Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 12:34:28 GMT -5
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Post by As I in does tries! on Dec 21, 2019 12:36:47 GMT -5
Greetings from Scotland on the other side of the pond!
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 12:37:00 GMT -5
Here is my original post. I tried to put the pic in the post, but ended only posting the pic and the post got deleted:
Hello everyone, and thank you for letting me join this forum. I am 63 years old and have loved collecting rocks all of my life, but only recently got interested in shaping and polishing them. This new interest is mostly due to my more frequent excursions to Lake Superior's south shore in Michigan's upper peninsula. We are lucky to live close, and every time I visit there I come home with a nice (and legal) collection of water washed stones that are already smooth and well shaped. When I hold one of those stones in my hand I can't help but wonder how it was made, when it was made, and WHY it was made.
My current tools consist simply of a dremel, a $10 diamond grinding wheel from Harbor Freight, a bowl of water, and a Lortone 3 lb tumbler. I am a woodworker, but find myself getting tired of those big projects and all of the sawdust. This new hobby allows me to just sit in a chair in my workshop and grind away with the dremel and get lost in the stone.
My first batch is in the tumbler now, tumbling with its second course of grit. I timed it so I can open the tumbler and show off the stones to my grandkids when they visit for Christmas. Last summer I showed my 6 year old granddaughter an agate I had found and her eyes just about popped out of her head. She asked if she could have it and I told her that I'll give it to her when she gets married. It's in the tumbler now, and I think after it's polished I'll make a necklace out of it and give it to her sooner. Maybe I can learn a little about jewelry making on this forum also.
I am going to try and post a pic of some the stones from my first tumbling batch, after they completed their first run through course grit. These are all Lake Superior stones, and only a few of them needed any shaping with the dremel. This is only beginner stuff, and nothing like the amazing stones I've seen on this forum. Looking forward to getting to know some of you and learning more. Thank you!
PS - Next time I post a pic I need to remember to put something in it for scale. That round brown and white quartz in the lower left is about the size of a quarter.
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Post by knave on Dec 21, 2019 12:39:51 GMT -5
Looks great, welcome!
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Post by manofglass on Dec 21, 2019 12:44:38 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,593
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Post by Tommy on Dec 21, 2019 12:45:11 GMT -5
Gadabout Welcome from northern CA! Thanks for the introduction post. Looks like you quickly mastered the use of Cloudinary as I see your picture in the first post. It can be tricky for sure but it's the closest thing we have here to integrated photo posting.
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 13:36:14 GMT -5
Thx Tommy. Yeah, I set up that Cloudinary account right away. This is a great forum you've got here. I'm going to need to read about procedures and such (like getting a user's name/tagging in a post). It's a learning curve. Really looking forward to learning more from all the other lapidaries here.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Dec 21, 2019 15:18:25 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington, from a former Wisconsinite.
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Post by knave on Dec 21, 2019 16:13:26 GMT -5
Gadabout if you tap or click on the username, you will see the screen name that you will use. Just type username and it will tag them. Forgot to mention I’m from nw Wisconsin
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 16:25:32 GMT -5
Thanks knave. Let's see if I did it right. Sounds like you're a lot closer to the north shore of Lake Superior than we are. Used to do a lot of rock hunting up there until I discovered the south shore spots in the eastern UP. My favorite spot is Whitefish Point.
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 16:26:11 GMT -5
It worked! Always nice to learn something new.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 21, 2019 16:31:43 GMT -5
It worked! Always nice to learn something new. You are a special kind of person to get that figured out so fast! Welcome to the forum. I'd be willing to bet we can learn a few things from you!
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 16:53:17 GMT -5
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Dec 21, 2019 17:03:53 GMT -5
Gadabout Welcome to RTH. You can edit your post to add the text instead of creating a new message. Look for the edit button in the upper right corner. Lynn
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 21, 2019 17:05:57 GMT -5
Dang, Gadabout , you are a quick study. There are some RTHlings that have been members for years that have never learned to tag someone (or use the search function, or other multiple other things). I will admit that Cloudinary can be challenging to set up, it has to be done exactly so. You have passed the test with flying colors!
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 21, 2019 17:12:00 GMT -5
Welcome from New Jersey.
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 17:40:52 GMT -5
Thx RocksInNJ. I've lived in WI for 40 years, but was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. Still get back there every couple years to see old friends. You can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the boy
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 21, 2019 17:43:46 GMT -5
Thx RocksInNJ . I've lived in WI for 40 years, but was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. Still get back there every couple years to see old friends. You can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the boy I’m in Gloucester County and I wish someone would take this boy outta New Jersey lol.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 21, 2019 18:10:35 GMT -5
Welcome from Virginia! Great to see you here. Yeah, I'm impressed with your cloudinary prowess, too.
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 18:15:59 GMT -5
Ha ha RocksInNJ , I hear ya! NJ is a great place to be FROM.
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