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Post by MsAli on Jan 14, 2018 13:07:50 GMT -5
Well here is George jamesp sent me a Rio to finish. (❤) George weighs 7.5 oz and is incredibly beautiful!! This will be a test of my 3lb HF rotary tumbler. And a test of my tumbling skills. Can this be done? So thismorning, I cleaned out the batch I had going, selected the ones I wanted to continue. Cleaned them thoroughly and threw them in with George. I've started with 220 and will run a week. (I'll check them in a couple days)
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jan 14, 2018 14:16:51 GMT -5
Steppin out on the wild side Let er roll Alison !! Got faith in you. If the smalls and the Botswana's don't fill the barrel to the 2/3 or 3/4 mark you may want to add more jelly bean smalls to avoid possible jam. I run 16 to 24 ounce single big rocks in a 6 inch barrel, that 8 ouncer should be right at home with the Botswana's and the smalls and the 4 inch barrel. I hope you will run sugar in stage 3 and polish stage after the 220 roll. (I always cheat and use the vibe for stage 3 and polish). Your task is taller considering a rotary finish.
Rock on 3 pound Alison !
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Post by MsAli on Jan 14, 2018 14:25:02 GMT -5
I tried to fill it so it wasn't too packed in there and it had room to roll. From the sound if it, he is rolling pretty good. Hope he won't beat the agates too much. I will try to do you proud. Wishful thinking he will be as polished as Big Red.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 14, 2018 15:10:23 GMT -5
I've done something similar to this in the past. Should be good to go.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 14, 2018 15:33:37 GMT -5
I tried to fill it so it wasn't too packed in there and it had room to roll. From the sound if it, he is rolling pretty good. Hope he won't beat the agates too much. I will try to do you proud. Wishful thinking he will be as polished as Big Red. It should be a gentle sound. If it is banging or slapping add more of those jelly beans. But not too many. should be a steady rumble. The key is in the correct fill. They should protect the Botswana's. There is plenty of weight to break the 220 down.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 14, 2018 16:14:58 GMT -5
Occasional thud, I'll add a little more jellies
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Post by MsAli on Jan 21, 2018 15:18:24 GMT -5
1 week now on to 600
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Post by fernwood on Jan 21, 2018 15:33:47 GMT -5
George is one handsome guy.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 21, 2018 16:22:04 GMT -5
George is one handsome guy. He is very handsome. Hope I do him justice.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2018 4:50:53 GMT -5
George is one handsome guy. He is very handsome. Hope I do him justice. Fingers crossed. Your mix of rocks looks perfect for success. Smooth small stuff with one big rock usually scores a polish !
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2018 5:03:40 GMT -5
This mix is perfect for a big rock in 600 and polish. Lots of pea sized smalls for cushioning. During coarse grind and 220 you can run more of the 1 inch stones for a bit more aggressive grind. Then set some of the 1 inch stones aside and replace a few with the pea sized media for 600 and polish to cushion the big rock during the finish steps. Accumulate an overage of 1 inch rocks out of 220 and run them together in 600 and polish at a later date. I keep containers of partially tumbled rocks and label their next needed stage in situations like this.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 23, 2018 8:57:49 GMT -5
Thank you jamesp. I felt like I need to add a tad more cushioning to the mix, but if it looks good I'll leave it. Checked them last night and they are looking and feeling smooth.
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Post by captbob on Jan 23, 2018 9:16:02 GMT -5
Maybe more important that the mix is the sound. When you get to 500/600 and finer you don't want a bunch of (any) clunking to be heard from the barrel. Something closer to waves breaking on the shore is what I look for.
Coarse grind, go ahead and work them rocks - culls out the weak pieces. But very fine grits & polish, I baby them. Lots of cushioning. May add a little time to the run, but so be it.
George and the Bots - sounds like a name for a band.
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Post by fantastic5 on Jan 23, 2018 9:22:41 GMT -5
Watching with interest MsAli. I've not tried to polish a large stone yet. You're inspiring me to give it a try. George? Great name for an agate, but I've got to wonder, is this because he came from Jim in Georgia? Or is this more of a George of the Jungle thing?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2018 9:31:48 GMT -5
Fine advise from the captbob. Me and Bob fought off Mexican drug lords to bring those George's back from the Mexican border. We almost died.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2018 9:37:11 GMT -5
Watching with interest MsAli. I've not tried to polish a large stone yet. You're inspiring me to give it a try. George? Great name for an agate, but I've got to wonder, is this because he came from Jim in Georgia? Or is this more of a George of the Jungle thing? I may be the first bi-coastal tumble. Coarse grind in Georgia, finish grind in California. Looove my beads, owe you one Ferris.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 23, 2018 10:30:20 GMT -5
Watching with interest MsAli . I've not tried to polish a large stone yet. You're inspiring me to give it a try. George? Great name for an agate, but I've got to wonder, is this because he came from Jim in Georgia? Or is this more of a George of the Jungle thing? Old cartoon
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Post by MsAli on Jan 23, 2018 10:37:41 GMT -5
Watching with interest MsAli . I've not tried to polish a large stone yet. You're inspiring me to give it a try. George? Great name for an agate, but I've got to wonder, is this because he came from Jim in Georgia? Or is this more of a George of the Jungle thing? If this works and I have no doubt with all the help, it will. I have more I want to try. Jim did the hard work for me, so that was a big advantage. I didn't even think of the Jim from Georgia thing....but George comes from my favorite cartoon......😊
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 23, 2018 10:40:38 GMT -5
Deja vu
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Post by MsAli on Jan 23, 2018 10:43:11 GMT -5
Maybe more important that the mix is the sound. When you get to 500/600 and finer you don't want a bunch of (any) clunking to be heard from the barrel. Something closer to waves breaking on the shore is what I look for. Coarse grind, go ahead and work them rocks - culls out the weak pieces. But very fine grits & polish, I baby them. Lots of cushioning. May add a little time to the run, but so be it. George and the Bots - sounds like a name for a band. George and the Bots---Love it-Picture them as a funky southern blues band ; )
I get what you mean about the sound-which is why I think I need more cushioning. I have aquarium gravel and ceramic pellets. I worried if I added either to this stage, it may scratch the rocks??? I should have bought plastic pellets ;(
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