morsefire
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2011
Posts: 83
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Post by morsefire on Dec 26, 2011 16:09:07 GMT -5
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ctit101
starting to shine!
Member since May 2011
Posts: 38
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Post by ctit101 on Dec 26, 2011 17:53:05 GMT -5
I picked up a food grade plastic drum and cut it up in chunks about quarter to dime size. The walls on it are thick. A friend cut up a couple old one gallon poly yard sprayers. After 6 months of rolling they look the same has the day I first started using them, just rounded all the edges. They float like the beads and wash off easy.
I picked up a big pile of thick ceramic tile from a couple houses being built. The installers just dropped there scrap in a bucket for me. Broke it up into small pieces with a hammer. Haven't got to try them yet as shut down for winter but plan to come spring. So don't know if they will work like store bought ceramic pellets. Was thinking of running them a few days by there self some as they are jagged edge. That would round them up.
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Post by susand24224 on Dec 26, 2011 18:14:42 GMT -5
Hi--great information on the plastic. The "ceramic" pellets are compressed aluminum oxide, so a lot harder than the ceramic tiles you plan to bust up. But--if the tiles turn to "sludge" quickly, that could be part of the cushion you need. I always add a fair amount of soap when I am tumbling temperamental rocks; this might be an economic assist for you as well.
Susan
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ctit101
starting to shine!
Member since May 2011
Posts: 38
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Post by ctit101 on Dec 26, 2011 18:24:09 GMT -5
Thanks Susan, never thought about the sludge thing. Will give it a try for sure now.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Dec 26, 2011 20:56:19 GMT -5
We run 5 gallon barrels on the big tumbler, bought a 10k can of air shot beads [best price Walmart] that are of the heavier variety that don't float, run a full can of them w/ each cycle, saw a noticeable improvement in quality. The cycle we don't run them in is post-polish soap run, they caused sliding and crashing.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 26, 2011 20:59:41 GMT -5
If you want cheap filler/grit carrier media why not use pea gravel. Run it all the way through and you might end up with pretty gravel.
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blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by blessed on Dec 26, 2011 22:11:44 GMT -5
I think John has the right idea on the pea gravel. A 40lb. bag is around $4.00. ----James
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Dec 26, 2011 23:06:08 GMT -5
Home Depot had some pea gravel that had a very high percentage of jasper and agate. It was called Wyoming river rock 1/4 inch. I pre-tumbled this pea gravel to get rid of the basalt and other soft and crumbly stuff. Makes good filler for agates, jasper, and pet wood. If you use it on anything softer you get shinny pea gravel, but not much else.
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morsefire
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2011
Posts: 83
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Post by morsefire on Dec 27, 2011 23:58:31 GMT -5
Thankyou all for the great ideas. Going to try them all out as things progress. Muchos Thankyous!
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