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Post by mrbrett on Sept 2, 2004 7:37:22 GMT -5
I have an old beacon star tumbler with two 6lb barrels and the lortone QT66. i use the beacon star for the first stage then move to the lortone for 220#,500#1000# then polish. My problem is by the time I finish or get to 220# I really dont have much to put in a barrel. Even with filler it doesnt come up to half a barrel. I fiqured by using the beacon star tumbler and using both barrels I would have enough to fill and keep my process going without a stall. Help!
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 7:48:15 GMT -5
I just finished my first batch in coarse and have barely half a barrel so I put it aside and started another batch of rough. I figure when I get this done, I can finish filling up the first batch and have some left over for the next one. Guess that puts me in the stalled stage for now too. Mainly because I have 4 barrels and want to keep them all separate for the different stages.
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Post by Bunny on Sept 2, 2004 11:53:01 GMT -5
I was kinda wondering the same thing, my first batch of rocks has been tumbling for a few days, and I had wondered, how much do the rocks shrink? not really shrink but you know what I mean, I hope.
Bunny
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 2, 2004 12:14:04 GMT -5
brett i have 4 6# barrels and a 12# sometimes all in stage 1. i have extra 6# barrels for the other stages and sometimes it takes a long time before i get enough ready to move on. when i started tumbling i would order 5#'s of a kind of rock and now i order either 10 or 15 #'s to get a full batch out. or get 5#'s each of different kinds of stones of the same hardness. i try to keep my barrel to 2/3's full until i get to stage 3 then i might have to take some out and add pellets from here on. i prefer not to use pellets in 120/220 as they really get on my nerves.
kim
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herm
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2008
Posts: 7
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Post by herm on Sept 2, 2004 12:20:57 GMT -5
Hi bunny, yes the rocks will shrink...that is some of the material will get worn away during the various grit stages. You can deal with this by taking a couple of loads through the rough grit stages and then combining them for the last steps to make up a full load or use pellets or other fillers to top up the load.
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Post by mrbrett on Sept 2, 2004 12:38:57 GMT -5
Hey Rocky i have been using ceramic media instead of pellets. I like it alot better. The only thing you have to do is pick your rocks out. But no pesty little plastic mo-fo to mess with. :ooops my language
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 14:12:36 GMT -5
What size is the ceramic media you're using Brett?
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Post by mrbrett on Sept 3, 2004 7:06:49 GMT -5
Im not sure I got them from The rock Shed. They are about 3/4" long by 1/4" wide.
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Post by JC on Sept 3, 2004 18:08:52 GMT -5
Does it makes any difference using plastic beads or waiting for more rocks to tumble?
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 3, 2004 18:17:57 GMT -5
bang for the buck, i guess, JC....i use a lot of pellets sometimes (because i have NO patience), but i end up with small loads of finished product for the same amount of grit. i have started to toss "do over" rocks from previous batches in to (a.) pick up the slack in volume in hopes of (b.) if they keep going they will become better items.... KD
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JC
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by JC on Sept 3, 2004 18:26:27 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 3, 2004 19:24:57 GMT -5
Me two, KD. I finally have a collection of do over of differant hardness to toss in. Tonight I'm pulling out some extras I tossed in cause they are ready for the next phase and theyer looking pretty good. But I got back up.
cookie
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