1
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slapdasherie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 25
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Post by slapdasherie on Mar 6, 2011 17:31:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, metalartz. I'd seen that group's name online, but whatever link I was using was an old one and I couldn't find their current information. I'm not sure I'll be able to make one of their meetings due to the small baby at home, but the show at Topsfield Fair looks very interesting.
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on Mar 7, 2011 4:45:10 GMT -5
Welcome also from Aus, it's great the way this site helps people out well done marinedad and other generous folk. Good luck with the tumble and the baby. Bill
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 9, 2011 0:25:27 GMT -5
Welcome!
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slapdasherie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 25
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Post by slapdasherie on Mar 11, 2011 22:08:47 GMT -5
I got the tumbler rolling again last night. It's such a nice, comforting sound. Thank you to everyone for their encouragement, rocks, and grit donations to get me started up again. I can't wait to see how everything turns out in a few weeks.
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Post by tntmom on Mar 11, 2011 23:21:45 GMT -5
Hi Slapdasherie!
Think I missed your post the first time. Welcome and can't wait to see your pictures! How's the baby? Still keeping you up all night?
~Krystee
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slapdasherie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 25
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Post by slapdasherie on Mar 11, 2011 23:59:23 GMT -5
How's the baby? Still keeping you up all night? Just check the times of my posts... ;D
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