Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:07 AM   #1
Moderator Emeritus
Martha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
drilling through rock

I have many "life after FIRE" projects planned or in the works, so I probably shouldn't seek out another. But I was window shopping yesterday and saw lamps made out of Lake Superior rock like this one:



These lamps are pretty and I am always collecting rocks from down by the lake. A nice gabbro or basalt lamp seems fun. But, how would you drill a hole for a lamp kit through this very hard rock? Any ideas?
__________________
.


No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA

Martha is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:11 AM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
Martha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
Re: drilling through rock

So I'll respond to myself. Greg is on the other computer and saw my post. He says the lamp is "interesting," which is Minnesota nice for ugly. He also said I would have to buy an expensive diamond drill bit.



__________________
.


No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA

Martha is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:27 AM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
Re: drilling through rock

Possibly a masonry bit.
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire

...not doing anything of true substance...
HFWR is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:28 AM   #4
 
Posts: n/a
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
So I'll respond to myself. Greg is on the other computer and saw my post. He says the lamp is "interesting," which is Minnesota nice for ugly. He also said I would have to buy an expensive diamond drill bit.



Yeah I was going to say a mason drill bit. There are also some cheaper 'cobalt' drill bits at sears that go through metal.

I think Greg just doesn't want the lamp in the house.
  Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:35 AM   #5
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Leonidas's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright
Posts: 2,847
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
So I'll respond to myself. Greg is on the other computer and saw my post. He says the lamp is "interesting," which is Minnesota nice for ugly. He also said I would have to buy an expensive diamond drill bit.
So, Greg's assortment of cooking pots and pans are "butt ugly" and your rock lamp is "interesting". Interior design discussions must get lively there.
__________________
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it. - Andrew Jackson
Leonidas is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:42 AM   #6
Recycles dryer sheets
Linney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 321
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
I was window shopping yesterday and saw lamps made out of Lake Superior rock like this one:
I like the lamp. Everyone has different tastes. My girlfriend just loves furniture done in 'forest cabin' style where the fabric has pictures of deer, elk and bears on it. I think her taste in furniture is . . . interesting.
Linney is online now   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:48 AM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Goonie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: North-Central Illinois
Posts: 3,228
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha
But, how would you drill a hole for a lamp kit through this very hard rock? Any ideas?
A masonary bit(s) and a hammer-drill should work fine. Been there...Done that. 8)
Goonie is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 11:52 AM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
greg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,071
Re: drilling through rock

Dang! We've been thru this one so many times I feel like my head is already diamond studded--but somewhat less pointy nowadays. One really needs a diamond embedded drill bit if you plan on doing more than one lamp. You need a drill press also if you plan on doing lots of igneous rocks such as (I'm sure) DW will choose as her first choice in drillable rocks--for lamps and other assorted trinkets. We already have a wet saw with a diamond blade. Smooth. I could make her that lamp if she supplies all the rocks, buys me a drill bit and press. I can rig up a 'wet' drill press with a hose.

Also, my new goal is to get rid of as much plastic, teflon, and unnatural toxins as possible over the next year. That means we go back to cast iron pots and pans. I'll slowly de-toxify all the cupboards, replacing plastic drinking cups with jelly jar-ware, i.e glass. I'm now on a mission. Rocks and electricity don't mix (except high up on mountains during storms). No more polyester either. Seriously.
__________________
Compounding: Never forget! Never not remember!
greg is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 12:09 PM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,528
Re: drilling through rock

I really like that lamp. I went to a craft fair a few years back and came home with four different colors and shapes of rocks that had the words, Faith, Believe, Imagine and Dream on them. My family could not believe that I went on a bus trip to another state and came home with rocks. I like them very much and of course the bus trip was with a bunch of my female friends and we enjoyed ourselves. I could care less about craft fairs, but value the time that I spend with my friends!
Dreamer is online now   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 03:53 PM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,856
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg
Dang! We've been thru this one so many times I feel like my head is already diamond studded--but somewhat less pointy nowadays.
Sounds like you're about to be relieved of your décor duties and put in charge of bathroom doors...

Why not buy the nice lady a diamond-tipped drill press and let 'er rip? I think she's earned it! Besides she could take her skills on HGTV's "That's Clever!" or "Crafters Coast to Coast".

Lawyers drilling holes through rocks. There's a tremendous number of punch lines in there somewhere.
__________________
*

Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."

I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 04:10 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
samclem's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 14,404
Re: drilling through rock

Martha,
To state the obvious: be sure to wear some good eye protection and hearing protection as you engage in this project.
They look a little like turtles stacked up on a log over a creek sunning themselves. Interesting . . .
samclem is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-21-2007, 04:40 PM   #12
Recycles dryer sheets
LeatherneckPA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Williamsport
Posts: 489
Re: drilling through rock

Interesting,,,,very interesting, actually. Have to file that in my "possibly" mental slot. Reminds me of the glued together marble tetrahedron paper-weights we used to make as kids.

Black and Decker used to make an attachment for a handheld drill that allowed you to drill perpendicular to almost any surface. It was a six-sided plastic sleeve with an extension shaft that you placed between the drill, through the sleeve, and into the back of the chuck. The bottom of the sleeve had a v-notch on opposing sides for drilling on corners, a semi-circle notch on two sides for drilling in round stock, and a pyramidal notch on the two remaining sides for drilling on edge in 3/4" or 1" or 1 1/2" stock. Heck of a lot cheaper than a drill press if they still make them, and I did a lot of woodworking with that "cheap little thing". Pretty sure I still have mine, even though I have a complete woodshop now.
__________________
"Iron" Mike - Semper Fi
Jack of all trades; Master of none.
LeatherneckPA is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 06:56 AM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
greg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,071
Re: drilling through rock

I think this is still mildly on-topic. We (DW & I) have talked about this sort of crafty/not too artsy stuff quite a bit. Oftentimes we (mainly me) discussed making things for money to supplement retirement income--just a bit short of dumpster diving and less organic too. :

Originally, I wanted to make little glass sun catchers while full timing in the motor home. I thought we could make a half a dozen simple designs (like little stained glass humming birds) and sell them at arts and crafts fairs as we traveled across the country. Easy to make, should be quite profitable considering that material costs are probably less than $2-$3/item, and should sell for about $20. My guess is that it would take about fifteen minutes to a half an hour to make each one--if we were on a roll.

I thought we could make them at various campgrounds with electric service when we laid up for a few days. I used to make little jewelry boxes, stained glass coin plates, and Xmas ornaments in the winter months. But everyone I know and like now has one or two of these items so I quit.

So, to hi-jack DW's thread (although I suspect she won't mind), has anyone thought about this artsy-craftsy way of making a little money on the side? Has anyone here turned a hobby into a money making machine in their retirement? What can I do with my toilet skills?
__________________
Compounding: Never forget! Never not remember!
greg is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 09:56 AM   #14
Moderator Emeritus
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,856
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg
has anyone thought about this artsy-craftsy way of making a little money on the side? Has anyone here turned a hobby into a money making machine in their retirement? What can I do with my toilet skills?
Hey, if you're into ceramic sculptures then take a look at Bob Clyatt's work: http://www.clyattsculpture.com/

A woodworking friend of mine has supported his California wine habit for years with spice racks, military shadowboxes, & custom picture frames. Now he's branching out to laser engraving for his 62nd birthday.

Seriously, though, all your 100-year-old-home handyman skills don't have to go to waste. You could probably go house-to-house in your neighborhood grooming faucets, scrubbing refrigerator coils, patching walls, unclogging sink drains, replacing toilet flapper valves, and hanging pictures. It might get you a few strange looks at the campground but I guess that'd work with RVs too!
__________________
*

Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."

I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 02:31 PM   #15
Recycles dryer sheets
LeatherneckPA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Williamsport
Posts: 489
Re: drilling through rock

My parents have planned for years on my retiring into the same gated community they are in, with the intended "sideline" of being one of the resident handymen. Keep telling them, sounds too much like w*rk to me.
__________________
"Iron" Mike - Semper Fi
Jack of all trades; Master of none.
LeatherneckPA is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 02:39 PM   #16
Recycles dryer sheets
LeatherneckPA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Williamsport
Posts: 489
Re: drilling through rock

The craft show thing is something I really ponder frequently. Mom used to "drag" me to the ones she did all the time when I was a kid. That's how I learned to carve leather. Then I found out there was money to be made doing that.

Nowadays the only problem seems to be which one to focus on; leather carving, wood carving, woodworking, turning, weaving, gardening, tole painting, welding,,,, and a bunch of other interests I haven't even started to try out yet. The beauty of it will be that I won't have to over charge for the stuff, since it's just something to fill my time, not fill my larder.
__________________
"Iron" Mike - Semper Fi
Jack of all trades; Master of none.
LeatherneckPA is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 04:17 PM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
Martha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: minnesota
Posts: 13,228
Re: drilling through rock

Retiredbop, what is "tole painting?"

I have the same problem, there are all sorts of hobby type things I like to do and have done at one time or another. Gardening takes up a good part of summer along with all the northern summer activities like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, motorcycling, flower identification, tree identification, bird identification. . .

This winter I have been sitting on my a**, accomplishing very little. I am slowly starting my picture scan and edit project as in all the pictures are in big piles in the front room. I also like to do stained glass windows but it doesn't look like that will happen this winter. Now I want to do rock art like lamps and candle holders. Leather carving sounds fun too. Greg did a bit of that years ago.

__________________
.


No more lawyer stuff, no more political stuff, so no more CYA

Martha is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 05:44 PM   #18
Recycles dryer sheets
LeatherneckPA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Williamsport
Posts: 489
Re: drilling through rock

Martha, first of all, if I haven't said it before; I LOVE that pink motorcycle.

OK, tole painting, it is a country style painting based upon early Germanic paintings used to decorate peasant metalware. Tinsmiths traveling the country would often use the paintings to enhance their products. Very reminiscent of Pennsylvania Dutch paintings. It is different from the very popular Donna Dewberry type of one-stroke painting and the common "decorative" painting seen at craft shows in that it "appears" more simplistic, more primitive. Example I rather prefer it.
__________________
"Iron" Mike - Semper Fi
Jack of all trades; Master of none.
LeatherneckPA is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 08:21 PM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
audreyh1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,007
Re: drilling through rock

You don't have to make something just because you are retired......

I know, I know - those shackles of "being productive" take a long time to shake off. You don't have to have something to "show" for time spent....

Audrey
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
audreyh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: drilling through rock
Old 01-22-2007, 08:22 PM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
cute fuzzy bunny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
Re: drilling through rock

Quote:
Originally Posted by Goonie
A masonary bit(s) and a hammer-drill should work fine. Been there...Done that. 8)
Ding! Ding! Ding!
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
cute fuzzy bunny is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How the Baby Boomers will Rock the Market PsyopRanger FIRE and Money 17 07-10-2006 10:00 AM
Good Contemporary Rock Music yakers Other topics 23 10-25-2005 06:34 PM
rock, paper, scissors Martha Other topics 9 05-02-2005 07:14 AM
ANWAR Drilling one step closer laurence Other topics 10 03-21-2005 12:11 PM
Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll haha Life after FIRE 1 04-04-2004 07:42 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:48 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.