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Lookout Mountain Man
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« on: September 04, 2015, 10:24:58 am » |
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Well hello everyone! I am relatively new to the rockhounding and lapidary world. I will share a little of my story so far as I have a feeling some of you can relate. Feel free to laugh.
Two things ignited my current interest in rocks: First it was a good friend who runs the rockhoundlounge forum. Scott and I used to be roommates and worked at the same company for a while. I headed back to NC to reconnect with him and ended up digging for a few hours with him and an old NC rockhound called Arapaho Joe. They were working a dig with MAGMA at an old amethyst mine so I figured I would lend a hand and move a little dirt while Scott and I caught up on old times. I didn't stay for very long, but that was my first exposure to the rockhound community. They let me keep a hideous little amethyst crystal which I still keep in my car to this day. Well I didn't think much of it until a few years later when I finally met a girl that convinced me she was worth marrying. She wasn't (and that is a whole other story), but I started researching gemstones to try to find the perfect ring for her. And that was the tipping point. Since that drive back from Florida with her when I started researching diamonds and sapphires I found that I am absolutely in love with anything gemstone rock or geology related. A couple of years ago I actually did find a girl worth marrying and last year I ended up meeting up with Scott again at a place that is famous down here in Georgia called Graves Mountain. That led to the decision to join a local rock club, mapping out every possible rockhounding location I come across and BAM! I suddenly have a garage full of rocks and a wife asking me what the heck I'm going to do with all this crap. Which brings me to my first major investment decision. Well maybe the second...earlier this summer I convinced the wife that we needed to trade in the Spectra for an Outback for our "growing family". We did have a newborn son, but you know as well as I the real reason I wanted that Outback...more space for rocks and AWD so I can get to them. But I digress. Up until this summer I kind of prided myself and even bragged to the wife that I hadn't spent more than maybe a couple hundred dollars on digging and panning tools, rocks, and a tumbler. However, this summer I visited the Lake Superior region and that all went out the window. I fell head over heels in love with agate...and jasper...and...just about everything cryptocrystalline. This subsequently led to the conclusion that I definitely need at least a small diamond saw and wheel to help all these lovely rocks I've found show their true colors a bit. Well, I watched all the machines being sold on ebay for a couple of months and ended up choosing an old Lortone LU-6 for 300 bucks which was about what I could afford. I ain't quite rich enough to afford a fancy new machine and I figure I need to find a way to support my new habit before I buy one of those babies. The combo seemed like a nice compact starter unit, but unfortunately it didn't come with a motor.
Since then I have realized after purchasing my 3rd motor for the thing that I probably should have consulted with some experienced lapidary folks such as you all before I purchased the damn thing. Well now I'm stuck with it and after 3 weeks I still haven't got it running. For your amusement here is what I ended up doing. First, I figured I could use the motor from an old spinning shoe polisher which I got for under 20 bucks on ebay. Hooked that baby up...and you guessed it....hummmm...no dice. Not enough power. So I then decided well since I don't have enough power maybe I should go for overkill. I next bought a 1/2 horsepower 3-phase industrial Emerson only to discover after a trip to the hardware store that I can't run a 3-phase motor on a residential electrical system. Oops! I now have an $80 1/3 hp split phase motor on the way which cost me 80 bucks and more closely resembles the one Lortone sells for their LU-6X. Talk about tripping over a nickle to save a dime...seems to be the story of my life.
Well to make a long story...even longer. I just wanted to share a little of where I came from and where I'm at. I truly am excited to begin cutting and polishing sharing and learning. You guys all seem like a great bunch. Thanks for including me and I look forward to getting to know you all a bit better in the days ahead. My apologies ahead of time if I ask a lot of questions, but as you can tell...I probably need to.
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Charles
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« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2015, 11:47:20 am » |
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 John, from Southern Oklahoma. Pull up a chair and join in the 
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Steve
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« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2015, 01:09:49 pm » |
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.............to the.............. ................from New Mexico................... 
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dickb
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« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2015, 01:25:09 pm » |
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Sorry to tell you that there is no cure for you addiction, only continuous therapy! Welocme from Iowa.  dickb |
Elegance in Jewelry 69 Retired and Free GPAA, PLP - Blackhawk G&MC, CVR&MS Eastern Iowa, Clover SC  |
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light house jack
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« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2015, 01:57:26 pm » |
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Since you are in GA. and if you do not know about it, check out William Holland School of Lapidary in Young Harris, GA. It is called rock hound heaven. Imagine having three meals a day seated with like minded folks. AND, in my opinion you cannot go to Motel Six for the bang you get for your buck at WH. Good food, good fellowship and a class ( and a comfortable place to sleep) for a bit over $300.00 for the week. I teach cabochons there about four times a year and I never get tired of it and love spending time with rock folks from all over the country.
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bilquest
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« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2015, 02:33:39 pm » |
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Don't feel too bad about over-spending and learning the 'hard way.' There's a lot of satisfaction in blazing trails. Ya learn what you can from asking questions here, and then do some trial and expect lots of error. I think more of my successful lapidary technique has been gained by trying things. Advice is always helpful, but ultimately go with the gut and you'll never regret.
Welcome to the afflicted, from Arizona.
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finegemdesigns
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« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2015, 05:19:09 pm » |
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At Rockholics Anonymous we here feel your pain.  |
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axllaird
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« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2015, 06:19:26 pm » |
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I hear you mate...i have half a dozen buckets full of rocks in the garden collected over the school summer holidays with my son. So if thats after a few weeks whats it going to be like in a few years? I actually hadn't thought of that before now...
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hulagrub
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« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2015, 08:53:08 pm » |
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Welcome from Northwest Arkansas! And I am certifiable.
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Dave, a certified Rockaholic |
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Lookout Mountain Man
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« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2015, 06:55:22 pm » |
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Since you are in GA. and if you do not know about it, check out William Holland School of Lapidary in Young Harris, GA. It is called rock hound heaven...
I am aware of the William Holland school. You all have a nice rep around here. I would love to take a cab class there. If I could afford it I would take every class they offer... |
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Rockgirl
Newbie
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Gender: 
Posts: 19
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« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2015, 06:03:53 am » |
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Yup. There is no cure once the rock bug bites. Just go with the flow and enjoy!  |
Karen
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Mark
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« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2015, 06:10:18 pm » |
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Welcome from Western MA and a fellow rockaholic.
Mark
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Alvin
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« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2015, 02:45:58 pm » |
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welcome from Maine. Sorry to hear you have the rock disorder. We do have a cure here. photos of nice rocks, photos of rock trips and photos of incredible cabs. enjoy
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Lookout Mountain Man
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« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2015, 10:22:26 am » |
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 Just visited the Lafayette Funk collection in central Illinois. Wow! Definitely worth a visit.  Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk |
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