Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Back when I lived in an apartment, Aaron got me a Rock Tumbler for Christmas. I tried to make shiny shiny rocks, but the Rock Tumbla (we like to call it that sometimes) was so stinkin' loud, I was worried it would disturb my neighbors... I had to stop tumbling.

Recently, I was rooting around in my attic when I found the packed away Tumbla and since I now have a basement it was time to fire it up. Of course to make shiny shiny rocks it takes three steps... coarse, medium and fine polish... each step taking two to three weeks.

We almost went mad from the constant rumbling noise in the basement, but a month later and the rocks are done!

15 comments:

  1. A month? Oh my...that's pretty amazing. The final product is great, but still...

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  2. i can't even begin to imagine what else you have in your attic. you look and sound like such a pack rat! your pictures reveal this too with so much "stuff" everywhere in your house!

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  3. i can't even begin to imagine what else you have in your attic. you look and sound like such a pack rat! your pictures reveal this too with so much "stuff" everywhere in your house!

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  4. My parents got me one of those when I was a kid and even though we had it tucked in the far recesses of our attic the 24/7 sound was almost too much to bear.

    Then, my second supply of "polish" bags mysteriously disappeared. Hmmm...

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  5. I had one of those when I was younger too - the same one I think. We used it in the basement, where you really didn't hear it unless you were doing laundry. Again though, I wasn't really encouraged to repeat the process (except by the relative who'd gifted it... who didn't live with us!). And now I'm in the litttle apartment with neighbours who likely wouldn't appreciate it.

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  6. oh! i used to have one of those when i was a kid. =) hours of fun for me and my sister. and now i work as a geologist! hahaha...

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  7. Time to get out the "mini drill" tool and put holes through those babies to be used as beads!!

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  8. Be sure to tell us what you end up doing with all those rocks. I wouldn't have a clue what to do with them, but I'm sure you'll come up with something very cute and creative :)

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  9. Alex - most of the stuff in ljc's house looks like momentos from trips taken and small gifts from friends - I wish we could all be so lucky to have such a full life...

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  10. I never would have thought your place was full of "stuff".
    You've got a great style and I love reading about your product testings. My nephews have the rock tumbler and I've known a few people over the years, but they've never used it. Now, I know that it works. Awesome rocks!

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  11. Cool! I wanted one of those so badly when I was a kid. Finally got one and we couldn't stand the noise either, so no rocks for us! Glad you got results

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  12. I bought a tumbler at a garage sale a few years ago and put broken glass in it to make a bowl of beach glass. It turned out really pretty.

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  13. Vintage Lilac - Beach glass! That is a great idea! Did you run it through all three steps? I would think the last step would make the glass shiny again...

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  14. My dad buys stuff for projects and then never finishes. And he has passed the gene on to me. I think he bought one of these for my sister. I will have to investigate.

    Where do you get the rocks? Are they just found ones?

    Vintage Lilac - I would love to know more about the glass too.

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  15. hi
    i love your site,and i do appreciate all the ideas.
    i have one question.
    i have alotes of friends and i am a member in a forum that they are not english speakers, they are arabic speakers. would you mind if i copy some of your photos and ideas and translate it to them,but this does not mean that i want to say it is my ideas or project.
    i will be waiting for your answer.
    thanks again.

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