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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 17, 2016 17:17:34 GMT -5
We finally have results in our first foray into tumbling. After all the work and time that went into it, my boys were pleased to have something to show for it. They received around 30 lbs. of rough for Christmas with their Lortone 33B (Santa had too much fun looking at all the different rocks out there) and they were insistent on putting as wide a variety in the first tumble as possible, so there was a lot of removing softer ones and adding more in along the way, but we finally got enough through to the end. We look forward to learning more about this hobby from the knowledgeable people on here and from our own experimentation. Here are a few of our favorites from our first go around.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 17, 2016 17:35:09 GMT -5
That is a great first effort and would even be great if it were your tenth batch. Nice assortment and looks like you got the hardest part down pat. Patience.
Chuck
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Post by mohs on Feb 17, 2016 17:43:51 GMT -5
kids will get hooked fast with that fine rolled a batch good job!
garage rock is some of my favorite as a side note mostly
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Post by mohs on Feb 17, 2016 17:44:52 GMT -5
o --an that Italy shaped tiger eye rocks!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Feb 17, 2016 17:48:14 GMT -5
Sweet work. You have team. Santa was delayed ?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 17, 2016 18:08:40 GMT -5
Great rocks and a great shine on them. What's planned for the second batch?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 17, 2016 18:57:43 GMT -5
Beautiful work!!!!!!!!! Thumbs up
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 17, 2016 19:36:10 GMT -5
Great rocks and a great shine on them. What's planned for the second batch? Thanks! We've currently got picture jasper and desert jasper in one barrel and some small Bahia agates and lakers in the other barrel. I can already see the need for a larger capacity tumbler, after one whole batch. We have a backlog of rock to get through before I can justify getting more, for the kids of course.
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 17, 2016 19:37:03 GMT -5
They turned out great. Nice variety.
Andrea
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 17, 2016 19:50:38 GMT -5
Sweet work. You have team. Santa was delayed ? If Santa was delayed, it was because he was carrying all that rock. We finished the tumble a little while ago and it took me a little time to get a photo and then figure out how to post a photo, and so on. In all, we were about 5 weeks getting through the process. Four weeks to get enough rocks through the course grind that were acceptable, then they went in that Lot O Tumbler that I hadn't mentioned that I bought after realizing that I wasn't going to do one week in the first stage, like the booklet says. So, after one tumbled batch, I now have experience in both types of tumbler.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Feb 17, 2016 20:12:33 GMT -5
Sweet work. You have team. Santa was delayed ? If Santa was delayed, it was because he was carrying all that rock. We finished the tumble a little while ago and it took me a little time to get a photo and then figure out how to post a photo, and so on. In all, we were about 5 weeks getting through the process. Four weeks to get enough rocks through the course grind that were acceptable, then they went in that Lot O Tumbler that I hadn't mentioned that I bought after realizing that I wasn't going to do one week in the first stage, like the booklet says. So, after one tumbled batch, I now have experience in both types of tumbler. LOL. How big ?? "I can already see the need for a larger capacity tumbler, after one whole batch." The vibe is the key. Grind them in the rotary and finish them in the vibe. By the way, the vibe will sit waiting for the rotary. So best way is to go with a bigger rotary.
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Feb 17, 2016 23:08:22 GMT -5
Great first batch! Some of those are hard to polish alone and you guys got good results in a mixed batch.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 17, 2016 23:21:51 GMT -5
Great rocks and a great shine on them. What's planned for the second batch? Thanks! We've currently got picture jasper and desert jasper in one barrel and some small Bahia agates and lakers in the other barrel. I can already see the need for a larger capacity tumbler, after one whole batch. We have a backlog of rock to get through before I can justify getting more, for the kids of course.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 18, 2016 11:33:57 GMT -5
That's funny Intheswamp, I've already been in the homemade equipment section of the forum. Tumblers and saws and grinders, oh my! It's not asking too much to have all the toys I 'need' from the get go, is it? Time to google search local thrift shops, peddlers malls and scrap yards.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 18, 2016 11:58:37 GMT -5
Things can spiral out of control if you are not careful Chuck
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 18, 2016 12:04:00 GMT -5
Things can spiral out of control if you are not careful Chuck BUT who wants to be careful? Not me!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 18, 2016 12:10:21 GMT -5
Things can spiral out of control if you are not careful Chuck BUT who wants to be careful? Not me! I have learned my pain tolerance for clean outs is right at about 40-50 pounds a week. If I ran all 100 pounds I would have to stagger the timing and not try to clean it all in one day. Chuck
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 18, 2016 12:27:12 GMT -5
Holy guacamole, as the kids say, Chuck. That's a lot of tumbling action! I'd take that right now, but my priority might just be a saw to cut the KY agate and geodes common in this area. I hate having to pay someone else to cut my rock, just to see what's inside. Well, okay, maybe I'd like one of those 12 or 15 lb. tumblers so we can keep the Lot O busy.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 18, 2016 12:46:36 GMT -5
BUT who wants to be careful? Not me! I have learned my pain tolerance for clean outs is right at about 40-50 pounds a week. If I ran all 100 pounds I would have to stagger the timing and not try to clean it all in one day. Chuck I only run 21 lbs. (five barrels). I intentionally stagger my clean outs for something to look forward to twice a week. I clean my two large barrels out on Saturday and my three small barrels on Wednesday. The Lot-O gets cleaned out whenever it needs to be.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 18, 2016 21:04:40 GMT -5
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