vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 0:07:27 GMT -5
I have a custom Coarse blend, that is 1lb 36 grit and 5lbs 46/70 mixed, that I am using for stage one. I asked Rob since I know he uses 46/70 if he has the same issue in his smaller barrels and he does not, so I am guessing I am doing something wrong. The problem is, in my 4lb barrel on my Tumble-Bee the grit is not breaking down, even after 7+ days. My Inital thought was my barrel was too small and that was why, but after asking Rob,who uses it in his smaller barrels without this issue so I am fairly sure its not my barrel being too small.
I am filling the barrel to the standard between 2/3 and 3/4 full, Water to just below the rocks, 4 tablespoons of grit in the 4lb barrel. Aside from not breaking down to silky(it still feels gritty), it is also cutting very slow. Slower than the graded 80 grit I was using. So im really not sure what im doing wrong here. The rocks are all fairly hard, agates, pet wood, quartz, etc. So I expected it to be a bit slow, but this is honestly going slower than it should and the grit isnt breaking down as it should which is the bigger issue at this point.
I have a lot of flat/slabs, and some longer roundish rocks, and some round rocks. I also just did a clean out and added a couple handfuls of pea gravel to see if that helps. But honestly, I am stumped on where I am going wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Son Of Beach on Dec 18, 2022 5:17:17 GMT -5
The only time I've had issues with grit not breaking down was having barrel overfilled, preventing enough action.
If I had to guess, that's your culprit. Keep playing with the levels or your rocks and water and you'll find a sweet spot eventually.
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 6:21:58 GMT -5
The only time I've had issues with grit not breaking down was having barrel overfilled, preventing enough action. If I had to guess, that's your culprit. Keep playing with the levels or your rocks and water and you'll find a sweet spot eventually. I figured it was SOMETHING I was doing wrong just cant quite pin down what, I might have to take some pieces out and see if it helps, thanks for the advice. I also though that maybe it wasnt enough of a mix of sizes since there are like 5 or 6 end cuts and small slabs in it.
|
|
nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 981
|
Post by nursetumbler on Dec 18, 2022 10:34:25 GMT -5
I may be mistaken but I think Rob Jugglerguy tumbles with Lortone. Lortones rotate slower than other brands. Thought I read that rotation speed makes a difference.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 18, 2022 10:55:14 GMT -5
Could you post a picture of the rocks in the barrel? I wonder if those bigger rocks are causing things to not move around as much as they should. I have found that putting too many smalls in the barrel can also cause grit to not break down. You want some in there, but it seems like too many can slow things down.
Lortone barrels roll about the same speed as small Thumler's barrels. It's the Nat. Geo. barrels that go way too fast, in my opinion. The faster barrels break grit down really fast, it's just that they may do some damage to the rocks, especially in later stages.
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 16:07:41 GMT -5
I may be mistaken but I think Rob Jugglerguy tumbles with Lortone. Lortones rotate slower than other brands. Thought I read that rotation speed makes a difference. If I remember correctly Lortone is 30 rpm(not sure tho), My tumble-bee is only 60 rpm so while yes its faster than lortone, its still not fast by any means. I honestly dont think the speed is the issue but who knows I could be wrong lol
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 16:11:05 GMT -5
Could you post a picture of the rocks in the barrel? I wonder if those bigger rocks are causing things to not move around as much as they should. I have found that putting too many smalls in the barrel can also cause grit to not break down. You want some in there, but it seems like too many can slow things down. Lortone barrels roll about the same speed as small Thumler's barrels. It's the Nat. Geo. barrels that go way too fast, in my opinion. The faster barrels break grit down really fast, it's just that they may do some damage to the rocks, especially in later stages. I can do that the next time I check the barrel if I remember lol. I did take the advice above and take a few rocks out and lower the level and had added some pea gravel at least clean out so I kinda wanna give it a few days and if that helps but if it doesnt in 4 days or so, I will for sure post some pics.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Dec 18, 2022 18:28:51 GMT -5
Just a few minor thoughts. THat is a lot of grit IMHO. I use about half that amount. I also run for 2 weeks before recharging. I have trouble with too many flats (end cuts/slabs) as they will often glue themselves to the side or bottom. I try to only 1 to 2 max in a load.
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 18:52:10 GMT -5
Just a few minor thoughts. THat is a lot of grit IMHO. I use about half that amount. I also run for 2 weeks before recharging. I have trouble with too many flats (end cuts/slabs) as they will often glue themselves to the side or bottom. I try to only 1 to 2 max in a load. I thought the standard was 1 tablespoon of grit per lb of barrel weight?
|
|
|
Post by HankRocks on Dec 18, 2022 21:02:25 GMT -5
The only time I only come close to 1 tablespoon of coarse grit is when running a load of relatively rounded rocks. When I run a batch that is all slabs and small filler, the grit breakdown is slowed considerably so I usually cut the grit in half maybe 7 or 8 tablespoons of coarse in a Model B even then I run the batch for 9 days. More grit than that and I would need to increase the run time to maybe 12 to 14 days. A batch of Slabs and filler definitely slow the grit breakdown which makes sense to me as the round to round impacts really impact grit. Grit stuck between two slab surfaces does not break down very fast, less force.
For all stages after coarse I cut back on all grit/prepolish to about 1/2 tablespoon per pound capacity of the barrel maybe even a bit less.
Note for the slabs, I have no wish to smooth/remove all imperfections on the edge of the slabs, it's the surface of the slab that is my smooth high polish target.
Henry
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 21:18:04 GMT -5
The only time I only come close to 1 tablespoon of coarse grit is when running a load of relatively rounded rocks. When I run a batch that is all slabs and small filler, the grit breakdown is slowed considerably so I usually cut the grit in half maybe 7 or 8 tablespoons of coarse in a Model B even then I run the batch for 9 days. More grit than that and I would need to increase the run time to maybe 12 to 14 days. A batch of Slabs and filler definitely slow the grit breakdown which makes sense to me as the round to round impacts really impact grit. Grit stuck between two slab surfaces does not break down very fast, less force. For all stages after coarse I cut back on all grit/prepolish to about 1/2 tablespoon per pound capacity of the barrel maybe even a bit less. Note for the slabs, I have no wish to smooth/remove all imperfections on the edge of the slabs, it's the surface of the slab that is my smooth high polish target. Henry So how much do you use per lb of tumbler barrel? Like what would you use in a 4lb barrel with 5 to 6 lbs of rock?
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 18, 2022 21:21:32 GMT -5
I always use one tablespoon for each pound the barrel is rated for.
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 21:50:45 GMT -5
I always use one tablespoon for each pound the barrel is rated for. That is what I thought the universal standard was, but admittedly im still very much learning the ins and outs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 18, 2022 23:03:16 GMT -5
That picture doesn’t help because I have no idea what the scale is. Can you take a picture of the rocks in the barrel so I can see how big the biggest ones are in relation to the barrel diameter?
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 18, 2022 23:28:19 GMT -5
That picture doesn’t help because I have no idea what the scale is. Can you take a picture of the rocks in the barrel so I can see how big the biggest ones are in relation to the barrel diameter? For scale on the Second pic the green rock to the left is about 2 1/2 inches long and about 1 1/2 inch wide. The biggest rock is about 3 inches wide give or take 1/4 inch. None of the rocks touch both sides of the barrel if you lay them out at their longest, so they are all under 4 inches long or 4 inches wide. The Barrel dimensions are Inner diameter: 4" Outer diameter: 4-1/2" Height: 7-1/2"
|
|
afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152
|
Post by afterburnt on Dec 19, 2022 11:14:48 GMT -5
FWIW I think you have a big problem, your rocks are too big so they are not moving well. How many are 2"+ rocks in one load?
|
|
vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
|
Post by vance71975 on Dec 19, 2022 12:11:45 GMT -5
FWIW I think you have a big problem, your rocks are too big so they are not moving well. How many are 2"+ rocks in one load? a few maybe 4 or 5 of them I would guess. I do however hear movement.
|
|
afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152
|
Post by afterburnt on Dec 19, 2022 18:22:26 GMT -5
FWIW I think you have a big problem, your rocks are too big so they are not moving well. How many are 2"+ rocks in one load? a few maybe 4 or 5 of them I would guess. I do however hear movement. They may be clunking around but not rolling. I would try 2 or 3 at most that size mixed with smaller stuff.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Dec 19, 2022 18:34:22 GMT -5
The only time I only come close to 1 tablespoon of coarse grit is when running a load of relatively rounded rocks. When I run a batch that is all slabs and small filler, the grit breakdown is slowed considerably so I usually cut the grit in half maybe 7 or 8 tablespoons of coarse in a Model B even then I run the batch for 9 days. More grit than that and I would need to increase the run time to maybe 12 to 14 days. A batch of Slabs and filler definitely slow the grit breakdown which makes sense to me as the round to round impacts really impact grit. Grit stuck between two slab surfaces does not break down very fast, less force. For all stages after coarse I cut back on all grit/prepolish to about 1/2 tablespoon per pound capacity of the barrel maybe even a bit less. Note for the slabs, I have no wish to smooth/remove all imperfections on the edge of the slabs, it's the surface of the slab that is my smooth high polish target. Henry So how much do you use per lb of tumbler barrel? Like what would you use in a 4lb barrel with 5 to 6 lbs of rock? Your statement leads me to believe you are seriously overloaded! 5 to 6 lbs in a 4 lb barrel is a big problem. As for my grit use, well I use about 1.5 teaspoons per Lb. I never have any left over at 2 weeks, but will have grit remaining after just a week. I have fine tuned this recipe over 18 years of tumbling. I hate wasting grit.
|
|