u/Bastilleinstructor

I checked online for a new boot gasket, and they are out.

Ive patched mine with flex tape, but Id like to get a new gasket to have on hand since I have 3 of these tumblers and the gasket is wearing thin on another barrel.

Also, can I use flex tape on the metal part that seems to be rubbing through the gaskets? Or would that cause too much friction?

Thanks!

So growing up my family had a habit of naming cars and such. As it is I have named my sewing machines over the years, my cars (current one is The Serenity) and to make it easier to keep the notes straight on my tumblers, I have decided not to just number the barrels, but to give the whole machine a name.

Weird? Yes. Helpful in keeping up with my machines? Absolutely.

So Ive named my Rebel 17 "Old Jack".

I need names for my TV-10 (Im thinking Fallout themed since RayTech sounds like a Fallout company), and my three HF tumblers. Id thought about Thing 1 and Thing 2, but I have three, so, maybe after the three musketeers? Or maybe Alvin, Simon and Theodore?

I guess I could also go full on Nerd and do Borg names like 1 of three, but our WiFi is named for StarTrek to keep it interesting for the neighbors....

I keep a notebook/log of my tumblers to help me keep them straight when I load them each week. It also helps me see patterns in the process that need to stay, or sometimes not. A named tumbler would make it fun, and easy to differentiate at a glance which one is which.

Have you named or otherwise labeled your tumblers in an unique way?

PS, I promise Im not entirely crazy.

My husband ordered a Rebel17 for me for our anniversary. I have three HF tumblers and a TV-10 from Raytech.

Im wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions for a tumbler this big.

How much grit do I use for stage 1? What is the largest rock, ideally, I can tumble? What's the largest size I can transfer to my TV-10?

What else should I know before I get started?

I bought my husband a metal detector for our anniversary, and it will be here in a few days!

He and I were talking about places to go and how to go about it. State parks in SC require permission and permit, plus any found jewelry or historic relics must be turned in. Battlefields are a no go, and some state parks, like Croft, are a no go due to possible unexploded ordinance. (Yes its a thing)

Anyway, we were discussing some places (my dads house, gravel parking lots at sports fields) and he isnt sure where to start.

We are in the upstate area and would be mostly in that area. I will be rockhounding while he is detecting, most likely. I am also a local historian and I have a ton of old maps that might be helpful in finding places to ask permission to detect.

I would love some tips to help him get started, bonus if I can rockhound around the area too.

Thanks!

My husband decided he wants to get into metal detecting as a hobby. He asked if I'd get him a metal detector for our anniversary. (17 years is the metal detector year right?)

Id like some good suggestions for something entry level. I guess the budget is about $300.00 or so.

I got into metal detecting with a friend 30 years ago, but I only went with him, I never bought one of my own.

I would love some suggestions. We are in the US.

I bought a Speed Queen set back in January (its now July) and it doesnt have a "tub clean" setting.

I noticed last night there is a greasy ring around the agitator and at the top of the tub.

My husband is a greasy guy. I have to clean his shower more frequently than mine because he is very oily. I have also washed a bunch of my dads clothes recently to get the "old man" stink out of them. His clothes were absolutely gross. The assisted living place wasnt doing a good job at all.

I use Tide Clean and Gentle when I can find it, and Ariel when I cant. (The measure for a medium load unless its really nasty) I have some Sport 365 for very sweaty stuff too.

I also add Biz or Dirty Labs (measured for a medium load, sheets get large load measure of Dirty Labs) enzyme mix to every wash. I use Borax sometimes and I add Oxy Clean for whites.

I use the deep fill option and hot on every wash except delicates, which get warm and the perma-press settings. I use the bulky sheet or heavy duty over the "normal eco" option to maximize the water.

I used a Tide washer cleaner this morning and it got some of the ick off. I may do another this afternoon when I get home.

How do I get the ick off, and how do I keep it from building up again?

**Update: After posting this I opened the mail and there was a letter from the facility stating the rent was going up $250 dollars in August. Several of the newer residents pay significantly more than what dad pays, so we think that's this is a money thing as well as the admin doesnt like him because he seems to know everything going on before they do. ***

Im beyond furious. My dad (78) has been in assisted living for about two years after a long hospital stay post home fall.

The first place rated him at max assist, but he went into the hospital with an open wound after 2 weeks and they refused to take him back. This was after they took the community fee (2k) and two months of "rent" for a room he only occupied for 2 weeks. They had a massive change in management and staff turnover, so we chalked it up to that.

Second assisted living place he has been in for going on 2 years. He gets along super well with the CNAs, and they adore him. The sales guy lied and assured us there were "only a few" dementia patients, when it turned out there were only a few without dementia. Lots of lies were told and although we were pissed, dad loved the girls who took care of him and had me make Christmas gifts for them this year. They have called to check on him since he has been in a rehabilitation place, and have even visited. Except the "new" management. The old admin would call when something was an issue, but generally speaking, we rarely heard from him. They replaced him with a family member of one of the other facilities and we never heard from them, so it came as a shock when A called us Friday morning to tell us they will not take dad back because he needed "too much care". They went on to say they were upset he never left his room (he was scared of some of the dementia patients) and that he took 4 people to get into a wheelchair (also not true). We demanded an in-person evaluation which happened today. They came in and told him they wanted him to spend time with the other residents, to which dad said "why, I cant carry on a conversation with them. " and they watched him move about with little to no assistance.

They left without speaking to family who was standing there to talk to them then texted later to say it wasnt safe for him to return. The therapy team at the rehab place said he was doing better now than what had been documented as his baseline upon his first going to that ALF, and they couldnt understand what was up.

The social worker stated they made some noise about dads weight (300lbs), but its actually down 25+lbs since he was at the ALF.

The rehab folks are working to help us find a good ALF for him.

Oh and the text we got late this afternoon said we must have all of his belongings cleared out by the end of the month, tomorrow, or we have to pay additional fees.

We found out from some family friends who placed their loved one in the same facility that they are charging over a thousand more a month for the same room now than dad is paying. We think that's part of the reason for getting him gone, they can charge another 1k or so a month over what he was paying.

Dad is devastated. He loved it there and had decided that was where he wanted to be when he died.

So we are scrambling to find a place, scratch up another 2k+ for a community fee, and get his stuff moved before the end of business tomorrow.

Oh, and this was my vacation week with my husband. He took time off to spend with me and we had plans. Older sister is trying to find a sitter for her husband with dementia. Younger sister isnt going to do anything because she said she has a family and job so she cant do for dad.(like the rest of us dont?) The bulk of this falls on me and my husband.

So they are coming to assess dad tomorrow to see what level of care he needs and where he can afford to go. Everything is way more than he was paying. Way way more.

I need prayers and positive vibes here. We are struggling with all of this. Ive been dealing with stuff for dad all summer (I teach) so I havent had a chance to relax at all, my health has taken a hit too.

I just need this transition to go smoothly for dad.

I have a new TV 10 and I just started my second batch of rocks. The top of the bowl washer (the rubber coated one) is separating.

I went online to find another one, and lo, its back ordered. (The $10 shipping on a $5 part is super ridiculous, but I digress)

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Any ideas as to what I can do in the meantime? I havent found another one online.

Im 4 or 5 months into the hobby, offically, so forgive me if I honestly dont know.

First is a course grit question: I have been using 60/90 for stage 1. Some of the blue calcedony I got has this matrix on it that isnt tumbling off easily. I wondered if I should use a more course grit for things I know will take longer to grind down.

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Second question is about the polishing stage: I have 8000 grit and the agates I did before the TV-10 did well,the quartz, eh,not so much. I am wondering if i need the 22,000 grit,or if 8000 is plenty.

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Any tips and advice are appreciated

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I have only had my insulin levels checked once, back when we were TTC. The HOMA-IR number showed insulin resistance. But once we stopped TTC, the doctors wouldnt entertain measuring insulin levels or anything to measure insulin resistance.

There are other ratios in bloodwork that DO measure it. The triglyceride/HDL ratio still puts me way into the insulin resistance category despite being on a GLP1.

Since being on a GLP1, my BGLs are what they were in my 20's (around 70) and my total cholesterol is great. My triglycerides are still high. I still have skin tags, and a slight skin darkening around my neck, and now under my arms. This is newish.

I had hoped being on Zepbound would help this, but it hasnt.

I al also in perimenopause and taking progesterone. My periods are regular, albiet heavy, since starting progesterone.

My OBGYN wont perscribe estrogen because I have had migraines with aura in the past. He, like most doctors, believes the PCOS will magically dissappear when I hit menopause.

Id like to get the insulin resistance under control. I cant take metformin due to the severe GI issues it causes. I am on 10.5mg of Zepbound, and am losing weight slowly. The side-effects have been rough for me, so I am not eager to dose up yet.

My PCP said drop carbs, which i have significantly, however, if I go to low I get fatigued and mean as hell. Its always been the case with low carb diets and me.

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Any suggestions on how to get the insulin resistance under control?

For the last 15 or so years, Ive had unexplained abdominal pain. Ive had CT scans, x rays, ultrasound, colonoscopies, an endoscopy, bloodwork, stool tests, the whole 9 yards.

They said its "just IBS". Then I had my gallbladder out in 2018.

Ive been to the ER several times since then with "gallbladder like pain" and had all the tests again.

Im kinda grasping at straws here because no one ever figures anything out. Its just blamed on IBS.

Before my gallbladder came out I couldnt eat beef, unless I ground it very lean, AND even then I had upper left quadrant pain. After my gallbladder came out, I could have beef sometimes, but lately Ive noticed on the rare occasions I do eat beef, I have upper right quadrant pain. It varies in intensity.

Over the last year I have been on Zepbound to lose weight, and drinking lots of protein shakes. We rarely eat beef anymore due to the cost, but when we do the pain returns. Sometimes I have the pain when I havent had beef.

The latest ER visit they assumed kidney stone, there wasnt one. The doctor was stumped. I asked about endometriosis since I was on my period, and he told me to see OBGYN. My OBGYN hasnt thought the pain is endo because it's inconsistent.

Stress and my period make it worse. Beef and sometimes a protein shake sets it off. Some shakes are fine, others also trigger GI issues which range from constipation (probably Zepbound) to diarrhea.

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I have reduced the intake of protein shakes and had some relief. Today I had eggs, chicken, bread and beans. No issues. The other day I made hamburgers, I had pain.

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I also have an autoimmune disorder that causes joint pain. Since Ive been on Zepbound the pain has been significant. The rheumatologist is stumped. My inflammation markers are normal and my bloodwork looks great. I occasionally have a low grade fever and a slight rash on my shoulders. I am itchy at night.

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My MiL was going on about a conspiracy surrounding the ticks, and I got curious as to the symptoms beyond the most severe, and wondered if just abdominal pain might be connected to alpha gal, and I saw the varied symptom profile.

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I live in the southeast and have been around ticks (and picked ticks off more than I can count) my whole life.

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Anyway, Im curious as to how to go about talking the doctor into testing. I am going to avoid beef 100% for a while and see if that helps. Im out of my favorite protein shake, so thats another eliminated thing.

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Am I way off base to suspect this when everything else has been ruled out?

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Thanks!

I have used borax for cleaning my stones in a separate, short "cleaning" run, but never with the grit.

Ive seen some recent videos online where the person adds borax with the grit.

What are the pros and cons of this?

Thanks!

Ive never been to a place to dig for crystals before.

I hope to find some great crystals. I wont be able to stay a very long time because I cant be in the sun (even with sun block) for extended periods due to fair skin and meds that make me sensitive. So I am going early.

Anyway, I plan on having fun.

Wish me loads of crystal finding luck!!

The instructions state I should have a separate bowl for final polishing.

Do I really need a separate bowl for polish? If so where is the cheapest to get it?

Thanks!

I ordered some random rocks and some blue calcedony from different vendors. They were not crushed for tumbling, so I needed to break them up for my 3lb barrels.

I tried a hammer and chisel on concrete pavers. Broke the paver stone and still had a pretty big chunk of calcedony and only a few smaller bits.

Tried the toss it up let it fall to the concrete on my driveway. No dice. It just didnt break.

Tonight I put some into a canvas bag and beat the heck out of it with a hammer. Broke another paver, scared my sidewalk (which isnt a huge deal) and destroyed the canvas bag.

There HAS to be a better way.

I am considering a tile saw from Harbor freight, but Im not sure about it. I have experience with all kinds of saws from band saws to K12 saws to about everything in-between. Im very early into this hobby, and Im less than 6 months in and 3 rotary tumblers deep with a vibratory tumbler on the way.

Yall. Id like to not spend a crap ton more money right now.

What is the best way to crush your rocks? Do I need a saw? An anvil?

(Yes I am using proper safety equipment. Also any recommendations on a respirator?)

My SW was 316. I had gotten as heavy as 326 the year prior.

Almost 20 years ago, I had been about a size 16-18, I was around 200-220 lbs and very active as a firefighter. When I got married, I got a separate gold wedding band to wear at work because I had fallen off a fire truck and ripped off my engagement ring prior to my wedding.

So I got a plain gold band to wear. At that juncture, I weighed around 215ish and was a size 16.

Last night I noticed my fake wedding ring was too loose. (My original set had to be cut off when I gained weight and could no longer remove it, we never got it fixed). So I went to the "box of jewelry never worn" in the closet.

Holy s**t. Yall.

A ring I bought in high-school slipped on my finger, easy-peasy.

My grandmothers ring I was left when momma died, slipped on my hand. (That ring is super special because it has her engagement stone and my great grandmother's diamonds plus some rubies. My grandmother designed the ring in the 70's)

And that gold band, well Im wearing it now.

What's crazy is Im a size 20-ish. Im still 50lbs from that weight where I got married. But the swelling in my hands and feet are gone, mostly. I am pretty puffy and stiff in the morning, but Im not longer looking like my hands are "perogies and sausages" all day.

The meds make my joints hurt and cause weird abdominal pain that isnt explainable. It flairs my autoimmune symptoms with every shot for months after each dose increase. But the swelling, the whole-body inflammation my rheumatologist said was more than my weight, has almost gone completely away.

So, yea, the side-effects are totally worth the puffer-fish look being gone. The slow moving scale is okay. The body composition changes are obvious to me every time I put on my clothes.

As long as the pain I experience as a side-effect isnt damaging or life threatening, I will keep plugging on. My bloodwork is great too.

Heres to all the little NSVs that keep us motivated!!