herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 7, 2012 23:35:35 GMT -5
LarryS and connrock, thanks for sharing your stories, that is great. I'm really getting to enjoy the group of folks here. Still no combo machine but I got my 10# uv yesterday along with the ceramic media. Waiting for enough rocks to be done with the first stage in the rotary to add to the vibe and see if they start to move along a little faster!
I think it will be a while though, so I may buy a bunch of round rock and go into the vibe.
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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 9, 2012 0:10:32 GMT -5
Hi Guys, I see that I have had some request for pictures. Slight problem at this end in that I haven't taken pictures of finished material to date. I would be happy to take some pictures but all my show pieces are in storage due to the earthquakes (8000 aftershocks and counting) here... see following link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake. Been pretty bad as I lost my saw, one of my tumblers and all of my grind stones and my workshop. Managed to save most of my best finished pieces-some need refinishing. However, I have some good news, I am about to start a completley fresh tumble in the very near future (next two weeks) in my very destroyed workshop. It will include some very large pieces of agatised wood that are off cuts from a sphere blank that I had made up. I will re-teach myself how to use photobucket (sp?) and step everyone through each week. It may take a while (I am picking a year). Any one a taker? Cheers Scott
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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 9, 2012 0:11:24 GMT -5
Hi Guys, I see that I have had some request for pictures. Slight problem at this end in that I haven't taken pictures of finished material to date. I would be happy to take some pictures but all my show pieces are in storage due to the earthquakes (8000 aftershocks and counting) here... see following link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake. Been pretty bad as I lost my saw, one of my tumblers and all of my grind stones and my workshop. Managed to save most of my best finished pieces-some need refinishing. However, I have some good news, I am about to start a completley fresh tumble in the very near future (next two weeks) in my very destroyed workshop. It will include some very large pieces of agatised wood that are off cuts from a sphere blank that I had made up. I will re-teach myself how to use photobucket (sp?) and step everyone through each week. It may take a while (I am picking a year). Any one a taker? Cheers Scott
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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 9, 2012 0:14:29 GMT -5
Apologies for the double up.. things are running very slowly at this end
Cheers Scott
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fmelvis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 235
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Post by fmelvis on Jan 9, 2012 7:39:42 GMT -5
i just ordered a cement truck
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Jan 9, 2012 12:06:21 GMT -5
Hello Herchenx, How big you go is up to you. There is no rules on that. This is only a hobby to me. I dont sell polished rocks and I only tumble. I get my enjoyment from hounding, building equiptment, and giving polished rocks away. The saying, "GO BIG OR GO HOME", is used alot at my house. My son has that tatooed no his neck. My last project is a homemaid tumbler. I will show pictures later. Named Go big or go home. James
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 9, 2012 13:41:34 GMT -5
It's not the size of the tumbler that matters, it's how you use it. I got hooked by the tumbling craze in the 1970s, but didn't actually get a tumbler until about 5 years ago. I started with a Rolling Stones tumbler to see if I still wanted to do it. I went from there to building my own PVC barrels, first 4" diameter then 10" diameter. I also picked up a 15 lb. rotary and an 18 lb. vibe along the way. It takes a really big rotary to keep up with the vibe. I also self-collected a whole lot of rock, so the bigger tumblers were needed to get through it all. But, once I started cabbing I started to lose interest in tumbling. I've made a couple of necklaces for my family, but was slowly building up a stockpile of cabs, until I had to quit over a year ago due to remodeling. I hope to be back in business this spring. Chuck
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 10, 2012 3:38:10 GMT -5
Hi All, Well What got me into polishing rocks was" Furnitur removing " I went to help a friend's that were moving to a College in Canada for a few years and in the process of trips here and there to the tip ect there was this tumbler which was to be thrown out Well I am not the best one at throwing stuff away especially after working in Uganda 21 years ( everything has a value even a old margarine tin) so I asked him if I could have it So thats how I got started But along with the tumbler came 4 X 1 1/2 lb barrels, a 6" saw grinder (Rock Raskel ) a 6" flat lap , some stone ,Grits , polish a doping lamp, and doping wax So off I went I finished of a batch and did a few more then they all seemed to be comming out dull and dismal samples not at all shinney so I gave up 18 months later I found RTH and saw a article by James and that revolutionised and re vamped my polishing, Here is a link to a original article by Stoner forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22055I started to get good polishes and that was that ! ! ! Well not realy I was wondering about quickening up the process and getting a Vibe (Lot"O" ) and Connrock sent me a 4 X A4 letter on why I should get one He realy sold it to me ! ! ! Now with additions of - 2 combination Units (One to renew the bearing's ) 4 tumblers (3 home made) and a Lot"O" , rocks from all over the world I also Run a silversmithing course (Connrock helped me start up ) and sell a few rocks to students cheap so they can experiment in their designing, I sell a few stones to my wife (if im lucky ) for her jewellery making Once you start where ever does it end ? Jack Yorkshire UK
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Post by rocklicker on Jan 10, 2012 14:47:21 GMT -5
Luckily this hobby is what you make it. Many are perfectly happy with a single tumbler. It's really amazing how much rock a 3 pounder will put out if you run it continuously. For others, tumbling is a calling or obsession. Luckily you can be anywhere in the middle and this forum is just as helpful.
This may sound like a typical story here, but I also started out with a 3 pounder when I was a ten years old. I ran some batches and loved seeing how dull rocks became shiney. I went through phases and other hobbies but settled on rocks. I got a grinder, joined the forum and that when the dam broke loose. (Larry, your story sounds all to familiar). Now the garage is being overtaken by rocks. I am running 80lbs or rocks at the moment. It goes something like this: Get tumbler Make a few batches and get the itch Get another tumbler Get small trim saw Get cabbing machine Continue to pick up tumblers Get a bigger saw Get an even bigger saw Continue to pick up tumblers, grinders
Another funny story is a poor coworker of mine. He's into shooting and used a tumbler for cleaning and reloading shells. He comes to me and says "Can I tumble rocks in this tumbler?" Poor guy, if he only knew. Pretty soon, he had to get another tumbler, a vibe, etc. Then he got a cabbing setup and a saw. It continues, when he hunts I think he brings back more rocks than game. And all it took was that one tumbler.
They need to put warning labels on tumblers. "May cause lapidary obsession and rocklicking" ;D Steve
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 10, 2012 15:58:01 GMT -5
Wow Jack, I went through those pics from Don, so where is the actual tutorial? I see pics but no helpful info.
I've read a bunch of other stuff on here and is this a product of the Borax burnish stage? Was that the secret in his tutorial?
Thanks, would love to create finished tumbles like those.
John
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 10, 2012 16:00:47 GMT -5
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emyhro4048
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 396
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Post by emyhro4048 on Jan 10, 2012 21:58:27 GMT -5
I use a single 3# Lortone tumbler for the last five years and enjoy the small batches I make. Yes, I do it for the fun and do enjoy my small batches.
Ed M.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jan 11, 2012 3:47:35 GMT -5
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bwolfe1
off to a rocking start
Learning the Hard way
Member since December 2011
Posts: 19
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Post by bwolfe1 on Jan 11, 2012 8:19:54 GMT -5
Luckily this hobby is what you make it. Many are perfectly happy with a single tumbler. It's really amazing how much rock a 3 pounder will put out if you run it continuously. For others, tumbling is a calling or obsession. Luckily you can be anywhere in the middle and this forum is just as helpful. This may sound like a typical story here, but I also started out with a 3 pounder when I was a ten years old. I ran some batches and loved seeing how dull rocks became shiney. I went through phases and other hobbies but settled on rocks. I got a grinder, joined the forum and that when the dam broke loose. (Larry, your story sounds all to familiar). Now the garage is being overtaken by rocks. I am running 80lbs or rocks at the moment. It goes something like this: Get tumbler Make a few batches and get the itch Get another tumbler Get small trim saw Get cabbing machine Continue to pick up tumblers Get a bigger saw Get an even bigger saw Continue to pick up tumblers, grinders Another funny story is a poor coworker of mine. He's into shooting and used a tumbler for cleaning and reloading shells. He comes to me and says "Can I tumble rocks in this tumbler?" Poor guy, if he only knew. Pretty soon, he had to get another tumbler, a vibe, etc. Then he got a cabbing setup and a saw. It continues, when he hunts I think he brings back more rocks than game. And all it took was that one tumbler. They need to put warning labels on tumblers. "May cause lapidary obsession and rocklicking" ;D Steve I originally bought an Ultra Vibe 18 not knowing the difference between the brass polisher and the rock tumbler? It lasted one week tumbling rocks and literally broke apart, so its no good for anything, except I use the bowl from it. Costly mistake, but then I like to learn most things the hard way??
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 13, 2012 14:01:51 GMT -5
bummer Bruce.
I did a lot of homework to make sure I was NOT getting the brass vibe version.
I did buy some stone that I found out was toxic (or has the potential to be) so I may not cab or tumble that, but it only cost a relatively small amount. (Bumble Bee Jasper)
I'm paranoid about buying the wrong thing and eating an expensive purchase. So far, other than the stone I mentioned I think I am just spending (a lot) on things that I can use.
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