ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 21, 2019 0:40:26 GMT -5
My solution at one point to run up to 9 barrels at a time, so there was something to check and play with every weekend. :-D
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Nov 6, 2018 2:47:35 GMT -5
Here's how my basalt came out of the Lot-O-Tumbler. Smoothed it first in rotary, finished it in the vibe. I was working with smaller pieces, but the Lot-O will polish pretty much anything you can fit in it, and I've done some large pieces. You just add more quartz filler if the pieces are larger. The pieces closer to the camera (bottom of the image) were not in focus, and so that polish doesn't pop. The pieces where you can see the reflection of the tree overhead are more indicative of the results. That said, not every piece took the same level of shine. Basalt by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Nov 6, 2018 2:40:02 GMT -5
Sounds like a bad motor alright. I've replaced the motor on mine finally after years of trouble-free use. It's not that hard to do, but they should definitely make good on the motor. If the unit is otherwise OK and you already have it affixed to the block, just replacing the motor sounds like the right solution, if you are comfortable doing that. I've actually NEVER heard of such an issue with these machines - they're usually great little workhorses right out of the blocks. Sorry you got the problem child. Hope Shawn can make it right. Best wishes
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Nov 6, 2018 2:30:29 GMT -5
Well done! Congrats on using the quartz aquarium gravel - I swear by that stuff to do obsidian. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 24, 2018 15:39:36 GMT -5
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 24, 2018 12:35:29 GMT -5
It was either buy the Lot-O-Tumbler or a smaller two barrel Lortone Tumbler since my volume is low just starting out. I figured I'll just have to buy/find more rock for the Model-B instead of getting the smaller Lortone as it was more beneficial to have a higher quality finishing tumbler. I'm hoping that was the right decision. I think that was a good choice, although it means you'll have a learning curve for both kinds of tumblers at the same time. But stick with it, ask questions of the forum, and we'll see you through. Read old threads about the Lot-O-Tumbler and you'll find lots of newbie questions and good answers. Prepping some filler media would be a good way to fill up your loads - I use large-size mainly-quartz aquarium gravel. You can find nice big bags of it at Petco. Lots of the stones are already round. Weed out the junky stuff and polish up the good stuff. (The jaspery bits will round up a bit and polish as well, but start with the nice round quartz pebbles for faster gratification). That's the filler I use to get a high shine in the Lot-O. Also, if there is a beach or a river near you where you can pick up quartzy rocks to work with, they are some of my favorite tumbles anyway, and can give you practice before you drop a wad on pricey rough. And don't be afraid to throw whatever you find there into the tumbler. If it doesn't work, no harm done. (Until you get to the polish stage - then a rock that's still rough/brittle can sabotage your batch - but you'll figure all this out.) Have fun! :-D
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 23, 2018 3:38:48 GMT -5
The only way I could deal with my impatience was to buy more tumblers, so that I had a barrel I could open and play with every weekend. I would often have 5-6 rotary barrels going at any one time. But I built up to that. Lortone 6 and 12 lb mostly. Finally got the 40 lb. Everything gets finished in the Lot-O-Tumbler, with the rare exception of when something is too big to fit. Enjoy! Can't wait to see your photos. Welcome to the group!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
|
Post by ingawh on Jun 27, 2018 23:47:13 GMT -5
I agree with the foregoing wisdom. Either stop and rinse the stones (if the heat wave is going to go on for several days and you want to give the tumbler and the energy grid a rest) or just let it keep going - maybe give it some shade if it's in direct sun. It doesn't use that much power, and the waste involved in an unnecessary clean-out means you're probably not coming out ahead in the long run. Just stopping in mid grind, especially in a course grind, can let the slurry set up like concrete inside so it won't tumble correctly when you start it up again.
Stay cool - Cheers!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 27, 2018 23:39:01 GMT -5
I stopped bothering to clean out the little dimple, as I only ever use one grit in each Lot-O barrel.
I did get separate barrels to use for a coarse grind, and another one if I want to try a different polish, but I hardly ever use either of them. I generally finish in two steps (with the second and final step being 400 AO in a barrel dedicated to that grit).
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 14, 2018 23:25:48 GMT -5
I was fascinated to read this thread top to bottom and see more of your experiments, happy accidents, and scientific discoveries. You've got me dreaming about going more "big-time" with this little hobby...
LOVE your glass pieces.
Cheers!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 14, 2018 23:13:30 GMT -5
I agree that sodalite can be tricky to get a uniform polish on - nature of the beast. I've done it in the vibe with my usual recipe as for obsidian and softer materials. It doesn't come out with the liquid shine, and some patches just never shine up, but it's still a pretty stone, and you can get some nice pieces, so I still like to play with it. I'll attach photos of a batch plus a couple close-ups. You'll see the imperfections, but I can live with them 'cause they're still kinda pretty. Sodalite batch by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr Sodalite2 by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr Sodalite1 by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr "kinda pretty".......?
That material is gorgeous.....outstanding job.........I'll bet it even fluoresces.....!
I might just give this stuff a try, 5.5 to 6.0 on the Mohs scale. Maybe if I can try a common Opal or Calcite approach to polishing in the vibe (120/220, 600, 800 with ceramics, then dry walnut shell mixed with dry Covington Gold #2), I'll get similar results....?
Of course, I'll prep it on the diamond faceting discs prior to the vibe action.
Your work has peaked my interest and inspired my imagination.......thanks for showing!
You're very kind - thank you. I don't tend to prep my tumbles, but I think in the future, especially for something like sodalite, I might give that a try. That would probably give some of the trickier pieces a fighting chance of the best outcome. When I started tumbling, I didn't have a saw or an arbor. Now that I do, I still almost never use them, but I know it can make a big difference in the end result. I also tried the walnut shells a time or two, but couldn't get much in the way of results. I now pretty much just stick to my AO 400 (with psyllium/handsoap as thickener) in the Lot-O-Tumbler for around 48 hours for softer stones like sodalite. I don't see if you mentioned which vibe you're using...?
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 14, 2018 20:28:21 GMT -5
I agree that sodalite can be tricky to get a uniform polish on - nature of the beast. I've done it in the vibe with my usual recipe as for obsidian and softer materials. It doesn't come out with the liquid shine, and some patches just never shine up, but it's still a pretty stone, and you can get some nice pieces, so I still like to play with it. I'll attach photos of a batch plus a couple close-ups. You'll see the imperfections, but I can live with them 'cause they're still kinda pretty. Sodalite batch by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr Sodalite2 by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr Sodalite1 by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 5, 2018 2:22:34 GMT -5
I have a friend that gets a fabulous final polish, on both 7-mohs stuff and obsidian, using nothing but tripoli and water. However, he re-uses his polish slurries indefinitely, adding a bit more tripoli each time, so it gets as thick as pea-soup. He also runs the polish stage for a month. He is known as a tumbling guru in his area, and does this professionally. When he sells his polished rocks at gem fairs they are the envy of the other vendors. However, I know most people consider tripoli just a pre-polish. I guess it depends on how you use it, and my friend has hit on a formula and process that excels for him.
That said, I don't have a clue whether it's a good idea to mix the two grits. However, I'm nothing if not an experimenter, and I've definitely gone against the grain of established lore, but that fact has led to some fun breakthroughs that I have shared on this forum. My biggest hesitation here is frankly the cost of the grits if it doesn't work out. Even tripoli can become expensive if you use enough of it really thicken a slurry to the pea-soup stage. I think cost is why my friend stumbled onto reusing his slurries, and then he fell in love with the results of having a super-thick slurry.
If you decide to go for it, please post back with your results.
Cheers!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Jun 3, 2018 1:04:04 GMT -5
Hello all, Doing my first batch of tumbling and am trying to read up on it as much as I can. Just a few questions — I put my first tumble back into stage one after one week because I didn’t like the shape/ smoothness they came out as. On top of that a few had cracks for grit to get stuck into. After, I hope to do stage 2 and 3 for a week (a total by then of 4 weeks on the rocks). What I’m asking is, how long do I need to do the final stage for them to have a nice thick polish and have them be smooth and what not? I’ve read just a week, but also 3 weeks? What do you guys advise is best? Thanks, Zack Hi Zach. Welcome to the forum. I think you might have the wrong idea about polish. The polish stage should not leave ant sort of coating on the rock. Polish is just a finer grit that soothes the rocks more than the previous grits. Polish cannot be “thick”. I’ve seen other people have the same misunderstanding. Welcome, Zack! Just to expand a little bit upon the above wisdom, although the polish grit itself is not "thick," a polish slurry can be. Polish slurries are often thickened in different ways, depending on the tumbler, the material being polished, and personal preferences. It helps protect the stones from smashing into each other and chipping. Anyway, that may be where some of the confusion about a "thick polish" comes in. I use psyllium fiber as a thickener. Other people use things like corn-syrup. I have a friend who reuses his polish slurry over and over, adding a bit more tripoli for each new batch. His polish slurry is as thick as pea soup, and has the benefit of not having organic material added, which can create gas in the barrel unless you also add a touch of bleach or something to stop biological action. In addition, some people add a cushioning medium, like plastic pellets -- which I don't care for myself, but the point is there are lots of options to protect the stones during the polish stage. Read around on this forum and you'll pick up lots of great tips. Best wishes and happy tumbling! Inga
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 27, 2018 17:46:26 GMT -5
Good explanation jamesp. My comment was mean to show it's contradictory that people say not to mix soft and hard stones in the same batch, then also say to use ceramic filler. You and ingawh have convinced me to stop using ceramic a while back. Not ready to try the Metamucil 2-step, though. Sounds too much like an old peoples dance. <laughing> We should call it the "Metamucil quick-step" :-D
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 27, 2018 17:44:01 GMT -5
ingawh, if the pieces of glass are larger. Say average 20 grams I sometimes get slight edge bruising. If they average 12 grams I get a polish in less than 24 hours(+/-). And seems almost perfect. If they average 16 grams I get a polish after 36 hours(+/-). May have faint surface 'frost'. Looks more like slight dishwasher stains. Your "industrial scale" operation has been such a great laboratory! You've discovered some real science behind the art. Bravo!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 26, 2018 20:20:22 GMT -5
We were all taught that you can't put a 7-mohs filler in with softer material... And yet these same "teachers" recommend using ceramic pellets...... I won't argue with whatever works for each tumbler. I just like the shine I get better with my gravel.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 26, 2018 18:16:15 GMT -5
Jamesp: WOW - Love your quartzite gravel! I could happily just tumble THAT stuff [she says, trying not to be jealous :-D]
So glad you posted about trying to shine the glass with no gravel, and that it didn't work. That's absolutely my experience as well. We were all taught that you can't put a 7-mohs filler in with softer material, and it's hard to let that old wisdom go. But I find that when someone says the process didn't work for them, it usually turns out that their proportions were off, or the filler wasn't already well rounded and polished, or they didn't use the psyllium, or they used a different grit that doesn't work like the 500 AO, etc.
People also try using plastic pellets as a cushion instead - I did too, early on - but (aside from being a pain to deal with), I find they really just interrupt the actual polishing process. They SEEM like they should be a good idea, but they're counter productive, in my experience. It wasn't until I got rid of those "training wheels" that I started getting the polish I was looking for.
Anyway, don't mean to ramble, it's just fun to find someone else who's made the process work SO beautifully, and taken it new places. You're doing such crazy-great stuff with it, and it's really cool to see the photos of your masterpieces!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 26, 2018 12:32:35 GMT -5
Jamesp - Your stuff is SO cool!!! Love what you're doing! (Fun to see your own shiny gravel filler - isn't that stuff awesome!) Cheers!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on May 26, 2018 12:29:01 GMT -5
ingawh You mentioned using psyllium, Any issues with gas being created with this added organic matter. It may not be in the Lot-O a as the gas could bleed off(?) If I were to use it in a tightly seal rotary tumbler might be a different story. Thanks Henry Hi Henry, Thanks for the thoughts. However, the proof is in the results. I've used psyllium for years and years, no issues with gas build up. I don't think there's time for much organic action to take place, plus the handsoap quells the action. (I used to use psyllium in a rotary, where the time-span would allow gas build up. There, I used a tiny amount of bleach in the mix to stop the organic reactions.) I think a lot of the times the lid pops off for others, it may be the stones themselves pushing against the lid. But either way, using the rubber bands to secure the lid (see above) stops any such problem. Here, for comparison with my earlier image, is the amount of media I used in a batch of 7-mohs agates. (Disregard the Apache tears in the background - that was an earlier batch.) Laker batch with Media by Inga Holmquist, on Flickr
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