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Post by Toad on Oct 12, 2004 12:44:22 GMT -5
Does anyone here weigh their rock before and after processing to see how much material is lost?
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stonedagain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2004
Posts: 114
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Post by stonedagain on Oct 12, 2004 13:11:14 GMT -5
Hi Toad, I don't actually weigh each stone, but I take a relatively accurate weight measurement of each barrel with the stones in it for grit measuring purposes. If you're ULTRA anal, you could take a caliper to the rock before and after. I bet you'd be surprised at the material that you lose. Rhonda
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 12, 2004 14:00:15 GMT -5
I wiegh everything with an old postal scale, before and during. I can but a bowl on the scale and reset it to zero to see exactly how much the rocks weigh. When it loses about 1/4 a lb I start throwing in other stones that are at about the same condition and hardness. I used to be so anal that I wieghed the grit as well, but now I just eyeball it. The process is so slow you don't realize how much volume is lost.
cookie
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Post by Toad on Oct 12, 2004 17:46:31 GMT -5
Hey Stoned, I said anal, not completely idiotic. ;D
I guess I should have been more specific. I meant does anyone weigh the entire load? At the beginning and end, or at every stage?
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 12, 2004 18:08:17 GMT -5
OK, let me rephrase that. Yes.
cookie
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Post by Toad on Oct 12, 2004 21:27:14 GMT -5
Hey Cookie, so how much rock do you lose on a typical cycle. I'm sure it varies from stone to stone, but say - agate? Do you lose 1 pound of material per 10 pounds of rough? More/less?
Now I'm being obsessive and anal.
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Oct 12, 2004 21:31:25 GMT -5
*inquiring minds want to know*
I know I have a lousy time with it....eyeballing the barrel doesn't seem to work for me. Maybe I should weigh mine as well. Would take the guesswork out of it!
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Oct 12, 2004 22:43:18 GMT -5
I know that there is loss but I guess that I have never considered it to be a big deal maybe it would be different if you did more expensive jewel stones but for me and the agates that I do I have other things to worry about
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 12, 2004 22:57:17 GMT -5
It matters more to me to keep a 3# bowl at 3#, just to have it rolling like it should be. If it gets too light, you loose some of the action of stone to stone. Generaly, if I I let a 3# batch run begining to end without adding stones (my first atempt) I lost about 3/4 a pound. It takes awhile to have a surplus of stones that are compatible for each stage, but keeping the load balanced really does matter. I don't use pellets (yet) in polish, but if all the stones, both original to the load and added, are consistant, it seems to work. Bear in mind, I'm using a vibe, not a rotary so that may make a difference. hope that helps.
cookie
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Post by Toad on Oct 13, 2004 1:10:32 GMT -5
Thanks, Cookie. I plan on purchasing a vibe as well. But I guess Warren is right, the $$$ amount of material worn away can't amount to much.
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birdseed
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 167
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Post by birdseed on Oct 13, 2004 1:49:08 GMT -5
I always weigh the load before tumbling as excessive weigh is the # 1 enemy of motors.. The REAL question is--Did you ever eat cerial without milk OR sugar???
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Post by Toad on Oct 13, 2004 18:40:22 GMT -5
Yes, I occasionally eat cereal dry out of the box as a snack if there is nothing else around. I am proud to say that I have never added sugar to my Lucky Charms.
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Post by hermatite on Oct 14, 2004 9:22:20 GMT -5
Honey nut cheerios are best when eaten without milk or sugar. I'm constantly amazed by the new stuff I learn here. I weighed my first load just to get an idea of what three pounds of rough looked like. And now I just eyeball the level of the barrel. It never occurred to me to weigh stuff. Is this more necessary for a vibe than a rotating tumbler?
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Post by Toad on Oct 14, 2004 12:36:12 GMT -5
I would think it is more important on a rotary tumbler due to strain on belts, motors, etc... (lie Birdseed said above) With a vibe I think the only down side to overl loading would be an inferior grind. The load won't move as well. Reason enough not to overload, but it probably won't damage the tumbler like it might a rotary.
My 2 cents...
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Post by cookie3rocks on Oct 14, 2004 19:08:25 GMT -5
I just had to chunk a load of river rock that was in pre polish. The stones were just too big for a 3 lb. vibe, but I didn't want to break them up and fracture them. Kept getting stuck in coarse, then finally I found an answer and they rolled well. 3 days in pre polish and the stress has shown it's self. Fine fractures that just sucked up the grit. I added stones that had made it past pre polish to bulk it up and they were fine. (Same hardness, just do overs). I had even dremeled some external fractures off while in coarse. Frustrating Oh well, got a new batch rolling. Used smaller stones and they are rolling to beat the band. cookie
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