Perry
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by Perry on Jan 28, 2024 9:31:20 GMT -5
Hey, So somehow or the other Michigan Rocks wound up on my youtube feed and I went down a rabbit hole of watching his videos. Mentioned to my wife that I was thinking of getting into rock tumbling. I was looking into the highland park dual 3lb tumbler when my wife comes home with the harbor freight one. (I know it doesn't get great reviews, but my wife didn't, and I thought it was damn nice of her. I'll still probably get that highland park tumbler, and I imagine the barrels from the hf one will still be useful even if the tumbler goes bad.) Anyways, I've got the first stage going now... just tumbling some local (north central Alabama) river rocks. I picked up a colander at the thrift store yesterday for a buck. One thing that I wondered about. Is there any reason to "flip" the barrels from time to time to reverse the rotation direction. I've never seen that mentioned, and, thinking about it, any difference it makes would probably be negligible, but I thought I'd ask. Anyways, I thought I'd stop by and say "howdy". I'll probably post some pictures in a month or so (assuming the hf tumbler survives that long) with some photos of my first tumble. Perry
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,545
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 28, 2024 10:04:07 GMT -5
Welcome from Central California! Some of those HF tumblers just seem to keep rolling.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,269
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Post by chris1956 on Jan 28, 2024 10:11:32 GMT -5
Welcome from Michigan. Can't answer the question about flipping but someone will.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 28, 2024 10:35:22 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,673
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Post by Tommy on Jan 28, 2024 11:21:29 GMT -5
Howdy Perry, welcome to the forum!
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Post by Pat on Jan 28, 2024 12:10:17 GMT -5
Welcome to you and your wife from California.
Not a tumbler, but many experts here. Go to the HOMEPAGE and you will see all the different interest sections —- including tumbling.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
Member is Online
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Post by dillonf on Jan 28, 2024 13:17:15 GMT -5
Welcome Make sure you don't dump the slurry down your sinks when you do a cleanout.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 28, 2024 14:07:24 GMT -5
Welcome from AZ. Did your wife get the extended warranty? Not sure if it is 30/60/90 days without it, but from what I read, if they make it past a batch or two of continuous operation they will probably go a long time, and as you said the barrels fit any 3# base. I would hold off on getting another, you may want to go to a larger barrel if you collect stuff too big for the 3#, and many of the larger bases will also still run a smaller barrel. Only thing I would do for sure, if you haven't started a load examine the barrels closely for molding knit lines, they will be shinier than the rubber from excessive use of silicone mold release, a fairly common thing with the chinese barrels. If you see one try bending it at the line to see if it knit properly in molding, and if it splits or you see a void anywhere I suggest you take it in and exchange it before using. Not super likely, but after seeing it in a display tumbler at a store I would look for sure.
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Post by taylor on Jan 28, 2024 19:01:30 GMT -5
Welcome from southern Arizona. Happy tumbling!
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Post by rmf on Jan 28, 2024 19:09:50 GMT -5
Perry so does that mean you are in Central AL? Have you hunted rounded quartz near Brookwood AL? It is great for tumbling and you can start it on medium grit (220) since they are all naturally rounded.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 28, 2024 21:00:36 GMT -5
Hey Perry! Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! I would think the reversing of the barrels wouldn't have much affect...if any, I would think it would negligible. Did you see Rob's video where he let the barrel roll for a year straight? I don't think he ever touched it...so it maintained the same direction all year.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 118
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Post by zebra61 on Jan 28, 2024 22:01:29 GMT -5
Welcome from balmy Northern Minnesota Perry!
I'm a newbie myself and that darn Michigan Rocks guy made me dust off my old tumbler and give it a whirl too. Funny thing is that I've had the same question in my mind about barrel rotation and I came to the same conclusion that you did. Although I've seen a few videos of barrels with lodged grit after days of tumbling. Would reversing the rotation for a day or two dislodge it? Who knows? (still, it's an interesting question)
Enjoy the forum Perry.
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 28, 2024 22:56:47 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 28, 2024 23:50:58 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Perry
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by Perry on Jan 29, 2024 10:45:13 GMT -5
Hey! Thanks to everyone for the very warm welcome! Welcome from AZ. Did your wife get the extended warranty?... Only thing I would do for sure, if you haven't started a load... I'm sure she didn't get the warranty, and unfortunately the first batch has been going for about 4.5 days already. I'll be sure to examine the barrels for knit lines when I open them, but it's probably too late for any redress if things aren't so good. Have you hunted rounded quartz near Brookwood AL? It is great for tumbling and you can start it on medium grit (220) since they are all naturally rounded. I have not. I'm just now dipping my toe into rock tumbling. I'll definitely put Brookwood on my list of places to visit. It's under 75 miles from where I live.
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Post by 1dave on Jan 29, 2024 12:22:53 GMT -5
Welcome from UTAH. Tumble and Prosper.
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Post by liveoak on Jan 29, 2024 12:30:03 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Florida.
Patty
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Post by drocknut on Feb 1, 2024 14:22:11 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from south central Arizona
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skmcconnell361
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2023
Posts: 122
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Post by skmcconnell361 on Feb 17, 2024 9:58:54 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri. I learned a lot from Michigan Rocks videos, as well as rocktumbler.com. I now have two of the Harbor Freight dual barrel tumblers and found a little TLC goes a long way. I use a drop of 3 in 1 oil on the bushings at the start of each stage.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Feb 17, 2024 11:26:22 GMT -5
Welcome from southern Arizona.
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