nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
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Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 10, 2008 13:46:29 GMT -5
Hi folks, I just started my first tumbling batch yesterday, in my Lortone 3A which I previously have used only for polishing silver. I ordered a new barrel and the 4 step grits, dragged 4 tons (okay, maybe a few pounds) of smooth stones home from a central CA beach and charged it up. I generally don't need a lot of "handholding" but I am curious if this is normal, since figuring this out can be a bit of a long process, going in blind.  I opened the barrel this morning to check for gas buildup and found that the slurry was what I guess is a nice consistency, but had filled the barrel right up to the lid. I let it sit a while thinking if there were air bubbles, they'd pop and the volume would recede but it didn't. I stirred it a little, nothing. (I had charged with about 2/3+ full of stones in various sizes - but given my "newbieness" I don't know what the comparative hardnesses or even what the heck those rocks are - with 120/220 grit since all the stones were quite smooth and I was fine with their existing shapes). Is the fact that the slurry has appeared to fill the barrel abnormal, wrong, wasting time, etc? Should I remove some of the slurry? Is it normal and should I soldier on? Guidance from the experts, PLEASE!!! ;D Kind regards and happy tumbling, Nancy  |
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 10, 2008 13:49:48 GMT -5
Oh - I just remembered I took "before" photos - maybe those will give someone a clue as to what's going on in my tumbler. Tnails with linked lrg images FYI are here on my blog. thanks! |
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randy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by randy on Aug 10, 2008 14:18:41 GMT -5
I'm still trying to figure out what a "nice" consistency of my flurry really should be. After a week of tumbling, I had a layer of "thick mud" in the bottom of my barrel.
I was wondering if the extra volume was due to the surface of the stones rubbing away in the tumbler?
As an experiment, you could clean the rocks and barrell. Refill with fresh material as close as possible to the way that you did it the first time and see if it reproduces in one day like it did. If so, then "soldier on". If not, then just scratch your head and "soldier on".
Keep us posted on the progress, I would really like to know how it all works out. Best of luck (to us all).
Randy
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Aug 10, 2008 17:26:40 GMT -5
The colors of some of your rocks are awesome! I can't wait to see the "during" and "after" pics!
With that much slurry I would have guessed that the lid and barrel would have been bulging noticeably... Did it leak at all? I was reading an online article that suggested using a Tums tablet in with the rocks to help alleviate any gas buid up... I figure I would try that if the barrel was bulging...
Tom
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 10, 2008 18:37:32 GMT -5
The colors of some of your rocks are awesome! I can't wait to see the "during" and "after" pics! With that much slurry I would have guessed that the lid and barrel would have been bulging noticeably... Did it leak at all? I was reading an online article that suggested using a Tums tablet in with the rocks to help alleviate any gas buid up... I figure I would try that if the barrel was bulging... Tom No, no bulging at all. I check it every few hours (LOL - can you tell it's my "first run"?). I'll put a Tums in there next time I open it, though, thanks for that idea! The colors are amazing aren't they? I hope I can find something online somewhere to help me identify the different kinds. And those pictures were taken with the stones dry! (with no Photoshop tweaking, either!) Thanks for your reply! Nancy |
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Post by cpdad on Aug 10, 2008 21:12:07 GMT -5
nansaidhi.....there is no need to open your barrel to check for gas build up....just take a peep at the bottom of the barrel after day 1....then again after day 2....if it is flat or sucked in slightly....you are good to go....if it is bulging out slightly....just burp it....keep an eye on it...burp as needed....it should go away shortly....shouldnt be a problem after first stage.
your full barrel of slurry is a good thing....as long as the bottom of the barrel is flat or sucked in a little and not bulging any....a full barrel of slurry is moving grit around.
randy......i have only had slurry stuck to the bottom of my barrel once....it was from not having a good enough mix of stone sizes in the barrel...make sure you have a good range of stones in the barrel.
im sure others will pop in with other possibilities.....kev.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 11, 2008 13:18:20 GMT -5
nansaidh.....there is no need to open your barrel to check for gas build up....just take a peep at the bottom of the barrel after day 1....then again after day 2....if it is flat or sucked in slightly....you are good to go....if it is bulging out slightly....just burp it....keep an eye on it...burp as needed....it should go away shortly....shouldnt be a problem after first stage. your full barrel of slurry is a good thing....as long as the bottom of the barrel is flat or sucked in a little and not bulging any....a full barrel of slurry is moving grit around......kev. Kev, Thank you very much for the reassurance (and info on bulging - opening the barrel means cleaning the top and seating ridge - a PITA!)!! I'm very excited (I know - it's too soon to be excited - lol) to watch the progress of the stones. This seems like such a nice place! Nancy |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 11, 2008 15:56:17 GMT -5
Slurry = Success
You want your water to thicken a bit, good for erosive action.
Kevins comments about the barrel(suckin or same) are right on.
Those are nice beach stones
csroc
Are you sure you have slurry or tiny suds? I don't like suds, but I'm not sure they do bad things to the tumbling process...it would depend on how strong they were..Are the suds strong enough to retard the tumbling action.
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 11, 2008 16:36:09 GMT -5
Are you sure you have slurry or tiny suds? I don't like suds, but I'm not sure they do bad things to the tumbling process...it would depend on how strong they were..Are the suds strong enough to retard the tumbling action. Hmm.... good question. There do seem to be tiny little air bubbles in there.  But the grit also appears to be suspended in the mixture, so I guess my answer is "I'm not sure!" Nancy |
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Aug 11, 2008 19:12:33 GMT -5
I would say if you can see grit suspended in the slurry you are good to go. Put the lid on, watch for bulging (as said) And let her roll.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 12, 2008 13:13:32 GMT -5
A long time ago...us "newbies" ;D pondered the same question. When I posted a pic about about my slurry I took alot of grief for the "wearin O' the Glove."So if ya can stop laughing long enough to look at the pic...here ya go!  Was told by those that knew buckets more than I...my slurry was about right. Hope that helps to further the word of the rock! |
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 12, 2008 13:16:50 GMT -5
Liz - I haven't gotten past the Corgi in your avatar! What a doll! Thanks a lot for the pic of the slurry - mine looks a little more aerated than that, but I haven't checked it today yet. The last time I had it open I added a Tums so maybe it's fizzed out by now. ;-) No bulging of the barrel at any rate. And do you mean some people actually stick their bare hands in this stuff??? blech! lol Nancy |
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Aug 12, 2008 18:57:38 GMT -5
I posted a pic in my thread in Rock Tumbling Pictures, forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=24698Foamy slurry; it does usually settle down after awhile. One thing I will mention, tho; your rocks already look nice and rounded. That's what the first stage (coarse grit) does. If they are all nicely rounded before you begin, you may want to start them at the next stage and skip the coarse. My rocks are NOT nicely rounded, so I will leave them in the coarse for about 2-3 weeks. (AARGH, I hate the waiting, haha) And whatever you do, DO NOT pour your slurry down your drain. Hope you got that from other posts or your directions. It can cause plumbing problems! That slurry turns into cement when it dries, and it will build up in a hurry in your pipes. I rinse everything outside, then bring the rocks inside and give them a good final clean with a brush in the house, if it's cold. Some people keep their slurry to use again, some don't. I kept mine, but newbie that I was, forgot to mark it, so I have these nasty looking containers of  on my shelf. If you use pellets, you can also reuse them, but make sure you label them, ie. coarse grit pellets, polish pellets etc., and don't mix them. Best of luck to ya! Keep us updated, and remind us when you update your blog. Karen |
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 12, 2008 19:37:20 GMT -5
Karen - your picture is exactly what mine looks like! Okay - good. At least I know I'm on the right track. ;-) I did skip the coarse grit and started with 120/220. How should I judge when they're ready to go on to the next stage? Thank you!!!!!! Nancy |
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 13, 2008 7:54:39 GMT -5
I'd run them for one week then inspect for obvious scratches/defects. You can either run them until all are ready to move or cull the bad ones and save for the next batch and move the cooperative ones to 500F. Nice beach rocks are so plentiful there I wouldn't even start any broken, gouged, etc. rocks that take too much time to "fix". I hope to be in Morro Bay/San Simeon next month for two days between shows and can't wait to collect some more myself.
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181lizard
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 13, 2008 11:49:59 GMT -5
Nancy...that's my boy Mojo in my avatar! He's under the desk as I type!
As for the gloves...I don't mind putting my hands in the slurry but it sure does raise hell with my hands. Just a little bit of the grit & my hands are toast...drives me nuts!
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 13, 2008 13:13:25 GMT -5
I'd run them for one week then inspect for obvious scratches/defects. You can either run them until all are ready to move or cull the bad ones and save for the next batch and move the cooperative ones to 500F. Nice beach rocks are so plentiful there I wouldn't even start any broken, gouged, etc. rocks that take too much time to "fix". I hope to be in Morro Bay/San Simeon next month for two days between shows and can't wait to collect some more myself. John - Thanks for the info and for your comment on my blog, too! I had so much trouble with blog spam that I got sick of it and turned commenting off for about a year - yours is the first of the "new batch" since I turned it back on - and a good omen! I'm hoping for a trip to Cambria / Moonstone Beach tomorrow, actually. I hope I can recognize moonstone when I see it - I've been an avid seashell collector for 10 years (to the tune of more than 3,000 marine gastropods!) and have picked up "pretty rocks" since I was a kid but identifying them is a whole new ballgame. An online guide I read said that the area south of San Simeon & Moonstone Beach has moonstone up to 100lb boulders! I'm excited about going... might as well make something good out of this period of unemployment. lol Nancy |
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 13, 2008 13:15:18 GMT -5
Nancy...that's my boy Mojo in my avatar! He's under the desk as I type! Well he is a gorgeous little Mojo - Corgies are one of my favorite breeds. I "met" a 12 week old pup at a local dog show I was a spectator at a few years ago and she really stole my heart.  |
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nansaidh
spending too much on rocks
Jewelry artist, graphic designer, dog lover, car nut (etc.)
Member since August 2008
Posts: 311
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Post by nansaidh on Aug 26, 2008 13:01:15 GMT -5
Update for those interested (ha!). My first batch (beach-collected stones) is now three days into the polish stage (after 1 week in 120/220 & 6 days in 500) which per the container in my "kit" says it is "CCP" whatever that is. I need to find out, because after just these three days I checked the batch, dried off a dozen or so stones, and they're already developing a very nice shine! I'm so excited! A few of the softer stones aren't doing much, but that's okay - learning experience. The jade pebbles in particular that I threw in to add volume in the 500 stage are really shining up nicely. No pics - I'll take photos this weekend when I check again. Yipee!!! Nancy |
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But the grit also appears to be suspended in the mixture, so I guess my answer is "I'm not sure!" 
on my shelf. If you use pellets, you can also reuse them, but make sure you label them, ie. coarse grit pellets, polish pellets etc., and don't mix them.
