You're welcome, Elvin!

There are lots of good people out there, I'm trying to be one of them.

Gee, I didn't think I'd cause tears.

Crosses are some of the easiest things I make. Once you get used to making them, they're pretty easy to do.

I have four in my pocket right now! I'm on vacation, but haven't found the right person to give any to quiet yet.

I apologize for the money I have cost you. Have you been to forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/page/rocktumblinghobby? That's where I learned almost everything I know. There are people there who are much more knowledgable than I am and are also very helpful. Merry Christmas!

With a vibratory tumbler, you just want the rocks wet, no standing water. I open the barrel two or three times a day and add a few squirts of water if they're drying out. The 220 stage has to be watched the most carefully. There is more rock being removed and the rock dust dries the slurry out. I really like my Lot-O tumbler. I highly recommend getting one. Vibes use way less grit and finish rocks really fast. Most of my rocks spend a lot of time in rotary barrels for the first stage before going to the Lot-O, but the crosses go straight in.

@@MichiganRocks Great tip! Thank you! I'm going to look into that.

I have some on hand here that I just took out of the tumbler. Mary always calls when she’s getting low. I should probably get a few more cut out. Thanks for the purchase!

Thanks for watching!

You're welcome!

I like making these and sharing them. I also sell some, so they're not all given away.

Thanks!

Make sure you mount that Lot-O to a concrete block. I filled my block's holes with concrete too. I hear that the newer ones don't have a deep hole in the bottom. Mine did have a hole that trapped pieces of ceramic. It was a pain to dig them out every time. I filled the hole with epoxy and it has lasted for years. No more digging out stuck ceramics. If you haven't watched my crazy lace agate video, I recommend it for learning to use your Lot-O. If you follow my basic recipe, it's hard to mess it up.

I don't really have that much money into it. Most of my stuff is used, so it's not as expensive as you might think. Plus I sell a few things locally that helps me cover my costs.

@@MichiganRocks Awesome! Good for you~! Shared this w/my nephew, who does an annual fishing contest w/Brad....

I'd like to do that too. If you figure out a good way to make decent beads, let me know.

Yep, the ramp is very important for most saws.

The little ramp works well. I did all my cutting like that before I got this saw.

@@MichiganRocks I found it on Craigslist its been up for sale a while I hope they contact me back the seller lives just outside of Ann Arbor. I am sure they will not have a problem meeting at Zeeb and I-94. That way I can eat at Metzgers german restaurant a win win. You gotta know the place right?

@@ICEPICK7882 Nope, I haven't been there. I lived in Ann Arbor for four years of school, but I ate in the cafeteria, Taco Bell, or somewhere else within walking distance and cheap. The rest of my life I have lived in or near Alpena. When I travel, I prefer to go north.

I'm looking to buy that vibration tumbler. I'm having difficulty finding one. I've also heard there is a dual barrel as well... would you have any information?

I buy all of my tumblers from The Rock Shed. They almost always have the best prices. Everyone seems to be out of tumblers right now because of COVID. I would not suggest getting a double Lot-O. I have a lot of rotary tumblers running rocks in the first stage. Even with many barrels running, I can’t keep one Lot-O barrel fed. You have to have both barrels full, so I would not want more volume to keep fed. rockshed.com

@@MichiganRocks thanks for being helpful

I made this video before I retired. No need to wait, get started now.

Thanks, Lyn!

It's nice if you can avoid the mistakes I made. That's the point of an instructional video I guess.

This will work fine with other kinds of rocks too, but Michigan is a beautiful state to visit. There's a link in the description for The Rock Shed if you decide to buy a vibratory tumbler. They usually have the best prices. I really like my Lot-O.

I just finished up a video about saws and fingers so I don't have to explain that every time and so people don't have to worry. I have a few videos made ahead, so I'm not sure when it will be released.

I look forward to viewing it when it is complete.

Yes. That was supposed to be out today, but something came up and I didn't get it finished. The rocks will be out tomorrow and I'll definitely have a video posted next Friday. Sorry to make you wait. Several people have asked about that one.

@@MichiganRocks very cool. love your videos

CplSki USMC most everything I have, except for my tumblers, was purchased used. I have some money invested, but I bought stuff gradually over several years. The saw in this video was given to me and it cost me about $150 to fix it up. I think I paid about $300 for the saw with the ramp. Not super cheap, but not nearly the price of new saws. The old ones were well built too.

is it possible to make a cross if I only have a dremel?

@@olemorningstar3107 I have a Dremel and a couple of diamond bits, but it would be time consuming and tedious trying to do something like that and I don't think the end product would be what you were looking for. I've worked with agate with just hand tools and it's very difficult.

@@CplSkiUSMC Thanks for the answer

I cut almost all of my slabs 1/4 inch thick. For guitar picks, I cut them much thinner, of course.

I can't take credit for the ramp idea, but it is a good one.

Gee, thanks.

You’re welcome, Spencer. Are you going to make some?

@@MichiganRocks I would love to but can't for a while. My wife Sandi and I began RVing full time in May. I'll be able to do some work when we get back home, but that may be a couple years. For now I'm only able to collect 😁

@@spencerpearson3688 That must be a fun way to live. I think I would like that, at least for awhile. My wife wouldn't enjoy it so much though.

@@MichiganRocks It's definitely different but we're really enjoying it. We've seen some beautiful country in the boundary waters area of MN and the UP and mitten. Currently in Anchorville on the north end of Lake St Clair. Part of the enjoyment is probably due to being retired from work. Speaking of work, are you still teaching?

@@spencerpearson3688 No, I retired last summer. My wife worked her thirtieth year from home last year and then retired this spring. The school just called her and asked her to come back, so she’s in the other room working again. It was nice while she was retired for three weeks this spring.

You're welcome, Nicolas.

I don’t do online sales. Sorry about that.

Hi Paul. I just mentioned your name in Agate Dad’s video because I agreed with your comments on agate polishing. I can’t imagine spending that long polishing one little rock. Thanks a lot for buying some of my crosses. I didn’t even know if they mailed them out or not. I have drilled other things similar to that and glued in a small eye for a pendant. There’s a video I made about a pendant I made for my son where I did that. I also drilled a hole in a Michigan shape for my sister in law to wear as a pendant. I use a Dremel in a drill press with one mm diamond bits. Then I shape my own eye from silver wire and epoxy it in. The crosses you bought would be ones I made in this video. They were completely out when I made this video, and all of these went there, so I know that for sure.

No, but it should work fine.

Screw ups are usually good learning experiences. I think it's better to think of them that way.

It's a GemLap. They're not made anymore though.

If you can't find a lapidary saw, you could always use a tile saw. That will cut rocks with no problem, but from what I've seen, they get you very wet compared to a good lapidary saw. For that reason, they're best used outside during the summer.

@@MichiganRocks thank you very much. I’m gonna try with a tile saw then. Right now I’m just trying to get a shine on my first ever batch of beach rocks ☺️

@@lindaquistgaardchristoffer3527 Good luck!

Of course I do. In fact, I have a short version and a long version. Short: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aLOGh72ilaq1las.html Long: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eq9_ddac1rq2dJc.html

I don't tell them how they're made unless they ask.

Nichole Sasser ha ha! I guess I should have tried that shirt on before buying it. Having the C and the R in my armpits isn’t ideal, but when I pretend to be an airplane it looks great. Oh well, no one ever accused me of having fashion sense anyway. I don’t have any geology training at all. I don’t remember even learning about geology in a junior high or high school science class. Therefore, I’m not very good at the subject at all. I have a couple books on Michigan rocks that I refer to, but that’s about it.

@@MichiganRocks Hahaha that's too funny! you can pull it off as a Michigan thing if you keep your arms down and write sorry right underneath it. I recently had an out of state friend tell me everyone she'd met so far out here says it constantly, now that I'm aware of it I counted myself in one day and realized that we do. Well for having no formal education you deserve even more kudos. You could pass as a geology teacher I'm an amateur and you've taught me alot of things those must be some good books! I'd love to give them a read. Do you know of any areas around me that are good spots to hunt? you seem to know a lot of awesome places but unfortunately its all really far from here. It'd be a 3 or 4 day trip for me to get in good time. Any tips would be great!

I have some other videos of cutting shapes on the saw if you're interested.

Not as much as you might think. Right around the saws, I have to wipe it up, but it doesn’t affect areas much farther than that.

I sell some at a local gift shop. The link to the shop is in the description.

Not my idea, but essential for cutting shapes like these.

Contact Olivet Book and Gift in Alpena. They'll send you one. olivetbookandgift.com

Vicki Zeller I guess you’ll just have to make some yourself. Making them is half the fun!

@@MichiganRocks If only that were possible. I so enjoy your videos!

Jim K I tumble anything that looks cool. I tumble puddingstones, Petoskey stones, quartz, jaspelite, banded rhyolite, and probably a bunch of others that I’m not thinking of right now. But the two you mentioned are definitely two of my favorites.

¡Gracias!

I just used the included double sided tape and have never had any problems. It's been stuck to the block for about ten years now. You're going to love that machine. I have a second one ordered for myself.

I hope that happens with a few of them.

None of the saws I used are being manufactured any more. The slab saw, which I didn’t show, is a Lortone ST-10. Lortone still makes saws, just not a ten inch version. The trim saw that I used is a Gemlap saw. The saw with the ramp is a Frantom. Neither of those companies are in business. Those are very old saws. The tumbler is a Lot-O. I got mine from The Rock Shed.

A lot of people use a tile saw to cut slabs. It might be a little difficult to get your cuts parallel, but with some practice, I think you could do it. You can see my saw in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jtOja5div9WchqM.html

I haven't tried doing shorter runs in a rotary, but I'd be afraid that they wouldn't get a good shine. I think the best plan is to run them in a vibratory tumbler. If you want to see the difference, look at this video. I shows crosses made of the same material run in a rotary and a vibe. You might not mind how they look when done in a rotary. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a7xjZtuGudHRgoE.html

It's a GemLap, it's pretty loud, and it's no longer made, so you'll have to find a used one. It was made in Ferndale, Michigan.

@@MichiganRocks Thank you.

I use plain water in that saw. I used to put in an additive made just for rock saws, but it was kind of expensive. It's supposed to make your blade last a little longer. I don't know if it saves enough blade to pay for itself though. In my slab saw in the garage I use mineral oil.

Thanks for the prompt response - Interesting - I purchased the exact same saw that you're using from GemLap Equipment - Ferndale, Michigan a quite number of years ago. Liked their 90 degree cut shoulder design. It will be the saw I'll be using for this application. Not sure what I'll use as lubricant as I noticed that plain water makes the outline easier to see. Thanks again!

@@kiotipass That saw is really great. I just bought another one a couple months ago as a back up saw in case something happens to this one.

Making it Matters I can’t take credit for the ramp idea. I agree that it’s a great solution to the problem though.

Michael Strong I’m not sure if they do online sales, but there’s a link to the store in the description of this video.

My saw is a lapidary saw, not a tile saw. It’s a Gemlap, which is a very old brand that is not made anymore. I have never used a tile saw, but it should do this job fine. The biggest problem with tile saws is that they tend to soak the user from what I’ve seen. I have several saws and some spray a fine mist. Wearing a vinyl apron takes care of that, it’s not much water. I use that saw inside with no problem except a quick wipe of the floor when I’m done. The saw in this video doesn’t get me wet at all, but the counter on either side gets a very small amount of mist on it.

Thanks so much for your reply! Appreciate the info!

I haven’t looked yet. I bought a cheap UV light, but I forgot to bring it with me last summer.

I live in Hessel and have looked around but no luck

@@codyb.7690 Oops, I just reread your question. I haven't looked in the lower peninsula either. That's also on my list of things to try. Someone told me that Petoskey stone fluoresce under UV light, but they didn't with my cheap light. I want to buy a better light to take to the U.P., so I'll try that on the Petoskeys too. My family used to trailer our boat to Hessel every summer for the antique boat show. I love that place!

Michigan Rocks my daughter and I have been out a few times looking for Yooperlites, but only on Lake Superior. Yes, Petoskey stones and fossils will glow under a black light.😁 They’re more of a white, blue, or orange solid color, compared to the Yooperlites’ random, brighter color. Fun to find! Love your videos. Always love to ‘tag along’ with you, exploring.😊Thank you for the time and effort you put into your trips and videos! God Bless!🤗

@@littledabwilldoya9717 I'm getting more eager to get out and check out the Lake Huron beaches with a black light. I'll definitely bring my light to Lake Superior this summer too.

The Rock Shed sells them, but they've been out of them for awhile now.

The rocks I'm cutting aren't quite as hard as an agate, but I can cut a cross out in a minute or two. I just make these as pocket crosses, but you could drill a hole in the top and put in a little eye pretty easily. I do it all the time for other things I make. I drill a 1 mm hole and use scrap silver wire to make a little eye. Put a jump ring on the eye to pass a chain through. I'd drill before tumbling. Check out this video to see how I drill and make eyes. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jKqfja9lss-0l4U.html

@@MichiganRocks Thanks so much!

You have asked this same question on about three different videos. I answered it on one of the other ones. Asking once should do the trick. I don't miss many comments.

@@MichiganRocks sorry 😐

Baby oil is mineral oil with scent added. I use mineral oil in my slab saw, but I use water in my trim saw. Add water or mineral oil until the bottom of the blade is covered about 1/4 inch. As long as the blade is flinging water or oil around, it should be enough.

I have mine filled in. I don't know if that was in the directions that came with the Lot-O or if I read it somewhere else. I have no idea if it makes a difference because I have never done it any other way. If you decide to do it, it's easy. I just put it on an old piece of plywood, filled it with Quikrete and used another board to scape across the top to level it. I think you're going to love that machine.

I rinse them into a bucket after each stage. I also run them with a little extra water and some dish soap or borax between each stage for a half hour or so just to make sure there's no grit left before moving them to the next stage.

These have been really popular. I think I mentioned in the video that one of the things I do with them is sell them in a local gift shop. Since I've shown them in a few videos, they've been selling even better. I don't make much off them, but I like making them, so it's ok. I use two saws and a Lot-O tumbler to make these. The slab saw is a Lortone ST-10, similar to an LS-10. I bought it used for $400. I would highly suggest buying a used saw. My saw is probably from the 70's when lapidary stuff was really popular. There were a lot of good saws made back then that still work well today. I'd keep your eyes on eBay and Craig's list and also just ask around for someone who might have one. You'd be surprised at how many people have an interest in rocks and might have old equipment laying around. The other saw I use is a GemLap trim saw. Trim saws are a little cheaper. I have three of them now and my favorite is one that was given to me. A furniture store owner was delivering something and heard my slab saw running in the garage. He asked if I wanted his old saw that he no longer used. It cost me about $150 to get it in running condition, which still made it a great deal. I'd just buy a Lot-O tumbler new. They're a little over $200 at The Rock Shed, which is usually the cheapest place to buy. rockshed.com If you want the cheapest way to do this, it would probably be to buy a tile saw with a fairly big blade and use that for all your cutting. I have never used one, but I hear that they get you very wet while using them. Since you live in Wisconsin, that makes it a seasonal saw. You would have to push the rocks through by hand to slab them, which is time consuming and not a whole lot of fun. It's also a little challenging to cut nice parallel cuts to get slabs that are the same thickness all the way across. I cut most of my Petoskey Stones by hand on a trim saw and having a fence helps a lot. My saw just has a very small fence like on a table saw. Another option would be to buy your slabs and then just cut them into crosses on a trim saw or a tile saw. That would be more expensive in the long run, but cheaper in the beginning. I don't use expensive rocks for my crosses, I just use local rocks that I cut myself. If you could find a good source for slabs, it might be affordable. There is a heart doctor who used to post on the Rock Tumbling Hobby forums who only made hearts. He bought slabs and I think he cut them on a tile saw and then tumbled them. He gave them to his patients. I'm sure he could have afforded the equipment, but that's how he preferred to do it. Good luck with your project.

Thank you!

Taking some measurements and doing a little math will help. If you aren't great at math, I guess you could always do it by trial and error. What you want is the top of the ramp to line up with the center of the blade. I hope that helps.

Honestly, I have way more experience with my Lot-O than with the later stages in a rotary tumbler. My experience with finishing rocks in a rotary tumbler is almost all in three pound barrels. I usually just go with the same number of tablespoons as the barrel is rated for. So in a six pound tumbler, I'd just use 6 tablespoons. That's just my best guess, but it's someplace to start.

I don't use it in my rotary tumbler, although I've been talking to someone recently who uses it in all stages. She seems to know what she's talking about, so I'm going to start trying it. I also don't use it in the first stage in my vibratory tumbler because it makes the slurry a little too thick.

A rotary tumbler is good for shaping and rounding rocks. That's nice for just tumbled stones, but not good for shapes that you would like to stay that shape. That's what vibratory tumblers are really good at. They shine things up while retaining their original shape. So you would want to use a vibratory tumbler for any shaped rock or cabochon, not just crosses.

Tumblers made for tumbling things like brass for reloading are not made for the weight of rocks. The hoppers are also not designed for abrasive grits like silicon carbide used in tumbling rocks. I haven't heard much about Harbor Freights vibratory tumblers, but their rotary tumblers do not get good reviews. I've read of some people who keep them running for a couple of years, but there are also a lot of people who report them breaking after just a batch or two of rocks. I wouldn't buy a Harbor Freight tumbler at any price. I'd suggest that you start saving up for a Lot-O or other quality machine. I really like the Lot-O, personally, but that's all I've ever used. Even if it takes a long time to save up enough money, I think you'll be happier in the long run.

The jig is just a ramp that has a slot in it for the blade. You would have to make a different ramp for every saw. The only thing you have to do is make the top of the ramp point toward the center of the blade. It's like the radius of the circle.

That I know of. I'm sure there must be something, but I just don't know what it is. I'm not sure if I showed the ramp I made for my other saw in this video, but that's an option. I'm pretty sure that I showed it in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jKqfja9lss-0l4U.html

For making crosses?

@@MichiganRocks not specifically, I mean't in general. Your entire art/craft/skill set.

@@twasbrillig33 gee, thanks!

It's a ten inch GemLap saw. They aren't made anymore though.

@@MichiganRocks Thank you!

Yes, you could, but it takes a long time to drill. When I have made pendants out of things like this in the past, I have drilled a hole straight down from the top and glued in a small eye. Then I put a jump ring through the eye. If you look at the video of the pendant I made for my son, that's what I did.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that could happen. I made that comment because in other videos I have people commenting about how worried they were that I was going to cut myself.