SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Feb 27, 2008 17:50:19 GMT -5
I'm curious about how the hardcores tumblers, with big 20+ pound setups, handle their material.
I'm running five twelve pound barrels, and wonder if I'm cleaning and sorting the stuff in the most efficient manner.
Any tips from the guys with the semi-industrial tumbling operations going?
SirRoxalot
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Post by Condor on Feb 27, 2008 20:10:53 GMT -5
I try to stagger them. I do have to write what's in each tumbler, date I started it, and with the grit currently in it. One tumbler might be recharged every week, another might stay in 60/90 for some time, then to 400F. On weekends I may change grit on three different tumblers. The main thing is to write everything down so I know where I'm at. Not a very good system. Most of the time I'll just go with 60/90, and have a bunch of rocks from that stage then go straight to the vibe tumbler. I have marked hoppers for each stage so I always know where I'm at.
Condor
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 27, 2008 20:24:25 GMT -5
I run 8 barrels 24/7 year round. Coarse grind in 12#, fine grind in 6#'ers and prepolish and polish in double 4#'s. I keep everything in sequence by accumulating rocks in tubs until I have enough for the next stage. Tubs are labeled and each tumbler is logged as to what it's running. This works for me because I leave everything so long in coarse grind that loads of a particular material get all spread out in various barrels running various stages. Usually since I keep adding more rough rock to the CG stage, I only take out a pound or two that are ready for fine grind each time I check those barrels. By working from tubs of material ready for each stage, I can pick out a load of exactly what I want for the next step and never have empty tumblers waiting for stuff that's been coarse grinding for 6-9 weeks......Mel
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 28, 2008 4:31:38 GMT -5
Hi Sirroxalot,
I have only a small set up but this should work with the larger system just as well
The man who gave me my tumbler set up had a set of plastic labels cut from a plastic lid numbered with a stage eg 1 -2-3-Pre polish - polish
He had a nail on the tumbler (or wood shelf under the tumbler) in front of the barrel and placed the present stage number on it ,
I also used to have the weeks "nail"on each barrel,
But I now use a log and date as well as with the Vibe its better wrote down as it is a lot quicker and with 1/2 days gets complicated
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Feb 28, 2008 11:12:03 GMT -5
I'm not nearly as organized as some. Great tips though.
I use Lortone 12lb and 6lb barrels in my 36lb tumbler. I use a sharpie marker and write the date and grit on the metal cab. Each time I change the grit in course grind I add another date so I know how long it takes for course grind. I clean out my tumbler every two weeks. I run 150/220 and 600 for two weeks each. Then polish in my vibe tumblers. I want to invest in a couple of 10lb vibe tumblers so I can do the 150/220 and 600 steps and polish in the vibes. Then I'll be using the rotary for rough grind only.
I use rubbing alcohol to clean off the sharpie marks.
Rick
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