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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 27, 2005 10:38:27 GMT -5
When reloading with grit for, let's say, coarse grit, do you empty the water/slurry out as well or just add more grit to what's already there?
Do softer stones wear the grit down faster than harder stones? or vice-versa?
Thanks for your help
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 27, 2005 10:43:50 GMT -5
Hmm I was checking my small tumbler this morning (filled with Ocean Jasper chips) and thinking this same thing- I usually dump out the old and add the new- but I was in a hurry this AM so I just added some new to the slurry- I checked it before I left and there was no leaking (a constant problem with this machine as the cheapy barrel seals are starting to go) BTW the "chips" are starting to look real nice- The first one I pulled out was a big red EYE in a brown matrix- It took my breath away!
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Post by connrock on Jan 27, 2005 18:43:29 GMT -5
Different people look at this subject in different ways. Some just add the grit and others rinse the rocks and barrel every time. I'm one of the "every time"people. A certain amount of grit and slurry gets between the cover seal and the barrel itself no matter what you do to prevent it.I don't like to keep mashing it into the cover seal or the barrel.I clean the cover on the Lortone and the gasket on the Thumler's and Scott/Murrray with a piece of windshield wiper and a solution of soap and water.I also clean the cover seal/barrel top with a tooth brush and soapy water.Then I wipe everything perfectly dry.When I seal the barrel again it looks like it's brand new. Some of us have had trouble with seals leaking and covers blowing right off.I found that water is a lubricant in this situation and only helps to get you in unneeded trouble later down the line. My thoughts,,,,,,,,,,,,, Tom
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 28, 2005 10:02:52 GMT -5
My Thumblers seems to produce a ton of foam that builds up pressure then oozzeess out- after the gunk dreies there is no more leakage- I have had this happen everytime I check it- I eve went as far as to change everything (scrub it all down like I was going to a new stange) and thye same thing occurred- It does not leak enough to get on the rollers- Just enough to setup on the cover- but on the plus side- it has made me less likly to check the thing every day!
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 28, 2005 10:47:54 GMT -5
On my kiddy model, they said to put vaseline or veg oil on the inside of the cover and the outside of the bbl - the vaseline seems to keep the liquid from seeping out and makes cover removal easier - I added cut up rubber elastics in my last batch of polish as my stones seem pretty fragile - I usually clean my barrel out with a toothbrush between stages, but didn't know what to do when reloading. My polish stage foams up like shaving cream - the other stages maybe the sludge varies with the hardness of the stone - softer stones make thicker sludge?
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 28, 2005 10:58:09 GMT -5
Tweetiepy, I was using one of the toy tumblers and no matter what I did it still leaked to the point that I had grit and water everywhere, so I used teflon tape, the same stuff you use to seal threads on plumbing. I put a ring around the top of the barrel making sure it goes over the edge a little bit and when I put the lid on I didn't have any more leaks, so when I gave it to my nephew for Christmas I made sure I put a roll of teflon tape in with it. It was because of the leaking and the noise that I decided to get my Lortone tumbler, plus I wasn't able to do as many rocks in the toy as I am able to do with my Lortone.
To answer you question, I haven't had to recharge my barrel, if I did I would just add more grit and water if I needed it. Tami
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 28, 2005 11:06:50 GMT -5
Duh- I guess I never thought of enhancing the seal- thanks for the info- Oh and the kiddie tumbler makes enough noise so that I can hear it from my bedroom- It helps me to know that things are happening in the shop (my daughter painted me some sighns for my shop- She named it The SStone Shop- then painted some stones for examples- every day when we get home she says- Daddy time to open the SStone Shop- Gotta love kids!)
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 28, 2005 11:10:07 GMT -5
I know my nephew was really excited about the rock tumbler, however, my sister (his mother) was just as excited. Reminded me of when she was young. Tami
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