dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Sept 28, 2022 9:16:13 GMT -5
So here is what I am thinking each stage will have its own barrel 3 pounds each. Chicago electric. Please keep comments about 3 pound barrels. Don't mix other stuff about different size barrels or vibes in so that a nine year old can follow along and learn to run his 3 pound barrels.
HARD ROCKS [agates] 1: 50/50 mix of 46/70 silicon carbide and 60/90 silicon carbide. 2: 120/220 silicon carbide. 3: 500 silicon carbide and plastic. 4: 1000 aluminum oxide and plastic. 5: water, borax and 1 or 2 drops dawn with plastic. 24hrs 6: aluminum oxide polish with plastic.
SOFT ROCKS [apatche tears] 1: 60/90 silicon carbide. 2: 120/220 silicon carbide. 3: 1000 aluminum oxide and plastic. 4: water, borax and 1 or 2 drops dawn with plastic 24hrs. 5: aluminum oxide polish with plastic.
Tumble times are subjective to what rocks look like. Advice needed on that. Don't have a vibe so nothing on that please keep vibe comments to yourself. All comments on 3 pound rotary are welcome and needed. Help me get my grandson on the right path. He will be required to read this to see if he wants to try new things with what he has. 6 three pound barrels. Grit/ polish Rocks/ agates, apatche tears, quarts and more I can't think of right now. Hope all this makes sense and feel free to please help.
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Sept 28, 2022 9:38:22 GMT -5
Looks pretty good. I would suggest doing the borax step also after stages 2 and 3 and also at the very end as a last burnishing step. It will easily clean out any kind of residue left by the polish. Make sure you don't re-use the same plastic pellets for different stages, or at the very least do not re-use the plastic pellets from a coarser step to a finer stage.
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Sept 28, 2022 9:59:31 GMT -5
Thanks I am thinking of getting ceramics instead of plastic. Will still be stage specific. Any thoughts.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
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Post by nursetumbler on Sept 28, 2022 12:32:10 GMT -5
Thanks I am thinking of getting ceramics instead of plastic. Will still be stage specific. Any thoughts. dr332Dont waste your money on ceramics if you live close to a beach. Beach pebbles work just as well and tou get thousands of different sizes and beach pebbles can go in stage 1 if needed and not grind your money away. Both beach pebbles and ceramics can go stage to stage as long as they are washed just as well as the chosen rough. Best part about beach pebbles is you may end up with some pretty polished stones instead of polished ceramic pieces.
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Sept 28, 2022 19:15:02 GMT -5
Thanks I am thinking of getting ceramics instead of plastic. Will still be stage specific. Any thoughts. Im with Nursetumbler on this, Pea Gravel or Beach Gravel is much cheaper/free and works just as well. Ceramics are just grinding money away. Or Natural Stone Fish Tank Gravel also works.
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Post by As I in does tries! on Sept 29, 2022 6:59:06 GMT -5
Greetings {dr332} HARD ROCKS [Chalcedony: Agates] 1: 60/90 Silicon Carbide. 2: 500 Aluminum Oxide grit. 4: burnish: water, Borax for 24hrs 6: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish. See USA: SD for "The Rock Shed" Lapidary Vendors WorldwideSOFT ROCKS [Volcanic Glass: Obsidian Apatche Tears] 1: Fixed 220 F220 Silicon Carbide Grit. 2: Fixed 500 F500 Aluminum Oxide grit with with at least 60% ceramic run twice the cycle length (10 - 14 Days). 4: Burnish: with at least 60% ceramic, water, borax for 24hrs. 5: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish with at least 60% ceramic for 5 - 21 days.
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 1, 2022 8:40:16 GMT -5
Greetings {dr332} HARD ROCKS [Chalcedony: Agates] 1: 60/90 Silicon Carbide. 2: 500 Aluminum Oxide grit. 4: burnish: water, Borax for 24hrs 6: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish. See USA: SD for "The Rock Shed" Lapidary Vendors WorldwideSOFT ROCKS [Volcanic Glass: Obsidian Apatche Tears] 1: Fixed 220 F220 Silicon Carbide Grit. 2: Fixed 500 F500 Aluminum Oxide grit with with at least 60% ceramic run twice the cycle length (10 - 14 Days). 4: Burnish: with at least 60% ceramic, water, borax for 24hrs. 5: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish with at least 60% ceramic for 5 - 21 days. You don't run any 120/220 on anything
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 940
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Post by nursetumbler on Oct 1, 2022 21:45:35 GMT -5
Greetings {dr332} HARD ROCKS [Chalcedony: Agates] 1: 60/90 Silicon Carbide. 2: 500 Aluminum Oxide grit. 4: burnish: water, Borax for 24hrs 6: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish. See USA: SD for "The Rock Shed" Lapidary Vendors WorldwideSOFT ROCKS [Volcanic Glass: Obsidian Apatche Tears] 1: Fixed 220 F220 Silicon Carbide Grit. 2: Fixed 500 F500 Aluminum Oxide grit with with at least 60% ceramic run twice the cycle length (10 - 14 Days). 4: Burnish: with at least 60% ceramic, water, borax for 24hrs. 5: "The Rock Shed" Aluminum Oxide polish with at least 60% ceramic for 5 - 21 days. You don't run any 120/220 on anything dr332I run mine exactly, well more or less, the way you presented in your original post. The more or less of it is - I only use 69/90 1st stage no mix but doesn't mean I wouldn't. I also don't use 1000 AO. Only 60/90, 120/220 silicon carbide then go to 500 AO then polish. I may invest in 1000 or more when I get to my next assignment. Depending on how soft the stone I have been known to start them in 120/220. Kelly
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 2, 2022 2:07:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the input From all.
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 2, 2022 2:24:50 GMT -5
I placed an order at rock shed. 5# 46/70 silicon carbide 5# 60/90 silicon carbide 10# 120/220 silicon carbide 5# 500 silicon carbide 5# 1000 aluminum oxide 5# aluminum oxide polish
That should get him started. Of course he doesn't get any of it till December. All of this will either be for his birthday or Christmas whichever his grandmother decides.
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 3, 2022 0:13:32 GMT -5
How often do I need to open a three pound barrel to let out the pressure.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 940
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Post by nursetumbler on Oct 3, 2022 6:20:27 GMT -5
How often do I need to open a three pound barrel to let out the pressure. dr332I start with hot water and as it cools it creates a suction. Only time I had to burp it is when I used Metamucil and not enough bleach, THEN I had a heck of a mess. NO MORE Metamucil for me in tumblers Kelly
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Post by liveoak on Oct 6, 2022 6:20:58 GMT -5
Just thought I'd add dr332 , that the cheap bag of Pea Gravel to use instead of ceramics is gotten in the garden section @ L or HD, or .... Patty
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 6, 2022 8:08:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. Hot water good idea.
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dr332
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2022
Posts: 14
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Post by dr332 on Oct 6, 2022 8:10:41 GMT -5
How often do I need to open a three pound barrel to let out the pressure. dr332I start with hot water and as it cools it creates a suction. Only time I had to burp it is when I used Metamucil and not enough bleach, THEN I had a heck of a mess. NO MORE Metamucil for me in tumblers Kelly How long do you run without opening and how big is your barrel.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 940
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Post by nursetumbler on Oct 6, 2022 10:43:44 GMT -5
dr332I start with hot water and as it cools it creates a suction. Only time I had to burp it is when I used Metamucil and not enough bleach, THEN I had a heck of a mess. NO MORE Metamucil for me in tumblers Kelly How long do you run without opening and how big is your barrel. dr332I have 6 - 3# barrels (harbor freight) and 2 - 6# barrels (Lortone). I check and clean every Sunday. If they aren't to my liking I put them back in, put some of the slurry in the rest in hot water, recharge the grit and set it and forget it until next sunday. "Usually" 120/220, pre-polish and polish can go a week each, it's the 60/90 (or first stage) that mainly is checked and cleaned and reset. This last Sunday because it was cold out after spraying them off and checking them, so they stayed wet, I put them in a bucket of hot tap water until they were all checked and ready to go back in their bath.
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