Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 15, 2015 9:28:55 GMT -5
I didn't want to hijack a thread, so I started this brief one...I may very well be in error with my understanding or writing but here goes....I'm sure someone will nudge me in the right direction if it's needed. I went back to the beginning of James thread, "I am about certain I have sped up..." and reread some of the initial posts, especially the very first one. I guess I must have been learning all this time that I've been surfing the forum and yakking my mouth 'cause when I reread those posts...they made more sense to me the second time around! Depending how this adventure with my granddaughters works I may be interested in a larger tumbler later on. I had considered one of the 12 pounders or maybe the QT66. I'm leaning more toward the QT66 than one with a single 12# barrel but James' thread, in one area, has me nudging the 12#'s and QT66 closer together. The sheer volume of rock required to fill the big barrel was intimidating me in regards to being able to fill it. The part of James' post that is (for me) key to understanding what he is doing is that he starts the coarse grind with an already fairly thick slurry to keep from frosting/bruising(?) the stones. Having laid that important part out, one of the key remarks that he made that suddenly helped me understand more how the tumbling process works and how barrel size affects things was "Because the avalanche within is longer. More sliding action. Avalanche bridges the widest part of the barrel."After visualizing what James was talking about I see that most of the tumbling action is towards the top of the rock layer <duhhh> and that the distance of the tumble/avalanche depends on the how full the barrel is. The longer the tumble per turn of the barrel equals more grinding per turn. The length of that top surface is like a mountainside...the further up the mountainside that a rock starts rolling down from, the more abrasion it will have when it reaches the bottom. Something so logical that most people (not me!) would take for granted is a milestone(no pun intended) for me. Now, I'm beginning to think that I might not have to be so concerned with "filling up" the bigger barrel. I'm still leaning more towards the dual-barrel setup simply for the flexibility of it...but understanding "avalanche" has given me a better understanding of rock polishing. Got lots more to learn, though!!!! You know, I'm wondering why I'm trying to learn all this stuff when I'm just going to be tumbling some rocks with my granddaughters...really! I'm even thinking strongly about going to the Hogg Mine this weekend to "get some rocks"...for the granddaughters....really! And, thinking about another tumbler...well, they might want to, well, tumble more rocks....really. Thanks to everybody that has welcomed me and given me advice (and even rocks!). My granddaughters appreciate it, too! Ed
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Sept 15, 2015 10:30:17 GMT -5
Hi, Intheswamp, and welcome to RTH from Georgia! That sounds like a lot of fun tumbling rocks with your grandbabes. Will you have the tumblers indoors or outside? Those are very nice tumblers that you are considering to purchase! Since I don't have much rock to tumble, I use the Thumlers AR-2 for the 1st 2 stages, and a Raytech TV-5 for pre-polish and polish. The TV-5 is loud and I'm considering purchasing another set of barrels for the AR-2 for pre-polish and use the TV-5 for the polishing stage only. My better half has a Thumlers UV-10, but so far it's been paws off for me to use for rock tumbling. He uses it for reloading. Haven't ever been to the Hogg, and we've lived in LaGrange for 15 years. I hope you have a great time if you decide to go to the dig this weekend. Please take lots of pics to share with us of your trip. It should be nice weather this weekend, too!
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Sept 15, 2015 10:32:14 GMT -5
The QT66 is a nice machine. It will run those two 6# barrels it comes with. It also has the same frame as the QT12. If you buy the 66 you can buy a 12# barrel also. Now you have a machine that will run 2 sixes or one twelve.
Welcome and happy tumbling!
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 15, 2015 10:36:46 GMT -5
You know, I'm wondering why I'm trying to learn all this stuff when I'm just going to be tumbling some rocks with my granddaughters...really! I'm even thinking strongly about going to the Hogg Mine this weekend to "get some rocks"...for the granddaughters....really! And, thinking about another tumbler...well, they might want to, well, tumble more rocks....really. Ed, dint your ma ever teach you, "If you're gonna do something, do it right?" Lol.
More rocks, more tumblers, doing it right... Man, that rock bug bit you hard and fast! But your granddaughters are going to love you for it. YOU might even have some fun with it. Maybe?
You will fit right in Intheswamp. Post 16 and you are set. What jamesp said, you're gonna fit right in. I 'm pretty sure you meet the requirements of membership.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 15, 2015 11:22:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome, gingerkid. It's been a warm welcome here...seems like a good group of folks. I'm not committed on another tumbler as of now, but...looking at options. I'm hoping to get the granddaughter's interested, at least for now the 8-yo. /the 4-yo might be a little short on patience right now, but the oldest one has a very inquisitive, studious mind...she may just make the grade now. The tumblers will either be in the open-ended garage here at the house or either inside at work (compressor, air guns, etc., so noise not a problem there). You mentioned that you live in Lagrange and haven't made it to the Hogg Mine...why not? Do you have other places that don't require the mining fee? I've been toying with the idea of going up to the Montgomery/Wetumpka area and checking out the gravel pits and bars along the Alabama River...not sure if I'll find good rock there or not, but who knows. Down this way there's not a lot to pick from...gotta drive *somewhere* so I'm trying to maximize my travel investment. I am curious about your thoughts about the Hogg Mine... tkvancil, thanks for the comments on the QT66. Yes, I saw the extra slots on the frame to adjust the rollers with...nice feature. That is the one that I've been drooling over...just not sure if I'm ready to commit. (ETA: my newbie mind must of been thinking of a Thumler or something when I mentioned the slots!)Jean, seems I've had rocks pounded into my head since I was a kid....caught one in a rock fight in the eye (definitely a downer!) and one took out 1/4 of one of my front teeth....peeked from behind a tree at the wrong time. Ah well, I survived. I'm trying to walk lightly with rock tumbling...hobbies tend to suck me in like a rainbow vacuum cleaner! I gotta be careful as the budget is kinda tight....but, we'll see! As for "fitting in"....I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to take comfort in that or not!!!
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 15, 2015 11:30:00 GMT -5
As for "fitting in"....I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to take comfort in that or not!!! Um... I think you can take it as a compliment! I guess it depends on what you think of all of us crazies!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 15, 2015 11:32:45 GMT -5
<chuckle>...and I do...take it as a compliment. Just trying to figure out which one of you is going to get me in the most trouble fun.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 12:29:59 GMT -5
Greetings [intheswamp] Ed firstly may i welcome you to RTH Forums, from Scotland, I too use the Lortone QT 12/66, I normally use it with the 12lb barrel for Fixed 80 Silicon Carbide grit (60/90) and F220 (120/240) then switch to the 6lb barrels for F600 SC(F500 Aluminum Oxide) pre-polish, and Polish of choice, but now with the vibe in operation it can take over from stage 2. Right now I am running just one 6lb barrel with Quartz Rock crystal with Amethyst and gold Tigers Eye filler doing Stage one F80 (60/90), I put it on 2 months ago and just cleaned it out and reloaded my max 6lb load in Sticky #5 yesterday. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) vibrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Sept 15, 2015 12:47:18 GMT -5
Andrew, I'd call that tumble (sticky 5) a fail. Not so sure that it needs to go all the way back to 80 grit though. The rocks are already shaped. I'd restart with 120/220. Looks to me like you need more cushioning or filler. Thinking the barrel wasn't near full enough and those rocks have been beat to hell.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 13:51:07 GMT -5
Greetings [captbob] most of the Quartz Rock crystal are not quite ready as it has only been in the tumbler for one round and I dont get anything out, to move on to the next stage, until it's been at least two or three rounds in F80 (60/90), four or five stones of my media were ready to move on, but some of that has been tumbled for greater than two years already, so it wont hurt them going another round. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) vibrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 15, 2015 15:08:00 GMT -5
<chuckle>...and I do...take it as a compliment. Just trying to figure out which one of you is going to get me in the most trouble fun. See here, Ed. Anyone that can equate trouble with fun is okay in my book! And I can just about guarantee you both here.
It is the reason we are on this forum, and not one of the other ones, lol.
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Sept 15, 2015 15:17:18 GMT -5
Have you plugged in your 3# Thumlers to see if it still works, Intheswamp? If it is still operational, maybe buy another barrel with the lid from the Rock Shed for prepolish and polish, and use the other one for your 1st 2 stages? Do you have other places that don't require the mining fee? I've been toying with the idea of going up to the Montgomery/Wetumpka area and checking out the gravel pits and bars along the Alabama River...not sure if I'll find good rock there or not, but who knows.Down this way there's not a lot to pick from...gotta drive *somewhere* so I'm trying to maximize my travel investment. I am curious about your thoughts about the Hogg Mine... Ed, yes, these are a fine group of folks that participate on RTH. I found jamesp's thread on the Wetumpka crater. I am not sure if the crater is off limits to the public though. Have a piece of shocked quartz from the Wetumpka crater site. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/58382/huge-wetumpka-alabama-metoerite-craterbroseph82 and his family live in 'Bama, and have been hounding in several places around the state (petrified wood, agates, jaspers...). He and Tonya also have a nice place that they find slag glass in Georgia. I hope Jimi sees your thread and can give some tips on where to look that does not require a fee. It's the entry fee to the Hogg mine is why I have not been to the site. I almost talked Rick into going when free fishing at the lake was allowed from the mine site. Now, to fish at the entry to the lake, it's 35 dollars. Many of the RTH members have been there and have enjoyed their experience at the Hogg. You may want to consider joining MAGMA. www.wncrocks.com/magma/magma%20join%20club.htm Just noticed that there's a link from the MAGNA site to kap's store. The Graves Mountain dig (October and April) is open to everyone and is free!! But, from what I understand, there's mainly minerals for collecting. Not sure about finding tumbling rough there. From MAGMA's website on the free Graves Mtn. dig in Lincolnton, Georgia this October. It's the 2nd announcement. www.wncrocks.com/magma/magmaupcomingevents.htm We may go to Graves in October. It rained last year when Jimi/ broseph82 and his family went there last year. kinda like a monsoon, lol. (Sorry, Jimi ) I hope that garock, kap, fantastic5, jamesp, pghram, cpdad, broseph82, and orrum may share with you some goody spots for finding (no access fee sites) possible tumbling rough and their experiences at the Hogg.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 15:21:16 GMT -5
Greetings [intheswamp] as a bonus the Lortone QT 12/66 can run either 200mm (8") or 115mm (4.5") diameter barrels, for example a 6lb and a 3lb barrel at the same time. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) vibrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 15, 2015 21:07:09 GMT -5
I started this hobby with my son who was about 12 at the time. Now he's 16 and has completely lost interest. I have become hooked bad however. Don't feel bad if you end up liking this hobby more than your granddaughters. They're a good excuse that might get your wife behind the expenditures though.
I have a Lortone QT66 and I like it a lot. I prefer two barrels to one because I like to tumble batches of different rocks at the same time.
You don't have to worry about bruising or frosting stones unless you are tumbling fragile stones. Quartz (citrine, amethyst) and obsidian are prone to damage for example. You shouldn't start with either of those rocks. Start with something like agate or jasper if you can. I don't usually worry about making a thick slurry unless I'm tumbling a fragile rock.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,169
|
Post by jamesp on Sept 16, 2015 6:18:54 GMT -5
What Rob said, start out with agate, jasper, and our southern chert. You can find a lot of coastal plain chert close by like the Flint River near Albany GA, Cedar Springs GA and many of the creeks along the FL/AL state line and S AL. Probably all over the lower third of Alabama along the Fall Line and south. Plus you guys have petrified wood. The green band across GA and AL is the shore of an ancient ocean that was 360 feet deeper that the present ocean. Called the Fall Line.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 16, 2015 6:58:20 GMT -5
<chuckle>...and I do...take it as a compliment. Just trying to figure out which one of you is going to get me in the most trouble fun. See here, Ed. Anyone that can equate trouble with fun is okay in my book! And I can just about guarantee you both here.
It is the reason we are on this forum, and not one of the other ones, lol.
Well, Jean, it sounds like a good crowd...if I decide to leave one day I'll just rip the water cooler off the wall and throw it through a window so I can escape!! I don't know where this rock tumbling will take me, but I'll enjoy the ride....otherwise, why do it, eh?
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 16, 2015 8:11:39 GMT -5
gingerkid, I haven't plugged the Model T in yet. Good idea, now why hadn't I thought to do that. When I opened the box up and touched the belt it broke into pieces...found some on ebay. The lid seemed a little "rough" around the edges...nothing bad, but I went ahead and picked up another lid and o-ring for it "just in case". But, dang it!...I haven't plugged it in to see if it runs! It has only had one batch of rocks to run through it. I would think on that motor that the circuitry is fairly simple. Any capacitors in there? I had thought about another barrel to help keep the grind and polish stages separate...<pause> <un-pause> Ok, you made me go get the tumbler and plug it in. At first it "hummed", I spun the pulley (no belt on at that time) and it started turned, got up to speed quickly and sat there spinning along. I then figured I'd put a belt on and see how it did. Are the belts on these things supposed to be "loose"? The belt I have is loose enough that if it was a grunt looser it would clear the sides of the pulley groove... The belt seems to turn the pulley fine but I didn't have a heavy barrel loading it up. I had read about the Wetumpka crater and may make a trip there to experience the impact area. From what I've read it is rather restricted around there...seems there may be a rock group from B'ham(?) that has gained access a time or two. I may just have to settle for stumbling along the riverbanks. I checked out your shocked quartz...that is an interesting term. I'm taking it that that is a type of "meta..." rock....rock that was changed after it's formation by a major force? Interesting, historical piece!!! I pm'd broseph82/Jimi...he may have responded by now, I'll check after I'm through here for his "hint". Yes, I'm kind of put off by the $35 fee along with probably another $35 or so in gas money and probably six hours total driving time...that's why I was picking your mind about the mine. Seems I could come away from Hogg with a bunch of rock, maybe even a couple of nice ones...seems like rose quartz and beryl might be the most prevalent stone to be had...but I could also spend that money online and have some fine rock delivered to my door and spend that driving time on something else...or drive up to Montgomery along the Alabama River or one of the lake shores and see what I could find. I'm really not looking forward to that ride to LaGrange. Glad to here there's been some positive reports on the Hogg Mine from RTH members!!! I thought I had found Hoggs Mine on a Google map, but you mention a lake and I don't see one at the quarry site that I'm looking at...the site that I'm looking at is off of 219 south of LaGrange, basically SE of "Valero" and "Sunny's Place". Going a couple miles further south on 219 I see what looks like a long pit just beside the road on the west side...to the west of that is a large lake. ? I'll look into MAGMA... Thanks for the information, gingerkid!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 16, 2015 8:13:30 GMT -5
Greetings [intheswamp] as a bonus the Lortone QT 12/66 can run either 200mm (8") or 115mm (4.5") diameter barrels, for example a 6lb and a 3lb barrel at the same time. Thanks for the info on the QT66....I'm thinking if I "go big" that the QT66 will be the next step!
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 16, 2015 8:22:39 GMT -5
I started this hobby with my son who was about 12 at the time. Now he's 16 and has completely lost interest. I have become hooked bad however. Don't feel bad if you end up liking this hobby more than your granddaughters. They're a good excuse that might get your wife behind the expenditures though. I have a Lortone QT66 and I like it a lot. I prefer two barrels to one because I like to tumble batches of different rocks at the same time. You don't have to worry about bruising or frosting stones unless you are tumbling fragile stones. Quartz (citrine, amethyst) and obsidian are prone to damage for example. You shouldn't start with either of those rocks. Start with something like agate or jasper if you can. I don't usually worry about making a thick slurry unless I'm tumbling a fragile rock. Something tells me that this might be along the same lines that I'm destined to journey down...the only thing being my oldest granddaughter is very "bookish" but also very active....and interesting combination. The middle one is mostly *active* but she is beginning to take an interest in learning to read so she may very well follow her sister's footsteps. Only time will tell. Maybe this is the culmination of the coffee can tumbler for me. What size hook was that...#6 or 2/0? Thanks for the plug for the QT66. I'm really thinking this is the route I'll go *if* I run off the cliff of no return.<g> I have a mix from Montana coming that supposedly is a agate, jasper, etc., mix. But, I have some *very* nice unakite that will be going into the tumbler first. Really cool looking rock!!! I've been trying to figure out what "bruising" means and since you talked of quartz being fragile I think I know what bruising might mean....looking into the quartz what appears to be "fractures" that cloud up the stone???
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Sept 16, 2015 8:36:13 GMT -5
What Rob said, start out with agate, jasper, and our southern chert. You can find a lot of coastal plain chert close by like the Flint River near Albany GA, Cedar Springs GA and many of the creeks along the FL/AL state line and S AL. Probably all over the lower third of Alabama along the Fall Line and south. Plus you guys have petrified wood. The green band across GA and AL is the shore of an ancient ocean that was 360 feet deeper that the present ocean. Called the Fall Line. James, that band makes sense to me. Fossils have been found north of me...one sea serpent, I believe, too! I know that over towards the Chattahoochee River that pertrified wood can be found. I've found a *few* pieces locally here in a few spots on the river when I was a kid. Problem now is that most of those spots are owned by paper companies and have been gated off by hunting clubs that least vast acreage from them. Places we use to hunt arrowheads at and ride dirt roads are gated now by hunting clubs. The sad thing is that these clubs actually lock out folks who were taught by there daddies and granddaddies how to hunt on lots of this land. I think this is called "progress"? But, if I can finagle around I'm going to try and get into a couple of these areas...before the water gets too cold. Another "sign of the times" is that several years ago I took my bro-in-law to one of the petrified wood "holes". I stooped down into the hole and brought up a double handful of "rocks"....I was very fortunate in that I did not cut myself as the handful consisted of lots and lots of broken glass!!!!! Why do people do that???<sigh> I know that there is a lot of quartz in the gravel beds along the big rivers around Montgomery and over in west Alabama but in these rock beds will there be other types of rocks to be found or will they all be just different quartz? I've seen river worn tans and blacks and reds and striped of sorts....worth picking through the gravel bars? Piles of gravel have always fascinated me....especially as a kid (maybe I'm getting into the later stages of Shakespears "Seven Ages of Man" )....just seemed there is some treasure in those piles.
|
|