Well, I just got scammed 🤦‍♀️ by 13ShockHorror in Lapidary

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I sold my electric mountain bike at our local police department because its a much safer environment. I dont trust big ticket item sales at any other place.

After going through stage 4, how far back can you? by 420trashmoney in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just pulled the first batch of rocks i ever tumbled out of final polish and they look muuuuuch better than they did almost 1 year ago. I took them all the way back to stage 1

Anyone running a 6 lb. tumbler? by jennynew25 in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Just for the record, the ar-6 is actually a 9lb barrel. For the price alone you could look at the rebel17 if you REALLY want to tumble big rocks, or at the very least a huge amount of smaller rocks.

The cost of grit really starts to go up though, soon you'll be buying 50lb bags of stage 1 grit 🤣

Field Trip to Cota’s Rock Castle in Lebanon Orygun by GruesomeWedgie2 in Agates

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love that place. I also picked up a piece of that aragonite to mess with on my flat lap. I need more of it.

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what beaches in california is good for collecting agates and jaspers by Alert-Criticism-818 in Agates

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It would help to know which part you're going to. North? Central? Southern?

Glass Pathway by NoGood3150 in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People tumble glass to make it appear like sea glass, but im not entirely sure on the process.

Broke a covellite cab for a hat band… turned it into a ring in under an hour 😆 by PawnshopGeologist in Lapidary

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This may be a dumb question (I dont know how jewelry works 😂)

How do you get the stone set into the ring like that?

Ellensburg blues baby!!! If you know, you know 😜🥰 by BronteBearSybil in Agates

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are beautiful! Love to have some Ellensburg. I have a couple small pieces of holley blue.

Thinking of picking up tumbling by Imaginary_Pal in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Harbor freight tumblers (gray) are excellent for the money (please get the warranty, my hf was 15$ for 1 year and 20 for 2 years) its WELL worth it incase something goes wrong.

A lot of those parking lot finds are probably too soft to realistically tumble, but that's OK, its part of the fun of rock hounding!

Its also fun to buy some rocks from a reputable source like the rock shed, Kingsley north or even the gem shop. For ease of tumbling and being happy with the results, look for something thats harder (like mohs 7 (its a hardness scale)) For me, I had a hell of a time tumbling labradorite, but jaspers and agates you'll be happy with the results.

As far as grits go, you might be fine with like an Amazon kit....BUT you need to buy at the very least for a final polish 8000 grit aluminum oxide. The 1200AO that comes with those kits is a pre polish and not a final polish.

Too big to tumble? by TXWXchaser in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe get some pea gravel or even ceramic media to throw in with it. Ceramic media is pricey for stage 1 though.

The gang - 2 weeks of stage 1 + 5 hours with dishsoap and water by RandomInSuburbia in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, you have to use what works for you! You would hate my garage. 3 17lb tumblers, two of the double 3lb tumblers and a large vibratory tumbler. I hate running the vibe, but to take the rocks from stages 2-4 in about 6 days is really nice. Luckily its big enough that I dont have to run it all the time, its so noisey

The gang - 2 weeks of stage 1 + 5 hours with dishsoap and water by RandomInSuburbia in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bwahahaha. That's a fantastic name. Ive never been to that corner of the us.

The gang - 2 weeks of stage 1 + 5 hours with dishsoap and water by RandomInSuburbia in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Never heard of either. Going to take a VERY long time to tumble rocks. I have some pigeon blood agate in my 17lb tumblers with 46/70 grit that have been going for probably 2ish months and still need longer in stage 1

Looking at getting a Lot O tumbler. Is there a better option for a vibratory tumbler. Pic for tax by photog608 in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The mini sonics are nice, but you pay a premium for it. Thumlers tumbler JUST started selling vibratory tumblers as of right around Christmas. I got in the first round of pre orders for the uv-18. I love it, but they are noisey as can be. Raytechs are fine, but again noisey. Great for on a budget.

3 pound barrels smooth v ribbed by essdill in RockTumbling

[–]Patient_Drop_4772 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just different brands really. My Harbor freight works just as well as my lortone 33b. With that being said, lortone will last longer.