rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Nov 7, 2007 22:33:49 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone has been using plastic beads, and how much on a 12lb tumbler barrell? I'm having no luck, with what I'm doing..I've been using a handfull for the first two steps, and then moving on to maybe a little more than a half pound in steps 3 and 4...but my rocks are still coming out banged up.
I need help...please if anyone knows what to use for bids...either the 4mm pellets or smaller...righ now I'm using the very small bids and they are making holes on my agate (I believe!)
Please let me know.
Ozzy
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 7, 2007 23:49:08 GMT -5
Ozzy,
I usually use ceramic media but I imagine the quantity would be the same. I fill the barrel to about 2/3 full with rock. Add pellets until barrel is 3/4 full. I doubt the pellet size would make much of a difference. If you are underfilling the barrel that could cause chipping as well as a tumbler turning too fast.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Nov 30, 2007 17:36:17 GMT -5
I don't really measure, it just takes experience and adjustment. Maybe 3 cups in the last grind, and more in the polish? I also fill the barrel FULL in polish; no space for the rocks to drop onto eachother.
Just keep adding more pellets till the problem goes away.
Listen carefully to the sound the tumbler makes, if you hear any hard clacking going on, well, that's the sound of rocks hitting eachother too hard, and you either add more rock or more plastic, or put in some softer smaller stuff to get the slurry going.
Bit of practice and experimentation, and lots of bad rocks, and you'll pick it up.
SirRoxalot
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