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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 6, 2019 10:20:37 GMT -5
I meant to do it much sooner but my crashed harddrive has set me back.
1st- I DID find my instructions. They were inside the barrel. But, there were also 3 small bags numbered 1,2 and 3. What are they? They appear to be grit.
2nd- I am running my ceramic media first. I have started according to what everyone says. I have it running now, but I can't see any dark grit against the white ceramics. Is it possible that it settled? I don't think it's too wet, but maybe it is.
3rd- Do you guys pretty much use the grits that rock shed ships with? I am wondering if I need to get anything else. I had to order some borax at the last minute because I forgot it. Do I have to burnish between grits with the ceramics? How long should ceramics run on the first grit? I am thinking as long as I want according to shape. I probably won't even bother polishing. Is that OK?
Sorry to sound dumb. I guess I'm a little anxious about my first run.
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Post by aDave on Jun 6, 2019 11:32:33 GMT -5
I meant to do it much sooner but my crashed harddrive has set me back.
1st- I DID find my instructions. They were inside the barrel. But, there were also 3 small bags numbered 1,2 and 3. What are they? They appear to be grit.
2nd- I am running my ceramic media first. I have started according to what everyone says. I have it running now, but I can't see any dark grit against the white ceramics. Is it possible that it settled? I don't think it's too wet, but maybe it is.
3rd- Do you guys pretty much use the grits that rock shed ships with? I am wondering if I need to get anything else. I had to order some borax at the last minute because I forgot it. Do I have to burnish between grits with the ceramics? How long should ceramics run on the first grit? I am thinking as long as I want according to shape. I probably won't even bother polishing. Is that OK?
Sorry to sound dumb. I guess I'm a little anxious about my first run. 1) If I recall correctly, those bags were, in fact, grit. I think the numbers correspond to the steps in the instructions. But, I didn't want to go with an unknown quantity, so I threw them away. I just used what I had on-hand. 2) Hmm. I think you should be seeing grit. But, let it run a bit and see if anything changes. If not, just start over. When I add grit to a load, I have the machine running and pour it in slowly. That way it coats all over the material in the barrel instead of it being poured in one clump. 3) I use 120/220, 500 AO, and AO polish - all from the Rock Shed. The only time I somewhat religiously burnish is after the polish stage, but that's not a guarantee anymore. Occaisionally, some slurry doesn't come off well with high pressure water from a hose, so I'll burnish there for about an hour at most. When I've run ceramics before, I ran them for 24 hours in 120/220. Since they were going to be moved along with rocks after that stage, I didn't do additional separate stages for them. Don't worry about the questions. You should have seen all mine.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 6, 2019 11:38:03 GMT -5
I'll check it again a few times and see if it looks any better. If not, I'll start again.
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tomg
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by tomg on Jun 6, 2019 13:23:37 GMT -5
I don't have a lot-o but my MT-4 vibe will evaporate the water pretty fast if not sealed. You might try leaving the top off for a while and see what happens.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 6, 2019 14:18:43 GMT -5
I don't have a lot-o but my MT-4 vibe will evaporate the water pretty fast if not sealed. You might try leaving the top off for a while and see what happens. I was wondering just that. Thanks!
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jun 7, 2019 12:26:36 GMT -5
I can't wait to see some of the nice results you come up with! It already sounds like you are a good deal of the ways in to learning and experimenting with the new Lot-O tumbler. I am not qualified to answer any questions, but i would like to draw Rob's ( Jugglerguy) attention to your thread. I learned so much from his posts and videos. I really would be lost in endless months of experimenting with my vibratory tumbler had it not been for his help!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 7, 2019 12:52:56 GMT -5
I can't wait to see some of the nice results you come up with! It already sounds like you are a good deal of the ways in to learning and experimenting with the new Lot-O tumbler. I am not qualified to answer any questions, but i would like to draw Rob's ( Jugglerguy ) attention to your thread. I learned so much from his posts and videos. I really would be lost in endless months of experimenting with my vibratory tumbler had it not been for his help! Oh, I know!
I haven't started actual flats, yet, but when I do, I will be referencing his posts and video. I'm really lucky to be here and the be the beneficiary of so much talent.
And an UPDATE- the ceramics have been tumbling for abt 40 hours. It has been circulating well. I added a few squirts of water a couple times. I think I'm getting an "eye" for how it moves. I can see the grit, now, too.
Should I change and add more grit now? They aren't quite worn, yet.
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Post by aDave on Jun 7, 2019 15:04:18 GMT -5
Should I change and add more grit now? They aren't quite worn, yet. You can if you want, but all I looked for was the slightest of rounding to edges on the ceramics - just enough to where the sharpness was gone. Wait, when you say change, are you looking at doing a cleanout? Probably not necessary. Perhaps you can add a bit of grit again, but check the edges like I mentioned.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 7, 2019 15:43:11 GMT -5
Should I change and add more grit now? They aren't quite worn, yet. You can if you want, but all I looked for was the slightest of rounding to edges on the ceramics - just enough to where the sharpness was gone. Wait, when you say change, are you looking at doing a cleanout? Probably not necessary. Perhaps you can add a bit of grit again, but check the edges like I mentioned. Sorry, I meant to change it out as in empty and put in fresh, but I guess that's over kill. I'll just add some more grit. Thanks.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 7, 2019 20:40:25 GMT -5
Sorry, I had a very busy evening yesterday. I think Dave answered your questions well. Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.
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Post by aDave on Jun 7, 2019 22:29:51 GMT -5
Sorry, I had a very busy evening yesterday. I think Dave answered your questions well. Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. In a sense, you answered, as I got my original ceramic prep instructions from you.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 8, 2019 6:00:34 GMT -5
Fly on the wall watching from Georgia, good luck Tela. You will hit it out of the park.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 8, 2019 6:24:43 GMT -5
Fly on the wall watching from Georgia, good luck Tela. You will hit it out of the park. Thank you! I have my first batch of actual rocks in there now. Following Rob Jugglerguy's shapes video. I'll know in a few days if I am doing it right.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Jun 8, 2019 6:49:51 GMT -5
Fly on the wall watching from Georgia, good luck Tela. You will hit it out of the park. Thank you! I have my first batch of actual rocks in there now. Following Rob Jugglerguy's shapes video. I'll know in a few days if I am doing it right. You won't go wrong. Rob is a master and the Lot-O is a great machine.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 10, 2019 7:51:34 GMT -5
1st stage came out fine, even the lapis. Don't know how. The first day, at least, I was trying to find the right water ratio. I guess I did something right, though. I took it out late last night. Gonna start stage 2 soon.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 10, 2019 8:03:01 GMT -5
Mine go into stage two (500 aluminum oxide) immediately while they're still wet. I usually do a rinse for about an hour with either borax or dish detergent between stages.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 10, 2019 10:45:43 GMT -5
Mine go into stage two (500 aluminum oxide) immediately while they're still wet. I usually do a rinse for about an hour with either borax or dish detergent between stages. I took it out last night because I was impatient. I knew I couldn't start it again till morning, so, as per your suggestion in a video, I left everything in water till I could get to it. I need to take a brush to the drilled holes, too.
Thank you - again- for the time and effort in making those great videos. They have been very helpful.
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