yttamrocks
off to a rocking start
General question about tumbling: how often should I check the drums, or should I check them at all?
Member since January 2023
Posts: 2
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Post by yttamrocks on Jan 3, 2023 19:00:57 GMT -5
How often do I need to check my tumbler? Do I need to open it every 24 hours, or can I just "let it be" for a few weeks, until the next stage of polishing?
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,330
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 3, 2023 19:06:33 GMT -5
I believe letting it go for a week at a time is the standard. But if you're anything like me I like to peek at about day 3 or 4. I'm getting better at just setting and forgetting. I think the grit breaks down after a week, if I"m not mistaken so that's a good time to see if there are any ready for next stage, or if they need longer and fresh grit. I'm a newb myself though so others may have different tips.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 3, 2023 19:08:20 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 3, 2023 19:09:50 GMT -5
Since I just read your intro, I know this is a rotary...which gets checked less than a vibratory tumbler. You really shouldn't need to check on it every day. As time goes on, you'll start to recognize the different sounds the rocks are making in your tumbler...and you'll be able to tell if their tumbling correctly and whether you need to check it to see what's going on.
Sometimes it does depend on what you're tumbling. Some rocks are prone to creating "gases" as they're tumbling. With those you'll want to check the barrel more often just to see if the gases are building and creating too much pressure in the barrel.
One of our members (Rob - jugglerguy) tumbled a batch for an entire year (as an experiment) without opening the barrel even once...
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,442
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 3, 2023 19:12:11 GMT -5
Now I check my tumbler daily, to see if the barrel needs burping. Some beauties in my tumbler's barrel are naughty.
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Post by Starguy on Jan 3, 2023 19:54:55 GMT -5
How often do I need to check my tumbler? Do I need to open it every 24 hours, or can I just "let it be" for a few weeks, until the next stage of polishing? If you’re tumbling very soft rocks you should check more often. For agate / jasper, I usually let them run a week at a time. It’s not an exact science with rotaries. Grit gets less effective after 4-5 days.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
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Post by jimmie on Jan 4, 2023 5:21:48 GMT -5
It won’t hurt one bit to pop open a tumbler to check it. When I first started tumbling I’d check them daily. It doesn’t hurt the progress. Now, I just let ‘em go,experience is the answer!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 4, 2023 6:59:37 GMT -5
It won’t hurt one bit to pop open a tumbler to check it. When I first started tumbling I’d check them daily. It doesn’t hurt the progress. Now, I just let ‘em go,experience is the answer! Jimmie, this isn't directed at you...just using your quote. The one thing I'd caution about checking it early (and as Jimmie said, it won't hurt anything) is a lot of times the grit hasn't broken down sufficiently and you may get some grit around the lid. Be sure to clean the grit from around the top of the lid, or it will become imbedded and could potentially lead to cross-contamination later on. Just something to be cognizant of...
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Jan 4, 2023 14:53:21 GMT -5
I've been tumbling for 6 years now and I make sure to look at the tumbler everyday just to make sure things are going OK. Tumblers work great until they don't , then it's a big mess . . .
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jan 4, 2023 17:13:23 GMT -5
I check every day. Yup still turning. Barrels get opened and recharged either every other week or every third week depending on the step they are in. But then I always do things differently.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 897
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Post by dshanpnw on Jan 4, 2023 19:48:02 GMT -5
I don't open them up until after 7 days, but I check the tumblers everyday to make sure they are running correctly.
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