Help

this is the end of the second day an alot of the rocks are still edged and they dont look enything like what there spos to. and they water is not gray and muddie its like a brown and ellow looks like mud but still fells like water and what are seives and where can i get plassic pelets

i have for shir i know it has a list of a few that sed came with it in there asorted agates, i think one or more tigers eye,red jasper,green adventurine amethyst and i think some others i would have put in all just at a time of the same typ but they gave me exactly enogh for one batch i was fourced to use these when i get some money i have an order form im going to order the bags of the same typ of rockes. and i have only a 1/2 pund barrel that cam with it is there enyway to fin like a rubber barel for that or metlal or a zize larger its plasic and i dont like that. or maby its just its my firsat time and i got to get the hang of it but it semse like a really asom hobby that i would love, and im located in florida right next to gainsville

Hi! You won't need plastic pellets until the second stage.
I've got a mixed batch in my 3-lb tumbler, and I've been in the first stage for 8 weeks now, but I'm trying for a really rounded look.
You will barely notice any change at all after 2 days. Don't panic. Don't rush it!

Hi Zoe

Welcome to the Board ,

It will take a long time and I know you are already a little impatient and want some action Right ! !

Well it took millions of years to get them coast pebbles round so it will take a while for you especialy the Agates but be patient and they will reward you with a gloss finish in time

See the polishing Guide in Lap tips can I ?send you one if you want and also check out the RTH 3 stage recepie that will give you a idea of the time scale,

I started of with 1 1/2 lb round barrel and they do take longer than the Lortone 4 1/2 lb one that I use now in stage 1 its a matter of weight pressing on the stones below

If you add a tea spoon of soap flakes or wall paper glue crystals to get the water a bit thicker it helps to get the water to carry the grit around the rocks , rather than WASH the rocks

Everyone has their own idea and Im sure you will proudly have your own method in a few years time, just keep at it . try out new Ideas
AND keep a log of all your experiments and runs (Very important )

To get over the impatience go and do some thing else , take up Painting !! Knit a jumper !! photo a few things close up (ready to show your results ) ! any thing !!! when you have a lot of polished rocks you can be making things as well in this time later on

No Peletts in the batch till they are smooth (Stage 2) if at all in such a small barrel and with such hard stone (except the Amythyst), BUT make sure you have some small pellet sized stone in the mix to help carry the grit as well as the soap flakes .

Tumbling in a small barrel is best checked once a week !! so to speak ( + a daily 1 min ck to see the machine is working ok )

Have fun

Jack
Yorkshire UK

Thanks Scott,

No Im on making another Tumbler, finishing of my Lap, making a angle grinder polisher, finishing of a extention (started 2 yrs ago) , Digging the allotment , Oh and a ocasional look at the tumbler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a good Christmas

Jack
Yorkshire UK

Zeo, I know it must have seemed like forever, but a small (less than 6 lb) barrel started in mid december probably should now be just moving to the second stage.

Yes you heard me right, for the best results you should have washed the load and re-charged the 60-90 grit every week, so whats that like 8 times by now?- yeah that would about do the trick, they'd be nicely rounded and ready for stage 2.

Since you say the batch is done and its now late February, although I see you were worrying about no shine at the beginning of the month, so I have to imagine that you moved to stage 2 after 3-4 weeks at most in course, am I right?

Did you re-charge the course every week or did it just run the first batch of grit the whole time?

Tumbling is definitely not a hobby for the impatient or those with a short attention span, I tried it as a kid and I think got about 2 batches through before I decided it was just too messy and time consuming for a 12 year old, not to mention the whole family got tired of the rumbling noise.

Heck even now that I re-discovered tumbling as one part of my many-faceted mid-life crisis, I had to get about 5 tumblers before I felt things were moving at a pace I could get excited about.

With a 6 lb load I am generally running them for a minimum of 4-6 weeks in course, recharging about every 4-5 days, I've given up on doing coarse loads in anything smaller than the 6lb barrel (I have 4ea 3lbers and 3ea 1.5 lb barrels going) .

Everyone here will tell you the main keys to good success tumbling is getting that first stage done right, then washing really good for all the subsequent stages.

Hope you get results you are happy with next time!