Foreverdown
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 66
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Post by Foreverdown on Aug 26, 2004 11:28:54 GMT -5
Hi guys and gals, Getting ready for my return trip to Mt. Ida outside of Hot Springs, AR to collect more crystals. Actually, I have been waiting impatiently since I return from my last trip. I was just wondering if anyone knows of some good spots to rockhound in that area. The crystal mines are just that... nothing but crystals and quartz. I would prefer to collect on my own than buy. Its more fun that way and cheaper too. BTW... I am working on building a custom tumbler. I plan on having 4 barrels, one for each stage, all driven by one motor. I am thinking of using 8" PVC pipe as the barrels. Got a lot of ideas flowing in my head since I started reading all the posts on this forum. I have learned so much from the posts.... if only all this info was in one book. I also enjoy the humor which is ever present.... Yall are a good bunch of people... very informative and dedicated to this hobby. Thanks for all the info and I really enjoy seeing others results. I hope to be posting some pictures when I return from Arkansas. Brett PS - There sure are a lot of "Brett's" on this forum. ;D
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Aug 26, 2004 12:58:13 GMT -5
When you get to Mount Ida look around town for a shop called "Crystal Seen". If they are still in business they can arrange a mining trip for you. They are really nice folks. They used to be dealers at our Gem and Mineral Show in San Antonio. They arranged a trip for our club a few years ago. I'll se if I can dig up their contact info. Bob
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Post by hermatite on Aug 26, 2004 13:01:32 GMT -5
Hi Foreverdown....just one question...on a clear day can you see you? just kidding. Good luck with the custom tumbler. It's entirely doable. My husband built mine out of a old dot matrix printer parts and a spare engine he had layng around and it works like a charm. The best thing is, if it breaks? (which is hasn't yet btw) he's the manufacturer we have to go to in order to have it fixed.
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Aug 26, 2004 13:05:11 GMT -5
Brett, heres the link for the Crystal Seen Trading Post in Mount Ida. www.crystalseen.com/Tell them Bob Schultz from the Southwest Gem and Mineral Society in San Antonio sent you. Have fun. Bob
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Post by mrbrett on Aug 26, 2004 15:42:28 GMT -5
Hello Brett, this is Brett. Good luck on the tumbler. I have been thinking on making one myself but, dont know what to use for the barrels. I like to make a large barrel but out of what? If you come up with anything besides the pvc let me know.
Brett
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Post by hermatite on Aug 26, 2004 16:17:49 GMT -5
We briefly considered pvc pipe barrels but had a real problem getting a lid that worked without leaking. I ended up just buying the thumler barrels from the rockshed. If you can think of a way to get pvc pipe to work, let me know!
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Foreverdown
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 66
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Post by Foreverdown on Aug 26, 2004 16:54:53 GMT -5
Bob, Thanks for the info. I am going to check out their web site for more info and probably pay them a visit. I have a list of shops I would like to visit and that is one of them. My son wants to 'shop' for some 'cool' rocks while we are there. I guess he takes after his mom with the shopping. LOL I was looking for something other than crystals, but my web search didn't turn up much in the area. Next trip I guess we will go further north. Hermatite, To answer your question... "On a clear day can you see you?" actually no, but I have turned around too fast and bumped into myself. Ha Ha I very rarely meet anyone named Brett. I guess because of where I live. Grew up in New Orleans and now live in the woods in Mississippi. As a child I didn't like my name because everyone called me Brent or Brad. But I got used to it. On your homemade tumbler: What are you using as a barrel? That seems to be the hardest part. Luckily you have a husband who is handy and can build things like that for you. I regret letting my wife know I was so handy, now, after 13 yrs of marriage bliss, I can't find the end of my Honey-Do list.... Brett, This is the other Brett. Cool name BTW... I came up with the PVC idea from a post I came across on this forum. Also, it is pretty cheap. Also I have access to 8, 10 and 12 inch PVC. I work for an elevator manufacturer and design elevators. We have a full metal shop and I was thinking of making a barrel similar to a Thumler's and lining it with 1/4" rubber. That really would be the easiest design, but having 4 of them built would take some time, and I would have to sneak them past the boss man. I can give you a link to a web page that has a lot of info on DIY lapidary equipment. tomaszewski.net/Kreigh/Minerals/Homemade.shtmlOn that site, there are pictures of tumblers people have built from everything including a tire to a 5 gallon bucket. The 5 gal. bucket design is nice, but a little big for my current needs, and the amount of grit you would go through....WOW! But if you are looking for a large capacity you might want to check it out, 5 gal buckets are pretty cheap. manly.delconet.com/klahn/tumbler/index.htmlI will keep on looking and trying to come up with a good alternative. Happy tumblin' to all... ;D
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Foreverdown
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 66
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Post by Foreverdown on Aug 26, 2004 17:03:17 GMT -5
Hermatite, I was considering 8" to 12" pvc pipe because it has a wall thickness of 3/16". If you use schedule 80 the wall thickness greatly increases. But on regular sch 40 pipe, I was considering glueing a cap on each end and having one end cut off with a band saw. From there I could mount the cut off cap via screws to the barrel and have a rubber gasket. Ideally, I would like to put insert into the end of the barrel and bolt the lid on. Or to really throw you for a loop, use a coupler and saw it into 4 - 2" rings and glue them to the end of the pipe and make a lid from plastic or metal. Still working on this one. Thanks for the input... Brett
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Foreverdown
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 66
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Post by Foreverdown on Aug 26, 2004 18:28:26 GMT -5
Hermatite, OOops I made a mistake.... standard 8" pvc pipe (schedule 40) has a wall thickness of 5/16" not 3/16". So if you double it by adding an outer ring, you will get 5/8" which should be suitable for mounting bolts or bolt inserts. I will probably end up purchasing the barrels like you did. That is until I decide to build a monster rock tumbler for the biguns'. I will try and post a sketch of this idea. Might have to post an AutoCad drawing. But for now, I just need to find some rocks. Not much around here other than concrete and gravel...
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Post by hermatite on Aug 26, 2004 19:14:02 GMT -5
I think it was Plato who said "nothing has been said on earth that has not been said before"...then he repeated it to make sure he got it right. But I digress. Re: your plans for a monster tumbler...somewhere on this very site someone posted pdf files for making a tumbler out of a tractor tire...talk about MONSTER! Unfortunately, I'm old and can't remember who it was.
and re: the clear day thing? I was referring to the whole "on a clear day you can see forever...". see what I did there? eh? eh? ahahahahahahahahaha! *snerk* I kill me. Anyway welcome to the board!
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Aug 27, 2004 2:43:44 GMT -5
I still say the ideal thing for a MONSTER tumbler would be an old cement truck! But then you'd have to buy one for each grit stage, drop in an underground gas tank and have the grit brought in by rail car!
Otter
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 28, 2004 23:09:48 GMT -5
I made several pvc barrels and have come to the conclusion that the commercial barrels are cheaper in the long run, the only way that a home built barrel is cheap is that you have all the material on hand and you don't count your time as labor toward the final cost. I have 4 QT6 lortone barrels running now and feel that they do a better job of moving the rock inside. This is still America and you can do as you want.
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Post by puppie96 on Aug 29, 2004 3:17:34 GMT -5
Hi! I know I responded to this post a couple nights ago, but it looks like it got lost. Back to the Hot Springs Q -- have you considered Crater of Diamonds? It's really not too far from HS. I posted a kinda longwinded description in the Location section in April -- it's still up there.
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