The Tumblers Have All Been Silenced
Jul 18, 2014 17:52:43 GMT -5
Fossilman, 1nickthegreek, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2014 17:52:43 GMT -5
I was asked to post something here as some sort of reference as to who I am.. but I just feel it's not that important. But here is what has happen so far..
I've been rock tumbling since I discovered the video game "Diablo" back in 1996.. In the game, gems and stones where used to embue weapons and armor etc.. and in real life, I found that stones where also used in religious rituals and I've been online for just about as long as I have been tumbling stones.
In the beginning, rock tumbling was more of a fascination to see how the rocks turn out and the take note of their hidden colors. Later I wanted to actually tumble stones in an attempt to use them as jewelry, then onward to actually using what I've tumbler in many of my rituals.
Upon my wife and I's marriage.. I sort of dropped out of the rock tumbling hobby until my wife asked em to tumble, cut, shape, create a stone for her jewelry.. and rock tumbling wasn't enough. I then needed something more.. but seeing how funds are short, i had to settle for a slightly used Dremel and set out to facet cut a few stones on my own.
This was a new area for me and being self taught.. I learn one needs to cool the stones while faceting or risk fractures.. which developed anyway.. I guess I just wanted to much from this little Dremel of mine and broke several stone in the process. I can't say my tumbling or facet cutting is ideal but it did work and I've spoken about this upon several occasions at a number of gem, jewelry and lapidary sites.
But something happen in the late 90's soon after stating my shoe string projects.. While walking to the library for more books on the tumbler and lapidary arts.. I was stuck by a car while I was attempting to cross at a designated crosswalk.. Over time a number of issues have developed while a few doctors have deemed "nerve damage" thus my arms simply go limp or numb and the dropping of items is the normal for me now.
Because I was unable to hold the stones/gems to facet them, I was forced to seek new ways to cut and facet stones.. nothing to go on but that of a pencils hexagonal shape.. I created a crude but handy faceting jig.. which actually worked for a while until my last stone developed a hair line fracture and broke just two weeks after being set into a ring for my wife.
I've since sold everything, but my three tumblers.. and currently they are sitting idle at the moment.. but there is hope on the horizon.. Seems on our last adventure, we discovered a few broken glass bottles from the 40's & 50's.. thus my glass tumbling may begin any time I'm actually able to do so. I'm under the assumption that I can tumble these glass shards ending up with a sea glass appearance or there about..
Taking what I have learn and using it more towards the identification of rocks and stones seem about the only thing left for me to do.. and even then I'm no match from those of you who have branched out beyond the "typical" or most common stones I'm accustom to.
Therefore, I'll do what I can, offer a few suggestions, Id a few stones but simply enjoy the images of your craft as if I had done it myself.
I've been rock tumbling since I discovered the video game "Diablo" back in 1996.. In the game, gems and stones where used to embue weapons and armor etc.. and in real life, I found that stones where also used in religious rituals and I've been online for just about as long as I have been tumbling stones.
In the beginning, rock tumbling was more of a fascination to see how the rocks turn out and the take note of their hidden colors. Later I wanted to actually tumble stones in an attempt to use them as jewelry, then onward to actually using what I've tumbler in many of my rituals.
Upon my wife and I's marriage.. I sort of dropped out of the rock tumbling hobby until my wife asked em to tumble, cut, shape, create a stone for her jewelry.. and rock tumbling wasn't enough. I then needed something more.. but seeing how funds are short, i had to settle for a slightly used Dremel and set out to facet cut a few stones on my own.
This was a new area for me and being self taught.. I learn one needs to cool the stones while faceting or risk fractures.. which developed anyway.. I guess I just wanted to much from this little Dremel of mine and broke several stone in the process. I can't say my tumbling or facet cutting is ideal but it did work and I've spoken about this upon several occasions at a number of gem, jewelry and lapidary sites.
But something happen in the late 90's soon after stating my shoe string projects.. While walking to the library for more books on the tumbler and lapidary arts.. I was stuck by a car while I was attempting to cross at a designated crosswalk.. Over time a number of issues have developed while a few doctors have deemed "nerve damage" thus my arms simply go limp or numb and the dropping of items is the normal for me now.
Because I was unable to hold the stones/gems to facet them, I was forced to seek new ways to cut and facet stones.. nothing to go on but that of a pencils hexagonal shape.. I created a crude but handy faceting jig.. which actually worked for a while until my last stone developed a hair line fracture and broke just two weeks after being set into a ring for my wife.
I've since sold everything, but my three tumblers.. and currently they are sitting idle at the moment.. but there is hope on the horizon.. Seems on our last adventure, we discovered a few broken glass bottles from the 40's & 50's.. thus my glass tumbling may begin any time I'm actually able to do so. I'm under the assumption that I can tumble these glass shards ending up with a sea glass appearance or there about..
Taking what I have learn and using it more towards the identification of rocks and stones seem about the only thing left for me to do.. and even then I'm no match from those of you who have branched out beyond the "typical" or most common stones I'm accustom to.
Therefore, I'll do what I can, offer a few suggestions, Id a few stones but simply enjoy the images of your craft as if I had done it myself.