|
Post by Condor on Feb 16, 2018 14:22:19 GMT -5
Just bought some 36 grit to rough tumble some bubblegum agates in a 15 lb Thumler's Tumbler. Any suggestions on how to begin?
Condor
|
|
|
Post by johnw on Feb 16, 2018 14:45:40 GMT -5
Hi Condor, why 36 grit? I am using 60-90 on Bahia Agates with great success with a two six pound barrel Covington rotary. Just curious? Cheers, johnw
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Feb 16, 2018 15:47:17 GMT -5
Since they are so hard to tumble, I heard that 36 makes the first stage much better and rounder. I just don't know how much to use, or water to add. Not sure if it's the same as 60/90.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Feb 16, 2018 16:29:39 GMT -5
The thing I love about bubblgums is thier oddness. Me personally, I wouldn't take away that character. There's a thread on here somewhere with a really awesome display of them.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Feb 16, 2018 16:32:26 GMT -5
|
|
quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
|
Post by quartz on Feb 16, 2018 23:55:20 GMT -5
My opinion, 1 lb. grit per gallon of barrel capacity, water no higher than bottom of top layer of rock, a little less O.K. too.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Feb 17, 2018 0:14:40 GMT -5
My opinion, 1 lb. grit per pound of rock, water no higher than bottom of top layer of rock, a little less O.K. too. That seems like an awful lot of grit. I looked at my Lortone Manual and grit recommendations for this stage, and in doing the math, it is 1.666666 tbsp per pound of barrel capacity. So, in your case, you might want to try 25 tbsp. In comparison, I use 10 tbsp of grit in the coarse stage for a 6lb barrel. The math works out accordingly. I also found directions for the Thumlers at the following site. Perhaps this will help some. www.therockshed.com/instructions1.html#RotaryI'm not sure, but I think captbob uses a 15 lb tumbler. Maybe he'll jump in here.
|
|
quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
|
Post by quartz on Feb 17, 2018 0:40:34 GMT -5
aDave, thanks for seeing that, boy I miffed it bigtime. Edited it to say one pound of grit per gallon of barrel capacity, so a six pound barrel would be ~1/2 pound of grit. I gotta focus on one thing at a time.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 17, 2018 4:29:11 GMT -5
I chunk a cup to a cup and a quarter of SiC 30 in a 16 pound barrel. Never weighed it. With 6 sided barrels you may have to add some clay or kitty litter to create a slurry to lift 36 grit. It tends to sink in pure water and more so in those gentle 6 sided barrels.
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Feb 17, 2018 10:11:43 GMT -5
Re: creating a slurry
That's what I was thinking. The grit might me too heavy and just sink to the bottom. I'll try adding some kitty litter to get it started and see what happens.
|
|
doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
|
Post by doublet83 on Feb 17, 2018 11:56:36 GMT -5
15lb thumler's barrel shouldn't have a problem breaking down 36 grit. I've used that machine to break down 30 grit with no issues.
That said, if you have any issues, it might be because the tumbling action is too gentle, in which case I would suggest putting a few bigger rocks in the load, or one big rock.
|
|