dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Feb 20, 2023 23:44:19 GMT -5
When I did a clean out of my Lot O tumbler I noted a large mud ball had formed and most of the ceramic media was tied up in it. This was a 120/220 silicon carbide run about 56 hours in duration. I observed the slowing of movement in the tumbler at about 48 hours which I could increase slightly by spritzing with water but it was moving so I let it ride. I used 2 Tablespoons of grit from the Rock Shed and two pumps of hand soap on to wet rocks. The tumbler action was fantastic at first I've only run a few loads with the 120/220 grit before and was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I had some feldspar, chert, quartz, a few pieces of granite ( the kind I know will take a decent polish) jasper, and quartzite in the batch. When I dumped the barrel, only a few CCs of free water came out.
Thanks. So little time, so much to learn
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 21, 2023 2:03:24 GMT -5
A couple of problems, first, cut your grit back to about a teaspoon. I don't know what type of rocks you were doing, so don't know if the amount of soap was necessary or could have caused a problem. If everything is in balance, after the first 24 hours you probably get as much "action" for the grit as you will get--I will occasionally run 500 a few days, or polish, but not 120/220. After a day, or maximum two days, it is time to dump, rinse, and add more grit if you want more action at 120/220.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 21, 2023 8:54:06 GMT -5
I have always used 2 tablespoons of 120/220 which is straight from the lot-o instructions. Never any issues. I do stop after 48 hours and I never add any borax or liquid soap in that stage. Been doing it that way every week for 10 years. Soft stones would be the only exception. I do lessen the grit and run time for things like petoskey stones.
Chuck
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Feb 26, 2023 2:31:35 GMT -5
Update: Well slap my mouth and paint me red. So I reviewed the instructions and sure enough there is a recommendation to check/clean out every 12 hours on the 1st stage of the Lot O to prevent ...mud.. from slowing the action. Since I went so long, I created a mud ball that tied up most of the ceramics. It's kind of strange though that in one place in the instructions, 1.5 teaspoons is called for but in another 2 tablespoons is listed. Oh well, live and learn.
I also discovered to not combine two methods. If one uses borax in the polish stage, do not add soap and psyllium husks. The result is something akin to cottage/cream cheese goo which also gums up the the works. What a mess. LOL
So much to learn, so little time..
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Feb 26, 2023 11:36:11 GMT -5
When I did a clean out of my Lot O tumbler I noted a large mud ball had formed and most of the ceramic media was tied up in it. This was a 120/220 silicon carbide run about 56 hours in duration. I observed the slowing of movement in the tumbler at about 48 hours which I could increase slightly by spritzing with water but it was moving so I let it ride. I used 2 Tablespoons of grit from the Rock Shed and two pumps of hand soap on to wet rocks. The tumbler action was fantastic at first I've only run a few loads with the 120/220 grit before and was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I had some feldspar, chert, quartz, a few pieces of granite ( the kind I know will take a decent polish) jasper, and quartzite in the batch. When I dumped the barrel, only a few CCs of free water came out. Thanks. So little time, so much to learn I just started my first batch in 220 grit. I have done ~5-6 polish runs. I also just moved my dowel yesterday. I did moonstone with 2 tablespoons of 220 grit, 1 tblspn of borax, and about 1/3 of the volume ceramic media. I'll let you know how it goes. My plan is to do a cleanout tomorrow night (~36 hrs). I have noticed in my rotary tumblers that there is a pretty big difference between 60/90 SC and 80 SC, and 120/220 SC and 220 SC. I started buying the non-graded stuff because it was cheaper, but it threw off my tumble times and I need to adjust my water amounts . . . makes me feel that running a Lot-O with 220 SC is probably different than running it with 120/220 SC?? But, I am just postulating . . .
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 26, 2023 16:20:37 GMT -5
Update: Well slap my mouth and paint me red. So I reviewed the instructions and sure enough there is a recommendation to check/clean out every 12 hours on the 1st stage of the Lot O to prevent ...mud.. from slowing the action. Since I went so long, I created a mud ball that tied up most of the ceramics. It's kind of strange though that in one place in the instructions, 1.5 teaspoons is called for but in another 2 tablespoons is listed. Oh well, live and learn. I also discovered to not combine two methods. If one uses borax in the polish stage, do not add soap and psyllium husks. The result is something akin to cottage/cream cheese goo which also gums up the the works. What a mess. LOL So much to learn, so little time.. I'm going to muddy it up a little more for you! When I first bought my Lot-O I was sent a "formula" by Connrock, who used to post here, and likely had been using a Lot-O before they were invented. The bottom line is that no formula is going to be exactly right, because there are a number of variables such as softness and brittleness of rocks, water type (mine is a pH of 10 and loaded with calcium) and I suspect that temperature may even play a small part. Think of when you buy a plant, and the instructions say "water once a week." Yet the person who wrote the instructions doesn't know how much humidity is in your house, the exact amount of sunlight, and numerous other variables. What they, Lot-O, and ALL of us are doing is telling you what works for us, and it may not be exactly right for you, nor will what is perfect for a Mohs 7 rock be perfect for Mohs 5. So take all formulas as a starting point and modify from there. After a few loads, you will be able to read what the rocks need, but until then, experimentation is your greatest teacher. BTW, I went back and looked at the ten-year-old formula from Connrock, and it said two tsp. of grit slowly sprinkled over the rocks after the Lot-O is started. I don't need that much, but perhaps in part it is because of the hardness of my water. You may need that, or even a little more, who knows? My theory was always start small and work up, since I saw no reason to waste money on grit I didn't need.
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Feb 26, 2023 18:20:41 GMT -5
susand24224, Learning that. PH 10 water! Wow. I'm having to use extra patience as I'm only home 2 or 3 days at a time and my first day home is mostly wasted recovering from 12 hour night shifts and over a 2 hr drive home in the am. I do appreciate guidance provided by the great folks here on the forum!
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 27, 2023 1:50:04 GMT -5
susand24224, Learning that. PH 10 water! Wow. I'm having to use extra patience as I'm only home 2 or 3 days at a time and my first day home is mostly wasted recovering from 12 hour night shifts and over a 2 hr drive home in the am. I do appreciate guidance provided by the great folks here on the forum! There are some great tumblers here, and some great advice. It sure helped me. And yes, I'm in the land of basalt, with well water. Your work schedule sounds quite grueling--I'm glad you've found a relaxing hobby, even if a bit frustrating at first.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Feb 27, 2023 19:53:32 GMT -5
When I did a clean out of my Lot O tumbler I noted a large mud ball had formed and most of the ceramic media was tied up in it. This was a 120/220 silicon carbide run about 56 hours in duration. I observed the slowing of movement in the tumbler at about 48 hours which I could increase slightly by spritzing with water but it was moving so I let it ride. I used 2 Tablespoons of grit from the Rock Shed and two pumps of hand soap on to wet rocks. The tumbler action was fantastic at first I've only run a few loads with the 120/220 grit before and was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I had some feldspar, chert, quartz, a few pieces of granite ( the kind I know will take a decent polish) jasper, and quartzite in the batch. When I dumped the barrel, only a few CCs of free water came out. Thanks. So little time, so much to learn I just started my first batch in 220 grit. I have done ~5-6 polish runs. I also just moved my dowel yesterday. I did moonstone with 2 tablespoons of 220 grit, 1 tblspn of borax, and about 1/3 of the volume ceramic media. I'll let you know how it goes. My plan is to do a cleanout tomorrow night (~36 hrs). I have noticed in my rotary tumblers that there is a pretty big difference between 60/90 SC and 80 SC, and 120/220 SC and 220 SC. I started buying the non-graded stuff because it was cheaper, but it threw off my tumble times and I need to adjust my water amounts . . . makes me feel that running a Lot-O with 220 SC is probably different than running it with 120/220 SC?? But, I am just postulating . . . This worked good - still had good rotation after 36 hrs no additional water needed (I added all the rocks and ceramic - added water to the top of the barrel then dumped all the water out - then added borax and grit). I did a cleanout and I'm gonna run it another 36-48 hours with 220 this time with 1tblspn of grit not 2 to see the difference??
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