arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 18, 2016 21:25:58 GMT -5
Here's the rocks I picked out of the cleanout today. I refilled the Thumler Model B with more 'food' and started her back up with a fresh pound of grit and a lot less water than 10 days ago. The gravy was much too thin this go round. Is this enough to feed the Lot O?
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Post by snowmom on Mar 20, 2016 6:54:04 GMT -5
those are looking good.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 20, 2016 7:37:45 GMT -5
To fill the Lot-O, you should have at least 30% ceramics and the rest rocks. Fill it almost all the way. Leave about in inch or so of space at the top so the rocks can move. If you put too many big rocks in the Lot-O, the rocks won't rotate properly.
Most of your rocks aren't ready for the next stage yet in my opinion. You'll be much happier if you only put perfect rocks through to the next stage. I almost never have rocks ready after the first week or two in the rotary. I only move them on when they have no more cracks or holes. Just take out the perfect ones and replace them with new rocks. Wait until you accumulate enough to fill the Lot-O.
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 20, 2016 18:55:27 GMT -5
The majority of these rocks have been tumbling for 21 days. The ruby in kianite is practically gone. What is considered "perfect" before the next stage?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 20, 2016 19:05:45 GMT -5
what is "perfect" is a matter of opinion. When you pull your rocks from stage on and look at them wet that is the best they might look after completing the batch. Any pits, crevices, cracks or divots in them when you move them to stage two will still be there at the very end just shinier.
Some of us like flawless rocks that are smooth to the touch and some don't seem to care and just want shiny rocks with natural flaws.
Chuck
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 20, 2016 19:27:16 GMT -5
For reference here are a handful of rocks I just pulled out of 46-70 that I will be moving on to stage two. Dry Wet Chuck
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 22, 2016 11:49:05 GMT -5
Thanks all. I think my anticipation to fill the Lot-O is getting the best of me because it is sitting there doing nothing. In the meantime, I'm pulling a few stones a week from the Thumler. I went back through and pulled only the stones that without pits, crevices and cracks for the Lot-O which means that 75% of the rocks in my above picture will go back 'to the grind' in other words. I think a lot of it was during the rinsing of the stones outside and taking a quick look and saying.. that one looks good, but later getting them inside and taking a closer look and seeing all kinds of flaws. As we say in the IT world, "Garbage In, Garbage Out" applies here too. I just need a big dose of patience. Thanks for keeping me in line.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Mar 22, 2016 12:55:49 GMT -5
I think it's only natural that you are anxious to get that Lot O going. It's a new toy you can look at, but can't use. There are few things worse than that. My first run was done with a bunch of soft material that I rushed through the course grind and some other stuff that wasn't quite ready. I got a handful of keepers and a bunch of others that showed fractures, divots, etc. Those will make another pass through when the Lortone has some room. Now that I got that first try out of the way, and got my unsatisfactory results, I am patiently waiting for enough good rocks to pass through the course grind before firing up the Lot O again. I say throw in whatever you want to throw in there, give it a go, see if you're happy with what comes out and learn from what doesn't go well. Sometimes, making your own mistake is the best way to learn! My bet is that you will come to the same conclusion that everyone else has and that the more patient in stage one, the better your results. For now though, find something (I used some old tumbled stone I found that had lost it's luster) to throw in with a few stones you have that are ready and get that new toy going. You'll likely have them done before you clean out the rotary again anyway. It doesn't take much grit to play around a little and you may get some keepers. Now, go have fun and don't expect perfection.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 22, 2016 13:37:01 GMT -5
Now those are a shining !!!! Great work... Two thumbs up
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bcgal
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2016
Posts: 94
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Post by bcgal on Mar 24, 2016 13:48:26 GMT -5
My first post Those all look great. I am very excited as I recently got a tumbler for my birthday and have been patiently going through all the stages over the last two months. i am on my final polish stage and cant wait to peek at my rocks tonight. Perhaps if i can figure things out I will upload a few pictures. quick question, if one was to drill a hole into a polished stone, whats the best way to go about it? (The hole doesnt have to be large as I just want to sneak some leather through for a necklace)
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 24, 2016 14:01:55 GMT -5
My first post Those all look great. I am very excited as I recently got a tumbler for my birthday and have been patiently going through all the stages over the last two months. i am on my final polish stage and cant wait to peek at my rocks tonight. Perhaps if i can figure things out I will upload a few pictures. quick question, if one was to drill a hole into a polished stone, whats the best way to go about it? (The hole doesnt have to be large as I just want to sneak some leather through for a necklace) Welcome to the forum. You'll probably get more responses to your question if you post it as a separate thread. I drill holes in rocks with a drill press. You'll need diamond core bits to drill rock. I use a small sandwich Tupperware type box with water in it to drill in. Submerge the rock in water and then lower the drill for a few seconds, then raise the drill, then lower it again. By raising and lowering the drill, you'll allow it to cool and also allow the rock dust to come out of the hole. Don't use too much pressure because it's bad for the drill. If you want to spend a lot more money, you can get a gizmo that runs water through the drill bit instead of using the container of water. I also drill beads with 1mm holes using a dremmel in a drill press accessory, but a leather cord wouldn't fit through that.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 24, 2016 14:38:29 GMT -5
arkie, they're looking good! Keep at it!!! If you *really* want to play work with your Lot-O leave the rocks tumbling in the coarse grind and pick out some coarse rock (maybe a few pieces of pet wood if you have it?) and start them out in the Lot-O for some natural shaped polished rocks. The nooks and crannies and pits will hide grit but you get to play work with the rocks and the Lot-O and very well might turn out some natural beauties!!! I'm not in it as a business, just having fun. If I stumble upon a way to make money out of my mud and muck down here I certainly won't turn it down, though!!!!<grin>
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bcgal
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2016
Posts: 94
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Post by bcgal on Mar 24, 2016 15:15:53 GMT -5
My first post Those all look great. I am very excited as I recently got a tumbler for my birthday and have been patiently going through all the stages over the last two months. i am on my final polish stage and cant wait to peek at my rocks tonight. Perhaps if i can figure things out I will upload a few pictures. quick question, if one was to drill a hole into a polished stone, whats the best way to go about it? (The hole doesnt have to be large as I just want to sneak some leather through for a necklace) Welcome to the forum. You'll probably get more responses to your question if you post it as a separate thread. I drill holes in rocks with a drill press. You'll need diamond core bits to drill rock. I use a small sandwich Tupperware type box with water in it to drill in. Submerge the rock in water and then lower the drill for a few seconds, then raise the drill, then lower it again. By raising and lowering the drill, you'll allow it to cool and also allow the rock dust to come out of the hole. Don't use too much pressure because it's bad for the drill. If you want to spend a lot more money, you can get a gizmo that runs water through the drill bit instead of using the container of water. I also drill beads with 1mm holes using a dremmel in a drill press accessory, but a leather cord wouldn't fit through that. Thank you, wasnt sure where to get started. not one for forums but I am very excited about using the stones I tumble
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Mar 24, 2016 17:22:50 GMT -5
I'd throw them in the vibe.......but then again, I'm no champ polisher!
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