ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jul 17, 2008 11:15:42 GMT -5
Greetings! I have been tumbling for about a year but am new to this board. I hope you can offer some advice.
I have a Lortone 3 lb. tumbler and I enjoy tumbling the standard variety of cut rock. I use a five stage process: rough grit for 7 days, medium grit for 7 days, pre-polish for 10 days, polish for 10 days, burnish for 3 days.
I am going on vacation for 20 days and I hate to lose that time when I could be tumbling. Is there any stage where it is safe to run the tumbler for 20 days without overtumbling the rocks to sand? Is it possible to over-pre-polish or over-polish? Alternatively, I could set a timer to turn off the tumber after 10 days. Is it safe to leave the tumbler (with the grit/polish, rocks, water, and beads) sitting still for 10 days? Or would something congeal/harden?
Any advice is appreciated! Thank you.
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Post by Titania on Jul 17, 2008 12:26:41 GMT -5
I wouldn't leave it sitting still (you'll have a giant brick in there!), but I frequently forget about my rocks. I've got a batch that I badly need to move that's been in 500 for 2 months. Don't forget, as the polish breaks down, it becomes less and less effective. So unless you're tumbling something ridiculously soft that needs constant vigilence, you should be fine.
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on Jul 17, 2008 14:00:54 GMT -5
I'm new to tumbling myself, but if I were in your situation I would just run some of my rocks in coarse the whole time I was gone. As the grit breaks down, it won't wear them down as much. I don't think it's a good idea to use soft rocks for this since they may become dust but maybe somebody more experienced can expand on that. If I remember correctly, I have seen mentioned here before the method of 1-2 months in coarse and then polish, which you will essentially be doing. The most important thing to remember while you are gone is to enjoy your vacation  |
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Post by akansan on Jul 17, 2008 18:36:31 GMT -5
I'd agree with Larry here, but I also generally run my rocks through coarse for longer than 7 days. If you're used to 7 days in rough, I'd keep it in rough and compare them when you get back. My best guess is they'll be ready for pre-polish by that time.
And yes! Enjoy your vacation.
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churross
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2008
Posts: 15
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Post by churross on Jul 17, 2008 22:13:47 GMT -5
As long as someone can look in on it every day or two. I've left tumblers running a long time without stopping, but the whole electricity/motor/fire hazard thing makes me reluctant to walk away from them turned on and running without supervision.
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Post by Condor on Jul 17, 2008 22:52:28 GMT -5
I've gone on vacation several times for up to a month and have left the tumbler on without a problem. I have worried about something happening but I guess I've been lucky so far. A good idea is to leave it running with the first stage grit and when you get back you can skip the second stage and go straight to the third. I do that a lot of times even when I'm home. The rocks still come out very nice. If you have some right now going through a different stage just change them and keep those for another batch. Either way, leaving them for a long period of time will not hurt them at all.
Condor
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jul 18, 2008 7:49:37 GMT -5
Thanks, all! It sounds like running a batch of rough is the way to go. We have a house sitter who will hopefully notice if the motor catches on fire. Thank you for all the helpful replies!
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 18, 2008 9:33:38 GMT -5
as long as you have someone to look in at them from time to time you should be OK. mine run 24-7-365, but i DO turn them off when i'm going to be away for more than 48 hours. but, i feel the pain from having them be idle and losing the time they could be grinding away!
good luck on your vacationa nd welcome to the board.
KD
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