About

We started the Currently Rockhounding project in March 2019 as a way to share our adventures. Since then, it has grown into a platform to promote rockhounding and a community of like-minded people that want to get out, explore and collect rocks and minerals.


The best way to contact us for whatever reason is through email at currentlyrockhounding@gmail.com

We respond to all emails, but please be patient as the growing level of correspondence can be overwhelming at times.

You can keep up with our adventures on Instagram and YouTube as well as the other things we have done online with other people and outlets on the Other Media page.

Laika

This is our wonderfully silly dog Laika that you see in some of the videos.

Adventures & Finds

The Identification Station

The current state of the identification station June 2022
The current state of the identification station December 2022
A gallery of the changes and progress to the bench that I do my rock and mineral identifications on, as well as my micromounting. The microscope that I have is the AmScope SM-1TSZZ-144S-10M.

The Container Shop
(2018-2024)

The current state of the shop.
April 2021
The current state of the shop.
December 2021
The current state of the shop.
February 2023
In the summer of 2024 I pack up the shipping container shop.
Almost done!
All cleaned out except the work benches.
I moved everything into a storage unit.
A tow-truck came and scooped up my 20′ container.
My last look at it.

My Current Shop
(2024-)

The starting point
October 2024
The current state of the shop. May 2025
The construction of this work shop was a big undertaking but I’m thrilled with how it came out.

The Current Machines

Spartan Slab Saw

Moving the saw.
A work in progress.
100% done! May 2025
In the winter of 24/25 I purchased a trashed 20″ Spartan saw that I completely restored.

Lortone TS10-C 10″ Trim Saw

2022
2022
Still running strong in May 2025!
In the winter of 2022, I purchased this very lightly used Lortone TS10-C 10″ trim saw.

Lortone NS8 Arbor

2022
2022
The arbor is still running strong in May 2025.
In the fall of 2022 I started the restoration of a Lortone NS8 Arbor. I built out the housing for it and everything else.

Scott Murray Arbor

In the winter of 2025 I restored this 8″ Scott Murray arbor and it put it back into use with some sintered wheels on it.

Hi-Tech Diamond 8″ Flat Lap

May 2025
I first got this 8″ Hi-Tech lap back in 2020, and it has done well ever since!

Al Sesona Intarsia Grinder

August 2024
May 2025
In the summer of 2024, I had the rare opportunity to pick an Al Sesona intarsia grinder.

Richardson Rock Ranch High-Speed Sander

2021
2021
May 2025
This is my Richardson Ranch High-Speed Sander. This is a great machine that can high-speed sand a rock that’s about 10″. I believe this was one of the early models they made, based on the blue marbled color and older outlet on the side of it. Despite being an older one, it’s still in great condition.

Carpet Wheel

2022
2022
May 2025
I designed and built this machine myself. It’s a slow speed carpet wheel that you can put cerium oxide on for polishing the larger rocks after using the Richardson’s sander. I have an article here on the website detailing how to build it.

Lortone 20″ Oscillating Lap

In August 2023, I managed to scoop up this very lightly used 20″ Lortone Oscillating Lap.