Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 3, 2005 22:47:14 GMT -5
Kind of a strange finding today. Today was "recharge" day for my Lortone 33b. The first barrel of jaspers looked as predicted. No noticable coarse grit left with a nice slurry. The second barrel, however, was a whole different story. It was as if the barrel had not been moving at all. All of the grit was still intact and there was hardly any slurry (it was very watery). The only difference between the two was that this barrel had a mix of "quartz-like" stones instead of jasper. The barrel was definately rolling and the water level was the same in both barrels. I ended up just adding some more grit and recapping the barrel as is. Any thoughts?
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Post by docone31 on Mar 3, 2005 23:06:07 GMT -5
That is a once in a while it happens thing. I suspect it has to do with water hardness and or stone contaminant. It is frustrating. I had taken to shaking each one of my bbls, once a day, sometimes twice to try to induce a slurry. I just got in the habit, and the happenings became less frequent. Those things happen. It can be very frustrating. The bbl rolls, the stones churn, the water makes that waterfall sound, and one week later, it is clear, the grit is intact in the bottom of the bbl., and a big ? It happens.
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Post by Cher on Mar 3, 2005 23:19:43 GMT -5
Ooo I remember when that happened to me, all the grit was stuck in the bottom of the barrel. Couldn't figure how that could happen but it did. Ever since Doc explained about shaking them I haven't had that problem anymore.
Cher
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Post by puppie96 on Mar 4, 2005 0:24:39 GMT -5
I believe it sometimes helps to check earlier and drain off any water that looks "excessive."
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 4, 2005 9:07:49 GMT -5
Happened to me everytime I use the amount of grit called for in the Lortone instructions, so I cut the amount of grit I used and the problem was solved UNLESS I overloaded the barrel. I also shake my barrels everyday, if I can remember! Never have this kind of problem in b 6# barrels, just the 3#rs.
I have some obsidian I have been trying to get thru 60/90 for months and this happens everytime, and I mean EVERYTIME, even if I reduce the grit and make sure the barrel in not too full. Can't figure out why it happens with the obsidian on a regular basis and not other rocks. I may never get those things tumbled.
llana
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 4, 2005 10:24:28 GMT -5
My guess (and take it as such) is that the grit "sticks" to the barrel- and never gets grinding- When I start a barrel I add a bit of water (to wet things down) then the rock then the grit then the rest of the water- Hope this helps!
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 4, 2005 10:30:04 GMT -5
Hi,
I had that happen to me on an old rotary tumbler. I figured that the weight of the silicon carbide was heavier than my stones and the stones were just packing it as it rolled around. The stones would off-set the weight of the barrel as it rolled around (so, to give no indication that anything was wrong) and the stones would pack the grit a little tighter ... every time the barrel would make a round. That was one of the reasons that I went to a vibe tumbler ... I would try to cut the amount of grit in the barrel and see if that helps out any.
Give your barrels a good shake during the day and learn the Macarana at the same time! Who knows .. you might clear up your tumbling problem and get asked to dance at the same time ;D
John
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Post by hermatite on Mar 4, 2005 10:35:31 GMT -5
I had this happen to me with obsidian...in fact it happened twice. Very frustrating. I just took it out of the barrel to try for a time when I have no patience. I thought I might have overloaded the barrel the first time...but the next time? Same thing. All the grit stuck to the bottom of the barrel. I even try slooshing it around to get stuff moving...no dice. I'm thinking my pieces could be too uniform in size. With the next barrel I'm going to bust up some of it so I have smaller sized pieces in there. Wish me luck.
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Mar 4, 2005 13:28:24 GMT -5
Too much rock maybe??
The only time I have grit left over in the bottom is when I try to squeeze that last little rock to fill the barrel 3/4 full. It happend to me twice when I first started tumbling. Took out some rock, recharged and everything went fine.
The instructions say you can fill between 1/2 and 3/4 full. I have found that with the Lortone #3 bbls it is better to stay between 1/2 and 5/8 full with rock... at least for me. BTW, I use 4 tbls of grit, and add less than half the rock level of water. If the slurry is too dry (very rarely), you'll hear it in day or two... just add a little bit more water.
Jimmy
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