herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 6, 2012 18:44:19 GMT -5
So I've been sort of living here for a while, sleeping only a few minutes a day off in the corner, and something is nagging at me.
This all started for me with 3x1.5# barrels on a Lortone tumbler for my oldest daughter, expecting loads to go from start to finish in about a month (LIES FROM THE MANUFACTURER I've learned).
I don't see anyone tumbling small amounts like that for fun anywhere on the board, it all seems like "go big or go home" type operations. I was just reading about 5 gallon tumblers doing so much better than 12# tumblers. I've also learned that tumbling takes months per load, not weeks.
I understand that there are some who make a substantial portion of their income from tumbling, and I admit that I am also going to start cabbing and may end up selling something along the way.
I have to ask though, "what about the children?" - where are those of you who only dabble for fun, producing less than a metric ton of stones every month? Is it really that much of an addiction that no one keeps it as a hobby? Or does this force you to "go big" or quit out of an inability to keep up?
I mostly ask, in case now someone else asks me how they could get started. I want to be able to paint an honest picture of how rock tumbling could fit into the hobby category.
Thanks for humoring me.
John
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Jan 6, 2012 18:51:47 GMT -5
Just one word: Addiction,the word for this "hobby"
snuffy
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 6, 2012 19:06:00 GMT -5
Seriously, this guy in town has a web site about how he uses truck tires now as tumblers. Like 35" truck tires full of rocks, tumbling 24x365.
Where does it all go? Does everyone end up selling to these tourist traps scattered around national monuments with tumbled rocks?
Does *anyone* just do small amounts just for fun?
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 6, 2012 19:37:20 GMT -5
I would say that there are plenty of folks that are content tumbling a small batch from time to time. The thing is, like Snuffy said...it's a fine line between hobby and addiction. I can think of a lot of things people are addicted to that are much less uplifting than working rocks... If you don't watch out, you will find yourself dreaming about something like this...(not mine, except for in my dreams)
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 6, 2012 19:39:56 GMT -5
Yeah I was just looking at 12# tumblers!! What is wrong with me...
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Jan 6, 2012 19:40:23 GMT -5
Dang,talk about a grit eatin' monster!! ;D
snuffy
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 6, 2012 19:50:25 GMT -5
Plenty of hobby tumblers out there perfectly happy with their double 3 lb. drums. I think most progress to larger barrels to enable finishing larger rocks. There is a market for tumbled rocks if you want to go that way but sometimes commercial takes the fun away.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 6, 2012 19:57:57 GMT -5
I rough grind about 18# at a time ( one 12#, one 6#). Most all my production goes to the kids. Been tempted to get a larger rig as I'm heavlly addicted but I go through a 100# of coarse grit a year as it is so that's plenty spendy for me....Mel
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 6, 2012 19:58:00 GMT -5
I started with lortone 3lb tumbler the 2 barrel one and before I knew it I needed more barrels and another tumbler. After that I got into cabbing with a dremmel flex shaft and had to upgrade to a fordom flex shaft - then the addiction really took and I needed a saw or 2 or 3 - then came a flat lap type hard diamond disc cabbing system - then I added flexo disc system with diamond compound to get better smoothing and polish after the hard discs. It never ends because among all that equipment buying there is rough and slab buying too!
I basically started cabbing with opals and fire agates
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Post by rockrookie on Jan 6, 2012 20:04:11 GMT -5
3lbs batches are good . i use my 12 lber to startt out more and as i highgrade smoother rocks i transfer them to 3 lber to finish and add more rough to big barrel . BTW i started out witha 8 ounce plastic ''toy'' tumber that cost as much as a real one .
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 6, 2012 20:11:52 GMT -5
I have both a 9 lb and 15 lb tumblers. Both are sitting idle right now. Most of what I tumble is donated to the Girl Scouts for craft projects.
I cut cabs, but have even slowed down on that. I used to sell at craft shows, but found that the amount of work that went into producing something that would sell, seldom amounted to a profit. Just too much cheap Chinese produced junk out there.
My latest obsession is completing building a sphere machine, and starting to make spheres out of the ton or so of rocks in my shed. I'll be doing this for my own pleasure, not for profit.
With me, rocks and lapidary work is a labor of love.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jan 6, 2012 20:22:39 GMT -5
Just one word: Addiction,the word for this "hobby" snuffy The second word would have to be PATIENCE. I originally came to this forum with the thought of getting involved with tumbling as an opportunity to be able to make some money. Not a lot of money perhaps just enough to fund the cost of the hobby. I was advised by those with much experience that I should do it for the love of the hobby as being able to make money at it was not viable. I got to thinking than that I would soon reach a point when I had more tumbled stones that I nor my friends and family would know what to do with. I guess you would call it a saturation point. It was at that point that I redirected my attention to collecting slabs specimens and crystals. I make cabs out of the slabs an will be making jewelry out of the cabs and than at some point I will learn faceting. Oh I will also have a couple of tumblers running as well. I will do all of this stuff because I am a fully ADDICTED to rocks. Check the information board to see when the next R A A meeting will be (Rock Addicts Anonymous) Good luck and just keep telling yourself these words. "I love my wife" "I love my daughter" but "OH THOSE ROCKS" Stu
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 6, 2012 21:39:32 GMT -5
Its a hobby honest.... When I was young and first started I did keep a lot of my material however as the years have gone buy I realised that although it was well polished and very shiny it was really rubbish. I now start with very large tumbler (100 lbs) for my rough grind. However in saying that I am looking for absolute perfection for my stones (no flaws, no cracks, no chips and absolutely smooth) so only ever take a small number (and sometimes none) out of the drum each week. Also I like to do the occasional large (2-3 times the size of a softball) stone perfectly therefore I need a large stone. Very rarely do I have a mass clean out. I then finish everything in 15-20 pound drum lots. I lot of material goes into the rough grind and never comes out as I am not that happy with it. The keepers however are competition winners. I would be lucky to keep 30-50 individual stones a year for myself and probably give way up to 40-50 pounds a year to friends and family. I don't sell any of my "seconds" but am willing to give them away to others. The key to this hobby is patience and only moving something on when it is done combined with the willingness to get rid of the second rate material. Cheers Scott
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 6, 2012 22:44:58 GMT -5
Wow Scott, now you've got me fantasizing about smooth tumbles larger than softballs. I'm sure we'd all like to eyeball some pics of super sized tumbles. I know I sure would!......Mel
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Jan 6, 2012 22:49:33 GMT -5
I am just a small timer. I do have cabbing equipment but it is all old and very used. I do it to get "my hands dirty"...to feel a little like a craftsmen (in the rare event that I create a cab I like). I also like the idea that the art is being kept alive by very few of us (I don't include myself in that category yet, but someday I will) with all the mass produced Chinese stuff like jakesrocks said earlier. Finally I do it because I have never considered myself to be artistic or creative. I am forcing a part of my brain to work that has never broken a sweat...and I like it. Scott
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,438
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Post by NDK on Jan 6, 2012 23:05:47 GMT -5
I have a 3lb tumbler. That's all I run, although a larger barrel for roughing them out would be nice. Works well for me, as this is just a hobby for me not a money maker.
John, it's all about what you want to do. I think most people start small and move up from there.
Nate
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 6, 2012 23:55:27 GMT -5
Wow as always thanks everyone for sharing your experience and perspective. jakesrocks, any interest in unloading either of those tumblers? Seriously though, it is great to see such generally positive interactions on here. I think that to me seems as much fun as tumbling and cabbing, getting to know other folks, being able to set up visits when we travel, and the general comradery that seems to be a part of this. I have been involved in a life drawing class for about a decade and that has become one of the things that is an important about what I do, is the relationships that are a part of the group that I participate with. Thanks again for being so welcoming and sharing such a wealth of experience with a new guy.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Jan 7, 2012 10:19:21 GMT -5
I started out with a QT6 Lortone my father bought back in the 60's to polish pistol brass. He gave it to us and sat in our shed for 15 years. Then one day thought we'd give it a try, since we're always out in the desert camping and exploring. We had plenty of local material to collect. Found out quickly one 6# wasn't enough and bought another used one off Ebay, then a new QT12. That works great because we can start out large, often up to 3" size and run them for months at the first stage. Then we found this forum and all hell broke loose! So we blame you guys for starting our addiction! 2 saws and 2 grinders later, we still want more! Our spare bedroom is a lapidary work shop. My whole shed is full along with the patio. We have polished stones on every horizontal surface inside the house. We lay in bed at nights thinking of rocks. Friends and family keep asking us, when are you going to start selling them? I keep telling them it's just an expensive hobby. Then I ask them if they want to be my first customer, they change the subject quickly. But they all have their hands out. I'm currently working on 35 cabs that I just trimmed and getting ready to start grinding. What will I do with them? Throw them on the coffee table along with the other 100+ cabs and fondle them during TV commercials! Life is good.
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Post by connrock on Jan 7, 2012 11:10:15 GMT -5
Growing up and living in Connecticut for 67 years I had never seen a pretty rock.I did find a few pieces of fractured quartz here and there but nothing with any color or patterns to it. I really started out by self collecting minerals here but soon found out that all of the good places were either closed to the public or had been sold and developed into malls,etc,etc,etc. I had found a lot of light green beryl and began to wonder what it would look like tumble polished? This was where I started out tumbling and since then I've tumbled over 2 tons of rocks from all over the world! There was no internet back then so I bought my tumbler and rocks from ads in magazines hoping I got what I wanted as there were no photos but only written words describing what was for sale. I will NEVER forget my first order of rocks that came! When I opened the box the 1st piece I saw was this beautiful green and yellow(ish) piece of jasper sitting right on top! I had never seen a piece of jasper before in my entire life and the only way I knew it was jasper is because that's what I ordered!!! LOL I didn't know jasper from sandstone at the time and there was NO WAY I was going to break up all of these beautiful rocks to tumble them! LOL Well,,,,,after a fashion I did tumble those rocks but I still have the green/yellow piece of jasper sitting in a display case with minerals I have! I often look at that piece of jasper and think about how it was the VERY beginning of my love for rocks,,,tumbled or rough!
Once I had got a taste for them it was all ahead flank and has been ever since!
At one time I had 11 or 12 rotary tumblers running from 1-1/2 pounders to 15 pounders and two 4-1/2 pound vibe units.
My love for rocks didn't stop there either. I began to cab,carve and do just about anything with rocks as is possible except for faceting! When I retired 4 years ago I got to fulfill a life long dream of making jewelery so I taught myself how to do a bit of silversmithing by using the internet and asking some great folks for a hand in it.
I have NEVER sold ANYTHING I've made and have only maybe,,,,4-6 pounds of polished rocks sitting here right now. I give them to anyone who wants them and also make jewelery for anyone who asks me for a piece or two!
Since I retired I cut back a LOT due to finances but as long as I can and as long as I live I WILL continue to give anything I have to anyone who wants and loves t even 1/32 as much as I do!
Addictive,,,,addiction,,,what ever you want to call it but I call it love for beauty I can create for myself and others.
My payment is the joy of giving and I'll do it as long as God lets me!
connrock
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,334
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Post by quartz on Jan 7, 2012 18:16:21 GMT -5
It isn't how big the equipment is, it's how much enjoyment you derive from using it.
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