Washing Pebbles: A Slow but Rewarding Task

[wolram]

I have been stuck for some thing to do so i opted to wash the pebbles that cover my drive,
it is a slow job, i can only do a bucket full at one time, but it is a rewarding task each pebble looks different and has its own characteristics, when washed it seems a shame to re lay them or even walk on them, i was thinking would it be best to arrange them in rows or just scatter them in a random fashion?

 

[Moonbear]

WOW! You're REALLY bored!

 

[Chi Meson]

Do you do your gardening with tweezers?

 

[wolram]

WOW! You're REALLY bored!

Well no, it is a job that needed doing, and when one thinks that each pebble took millions of years to form they should be treated with some respect, i have been ruthless and put the chipped ones aside, may be i will have a special wounded pebble area.

 

[Evo]

Well no, it is a job that needed doing, and when one thinks that each pebble took millions of years to form they should be treated with some respect, i have been ruthless and put the chipped ones aside, may be i will have a special wounded pebble area.

ooh, I have really cool pebbles in a hedge bed in front of my place. I was looking for some to place in potted plants to cover the holes in the bottom and became fascinated by how beautiful some were. The ones that where cracked open were the best, some had charcoal gray outside, but creamy white with colored striations inside. I showed them to the Evo Child and she gave me a look like I was crazy.

Wolram, when we get old, we can compare pebbles and fossils.

 

[tribdog]

the other day I was shampooing my shag carpet one strand at a time...

 

[JasonRox]

Do you do your gardening with tweezers?

That made me laugh!

I did something similar once. I sat at my table once and separated the colored rocks I had because they got all mixed up. They are very small rocks. Took only like 45 minutes though.

 

[lisab]

I have been stuck for some thing to do so i opted to wash the pebbles that cover my drive,
it is a slow job, i can only do a bucket full at one time, but it is a rewarding task each pebble looks different and has its own characteristics, when washed it seems a shame to re lay them or even walk on them, i was thinking would it be best to arrange them in rows or just scatter them in a random fashion?

You should arrange them in rows since, apparently, you have some time on your hands. Just don't get carried away, like these guys...

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/467/monksrt2.jpg

If you don't like how it comes out, go crazy with a rake!

 

[wolram]

Wolram, when we get old, we can compare pebbles and fossils.

I have some that sparkle in the light may be i should do as Lisab suggests and make some pattern with my pebbles, trouble is i am not much of an artist.

 

[Focus]

I have been stuck for some thing to do so i opted to wash the pebbles that cover my drive,

Wait, aren't you in England? Does it not rain every two days? Why would you want to wash pebbles when the rain will do it for you?

PS. You really must be bored.

 

[BobG]

It's a little known fact, but hypatia collects rocks and imprisons them in her closet, sort of like how Ursula collected people's souls in polyps in the The Little Mermaid.

Except hypatia promises that someday she'll free her imprisoned rocks on unsuspecting pedestrians.

I've always tried my best to never offend hypatia.

 

[wolram]

Wait, aren't you in England? Does it not rain every two days? Why would you want to wash pebbles when the rain will do it for you?

PS. You really must be bored.

It is raining now but rain does not clean the deep grime from the pebbles, i am using a mix of bleach and washing up liquid and a nailbrush.

 

[JasonRox]

It is raining now but rain does not clean the deep grime from the pebbles, i am using a mix of bleach and washing up liquid and a nailbrush.

You're damaging the environment to clean rocks... oh god. Sorry, but that's just dumb.

I thought you were scrubbing them and cleaning them with water.

 

[wolram]

You're damaging the environment to clean rocks... oh god. Sorry, but that's just dumb.

I thought you were scrubbing them and cleaning them with water.

Well i have only used a cup full of bleach to a bucket full of water and a squeeze of washing liquid, heck i use more than that to clean the loo every week.

 

[turbo]

I have some that sparkle in the light may be i should do as Lisab suggests and make some pattern with my pebbles, trouble is i am not much of an artist.

Some of my rocks sparkle, too, Woolie.

I have sold dozens to high-end jewelry stores and have given away many more. The top row contains a synthetic color-change material in a trillion cut (since it's synthetic I was never tempted to sell it or give it away, and could keep it as a demo for the stores), a large topaz, a CZ in a cosmos cut (also a synthetic to use for a store demo) and rutilated quartz. The quartz is clear, but I oriented the rutile fibers so that the reflections would produce that color. Second row is African spinel, Tanzanite, toumaline and rhodolite garnet. The third row is all sapphires - the first one (oval) has a subtle but nice color-change when going from artificial to natural light. These are left-overs, really. The jewelry stores snapped up all the native Maine stones as soon as I displayed them, and a lot of the rare African materials too, and Yogo Gulch Sapphires. All my female cousins, and the wives of my male cousins, and their daughters, and my aunts, sisters, and nieces each have at least one of my stones. Between digging and/or buying faceting rough, buying faceting supplies, and gold findings and tools, I really haven't made any money at this hobby. Made some ladies happy, though.

 

[wolram]

Wow, awesome Turbo, some of those cuts are amazing.

 

[Defennder]

Wow, awesome Turbo, some of those cuts are amazing.

I'm pretty sure he was joking.

 

[Focus]

Well i have only used a cup full of bleach to a bucket full of water and a squeeze of washing liquid, heck i use more than that to clean the loo every week.

Someone who cleans the loo every week. Wow! I wonder what a loo would look like when cleaned everyweek.

You could try selling the pebbles on e-bay

 

[BobG]

Someone who cleans the loo every week. Wow! I wonder what a loo would look like when cleaned everyweek.

You could try selling the pebbles on e-bay

Ewww! I'm never washing my cat in your toilet.

 

[turbo]

I'm pretty sure he was joking.

Nope. I have faceted many, many stones, and have probably 6-8 hours of cutting and polishing in even the smaller ones. My faceting machine was made by Imperial Gem Instruments, and it's a really precise machine. Next-to-last faceting machine here:

http://www.gemcutter.com/download/machines.pdf

 

[Focus]

Ewww! I'm never washing my cat in your toilet.

You are more than welcome to clean my toilet then wash your cat in it...

 

[wolram]

Someone who cleans the loo every week. Wow! I wonder what a loo would look like when cleaned everyweek.

Mine looks green and sparkly with a polished wood seat.

 

[Saladsamurai]

What the crap is a loo?!

 

[out of whack]

What the crap is a loo?!

Something to use in loo of a toilet.

 

[BobG]

What the crap is a loo?!

Something to use in loo of a toilet.

Ewww! I'm not going to wash my cat in your bidet, either.

 

[turbo]

Ewww! I'm not going to wash my cat in your bidet, either.

That's not how you wash a cat! You tie it up on a short leash and use a garden hose. Sheesh! Some people just don't know how to care for pets.

 

[tribdog]

I just lure mine into the dishwasher with a can of tuna.

 

[Focus]

I just lure mine into the dishwasher with a can of tuna.

I recommend a washing machine. Dish washer doesn't get under the fur too much. Plus you can wash your kitty on 70 degrees (centigrade for those who think in fahrenheit).

 

[wolram]

What the crap is a loo?!

It is a willy whacker if you have the wrong seat fitted.

 

[NeoDevin]

How To Wash A Cat

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.

2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and have both lids lifted.

3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape). CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase they can find.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power wash and rinse" which I have found to be quite effective.

6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

 

[turbo]

How To Wash A Cat

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.

2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and have both lids lifted.

3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape). CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase they can find.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power wash and rinse" which I have found to be quite effective.

6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

Why do you clean the toilet first? Surely the shampoo and the scrub-brush (the cat) will accomplish that in 3-4 flushes. Think outside the box - work smarter, not harder.

 

[NeoDevin]

Why do you clean the toilet first? Surely the shampoo and the scrub-brush (the cat) will accomplish that in 3-4 flushes. Think outside the box - work smarter, not harder.

You would then need a way to add shampoo between flushes. I suppose you could squirt more under the edge of the seat, but that just gives the cat one more opportunity to tear your eyes out.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Wolly, you should get a rock tumbler to polish your pebbles.

 

[Evo]

Wolly, you should get a rock tumbler to polish your pebbles.

They'll be pretty but so smooth, he'll fall down, especially when they get wet.

Have you ever tried to walk through pebbles in high heels? I don't recommend it.

 

[Moonbear]

Have you ever tried to walk through pebbles in high heels? I don't recommend it.

I'm not sure Woolie has the legs for high heels.

 

[Evo]

I'm not sure Woolie has the legs for high heels.

Good point!

Wolram, we need pictures of your legs!

 

[Focus]

Good point!

Wolram, we need pictures of your legs!

I don't like where this is going...

 

[rootX]

I don't like where this is going...

I never imagined that

 

[wolram]

Good point!

Wolram, we need pictures of your legs!

Actually they are quite good legs, i have walked a few miles of late and they are tuned up, a few minutes in photo shop just to shade in a few areas and------, no, i could not do it to you
you would be thinking about them all day.

 

[tribdog]

Actually they are quite good legs, i have walked a few miles of late and they are tuned up, a few minutes in photo shop just to shade in a few areas and------, no, i could not do it to you
you would be thinking about them all day.

yeah, wouldn't be able to get the vision out of my head. Sort of like that video of the Hindenberg.

 

[Evo]

Oooh, Wolram, my new office has some really interesting rocks in several "rock gardens". I'm thinking I should emancipate some of the better ones, they are not being fully appreciated where they are now.

 

[wolram]

Oooh, Wolram, my new office has some really interesting rocks in several "rock gardens". I'm thinking I should emancipate some of the better ones, they are not being fully appreciated where they are now.

I think (rocks) should be given respect, they were on this Earth way before we were, and if you look closely every one is individual, and far better looking at than some crappy modern art.

 

[tribdog]

I think (rocks) should be given respect, they were on this Earth way before we were, and if you look closely every one is individual, and far better looking at than some crappy modern art.

A rock is better looking than art? Are you smoking rock? Yeah, some rocks are cool I'll give you that, but MOST rocks are extremely dull, uniform and boring. And as far as every one being individual that's just crazy talk. Unless you mean "Hey, check this out. This dull gray oval hunk of hardness has a dull darker gray spot right here, BUT this dull gray oval hunk of hardness has a dull darker gray spot over HERE."

 

[tribdog]

Working at a gold mine, and being a surveyor has given me the chance to work with several geologists. WITHOUT A DOUBT, the geologist is ALWAYS the weirdest guy on the job. If you want to feel uncomfortable and creeped out, call a geologist. If you want someone you wouldn't leave your pet with, call a geologist. If you seem to have run out of goofy hats and want to borrow one, call a geologist. if you want to see someone break a rock with a little hammer, THEN taste the chip, call a geologist.
Edit: Some of you think this is unfair to geologists, but those of you who have worked with one are laughing because it is true. Geologists are always the weirdo of the job site.

 

[BobG]

A rock is better looking than art? Are you smoking rock? Yeah, some rocks are cool I'll give you that, but MOST rocks are extremely dull, uniform and boring. And as far as every one being individual that's just crazy talk. Unless you mean "Hey, check this out. This dull gray oval hunk of hardness has a dull darker gray spot right here, BUT this dull gray oval hunk of hardness has a dull darker gray spot over HERE."

I think one of the coolest things to ever happen to me was when my sister-in-law Fed-Exed a box of rocks to me. She even had them labeled in little plastic bags.

I was kind of surprised I liked it so much. I had told her not to do it (the part about Fed-Exing the lab reports back to her bothered me on an ethical level). In the end, I probably shouldn't have opened the box. It made the whole enterprise kind of irresistible - especially the labs on water tables.

 

[tribdog]

The thing is, I'm one of those guys who is always picking up rocks and looking at them, or breaking dull looking ones to see inside. I do it all the time, I think some rocks are very cool. I'm just trying to be realistic, most rocks are dull.

 

[wolram]

The thing is, I'm one of those guys who is always picking up rocks and looking at them, or breaking dull looking ones to see inside. I do it all the time, I think some rocks are very cool. I'm just trying to be realistic, most rocks are dull.

True but most people are dull, but crack a PFer and you will find some thing interesting inside.

 

[BobG]

Working at a gold mine, and being a surveyor has given me the chance to work with several geologists. WITHOUT A DOUBT, the geologist is ALWAYS the weirdest guy on the job. If you want to feel uncomfortable and creeped out, call a geologist. If you want someone you wouldn't leave your pet with, call a geologist. If you seem to have run out of goofy hats and want to borrow one, call a geologist. if you want to see someone break a rock with a little hammer, THEN taste the chip, call a geologist.
Edit: Some of you think this is unfair to geologists, but those of you who have worked with one are laughing because it is true. Geologists are always the weirdo of the job site.

My brother-in-law is a geologist and he's very good with dogs.

I have to admit, the rest is mostly true.

 

[turbo]

As a gem-cutter and rock-hound (though not a geologist) I can attest that there are some "interesting" people in the field. Most of the ones I know are pretty quirky when it comes to predicting where gem-quality materials may be near enough to the surface to get to without a lot of blasting and hard-rock mining. Some of them manage to scrape out a meager living selling hand-samples, etc - I know precious few who actually have found enough morganite, amethyst, tourmaline, etc to finance another year's exploration, though. To be fair, most are exploring worked-out feldspar mines in western Maine (critical for the porcelain industry a century and more ago) looking for signs of pegmatite dikes that may contain Clevelandite - almost a sure bet that beryls and tourmalines are present.

 

[tribdog]

Did you hear about that guy that went to Alaska to look for diamonds? found them too. Maybe more than are in South Africa. I just saw a show on PBS about it. Can't remember his name though.