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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 14, 2005 21:23:08 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Well, my Thumler's Tumbler Model B showed up today and I am trying to decide where to put it. I don't dare ask the wife ... as I know where she will tell me to put it ;D ;D ;D Actually, she likes this tumbler much more than my Gy-Roc's ... it is so much quieter than the vibes (Empty at least ;D) I have to get a new belt for it and I have already taken it apart and cleaned the bushings and have them all lubricated and ready to go. The old belt has a break that is roughly half way through the belt ... so, I will pick some up tomorrow and get it working as well. It will be nice to finally turn out some fully rounded pieces, I am so looking forward to that! Does anyone have a good start up recipe? I will be roughing everything in 46/70 from the Rock Shed ... it should be here on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest If you don't mind sharing ... I am all ears! Thanks again and have a great week! John
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Post by Cher on Mar 14, 2005 21:37:15 GMT -5
Dang it's about time, my patience is running really thin *smile*. Good going John, you'll really love the big mess you get in with slurry, get your buckets ready. You need a recipe huh? Let's see ... rocks ... about 11 - 12 pounds grit .... lots water .... patience .... better order extra
Seriously, don't know what to tell you for one that big but I know there's others who can help you out there. Have fun!!
Cher
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Post by cookie3rocks on Mar 14, 2005 21:42:09 GMT -5
Hey Bear, I went, as you know, from a vibe to the Thumblers Model B and it has been quite a change. Put your patience hat on, dude, coarse takes a loooong time. I'm used to checking the vibe after a week and being ready to move on soon. I checked the B at the one week mark today and... nothing. Well, maybe a little, but not what I'm used to. It is VERY quiet, but I had become accustom to the sound the vibe made. Even my cat had come to enjoy sleeping in the room it was in. I am starting in 60/90, so your start up is probably the way to go to get results. Just let that puppie run and try not to sweat it it. It is the way of the rotary. I'm running agates, mook and Flint Ridge flint in mine. Patience, child ;D
cookie
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 14, 2005 22:03:38 GMT -5
Hey Cookie,
I was going to start out with 11 to 12 pounds of rock, with roughly a pound of grit and ? who knows how much water ... what would you suggest?
Hi Cher,
Oh yea ... I am definitely not looking forward to the extended run times. I am going to go through the vibe withdrawls with Cookie ... HA! I am the same way ... run it for three to four days ... clean everything up and start a new batch ... then in three to four days ... start all over again ;D
Have a great evening,
John
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Post by cookie3rocks on Mar 14, 2005 22:16:58 GMT -5
I put in 13# of rock and 1# of grit on this run (second batch). Bearing in mind (no pun intended) my first batch wasn't da bomb. I think I under loaded the first batch, so I made sure there was plenty of rock in this batch and put the water level to just shy of covering the stones. After a week there is still plenty of grit in a choco-milk base, so I just have to be patient. (I hate that word). It looks like a good 4 week run on these hard babies in coarse. Just moniter your breathing, light some candles, sit in the corner and go "OOOOMMMMM" cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 14, 2005 22:21:51 GMT -5
john when i had all mine runnin i was only fillin the water to where you could just see it there would be about an inch and a half of rock maybe two inchs stickin out of the water and about a lb of grit --i think with the water that low it did a better job grinding,, the slurry wasent so watery--and lock it up and let it go 7 days ---thats what i was doin -- some say 5 but i let it go a full week if you wanna check half way through to make sure the slurry isnt to thick thats cool after awile you will just eyeball it and feel good about the level---then a good rinsebarrel and rocks and back again for another week
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Mar 14, 2005 23:44:13 GMT -5
I agree on both counts with Sands, leave about 2 inches from the top of the water to the top of the rocks. And, check after 3 or 4 days, or if it sounds "dry".
And, yep, the big B eats one pound of coarse per serving! After starting a new batch after about 2-3 weeks, I start pulling out the good ones and refilling as necessary with new rough keeping the barrel about 2/3 full. Thats why my batches comes out as motley batches... whatever rock is tumble sized gets thrown in the tumbler.
Cal
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Mar 15, 2005 1:31:35 GMT -5
Run for at least a week if you wish to peek in the middle that is up to you. I like my 15 best I think it tumbles better
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Mar 15, 2005 2:10:48 GMT -5
Does not a fifteen pounder mean that it will do 15 pound of rock ? If so why keep it down to 12 or 13 like some suggest?
I have purchased 2 12 pound barrels from Lortone and I make sure they get 12 pound of rock in them...I add 20 tablespoons of coarse or medium grit ....or 24 tablespoons of fine grit as the Lortone book says.
And yes , do not let the water get to close to the toprocks as I found that to be too much water.
Good luck with the tumbler
Jack
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Mar 15, 2005 5:22:00 GMT -5
I maybe completely wrong (newbie hat still on here!) but wouldnt the extra weight be made up with the water ? Wow 15lb tumbler, thats a lot of rock Have fun with it
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joanna
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 385
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Post by joanna on Mar 15, 2005 6:33:32 GMT -5
Somewhere on this board it was mentioned how the big tumblers have a better grinding power to it compared to the 3 pounders. Had to rush out and get one then. It definitely seems to, love mine.
I have all those wing nuts to hold the cover down with and it's the only thing that prevents me from peeking in all the time.
I build up a good size supply of rocks ready for the various stages, so that when I get to the later stages, I don't have to put so much filler in.
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 15, 2005 9:30:49 GMT -5
Hi everyone, Thanks for the information ... it is greatly appreciated The last rotary tumbler I had was a 3 pound capacity tumbler, so this one is quite a bit larger. Jack - I have always left a little extra out for the tumbling process ... if it was a three pounder tumbler, I would use, say two and a half pounds of rock. That is why I was going to start off with 11 to 12 pounds of rock (to allow for enough movement of the stones - so that it doesn't hold the tumbling process up). Then, if I see that I can add a little to the barrel and still produce satisfactory results, that option is always available to me. As far as patience ... I think I can handle it Looks like we will see. Thanks again and have a great day! John
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 15, 2005 9:46:08 GMT -5
Congratulations on your new arrival. Tami
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 15, 2005 10:12:28 GMT -5
Hey congrates! I wish I had enough rock to fill a barrel that big- hey wait I do- ah ha now I need one too!
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stubby
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2004
Posts: 150
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Post by stubby on Mar 15, 2005 14:54:37 GMT -5
Agreeing with Rose.
"15 pound tumbler" means total load. Rocks, grit & water.
stub
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