ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
|
Post by ejs on Sept 25, 2008 22:39:47 GMT -5
I just bought a Lortone dual 6 lb. tumbler. I plan to use them just for coarse. Is there any difference (vs. the Lortone 3 lb. barrels that I am running) in the recommended tumbling process? Here is how I run the 3 lb. barrels:
- 4 TB 60/90 SC grit
- water to just below the top of the topmost rocks
- fill barrel 3/4 full
- run for six days between recharges
I assume that I increase the 4 TB of grit to ... 8TB? 10? Any other changes?
I'm psyched to tumble big batches of rough agate and jasper! Buahahahaaa!
|
|
randy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
|
Post by randy on Sept 25, 2008 23:04:36 GMT -5
ejs,
I don't know...all that extra grit you'll be using. Perhaps you should just pack up that dual 6 pounder and mail it to...say....my home address. I would bear the burden of the extra grit usage for you, because that is just the great kind of guy that I am. LOL. Sounds pretty cool to me.
I checked one of my resources and it suggested 10 table spoons for a 6 pounder. I'm not too sure that I can explain why it is not 8, but that is from geology.com.
Cool bud. have fun!
Randy
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Sept 26, 2008 3:03:43 GMT -5
Hi ejs,
You will know if you are putting in to much grit when you wash up in 6 days time IF there is any grit left in the washing up bowl, after you get all the gunk off them,
Jack
Yorkshire
UK
|
|
ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
|
Post by ejs on Sept 26, 2008 6:20:16 GMT -5
Yeah, good point Jack: Tumble until there is no more grit left! I can adjust the quantity of grit and/or the tumbling time to match. I have gotten in the habit of weighing the rock before/after each round of coarse, so I can see how much reduction I am getting.
|
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Sept 26, 2008 11:54:22 GMT -5
I always do it by sight, but Rockshed recomends:
Model A-R6 -9 lbs
Coarse.......................8 oz.
Fine............................8 oz.
Prepolish.....................4 oz
Polish..........................4 oz
you will need to do the tablespoon conversion.
I am running some QT66 barrels. I notice that I end up with average rock size slightly larger even though I try to put in small ones too. I guess I see the bigger barrel and I can't help throwing in the larger chunks. This means a little more space for water between rocks, so I cut back a little onthe water and it seems to work the same as my 3lb barrel.
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Sept 26, 2008 14:03:16 GMT -5
3/4 full of rocks is pushing it with the 6lb barrel, I find things roll better closer to 2/3 full.
Also I find that things get through coarse a little quicker, I'm burning through grit charges in 4-5 days compared to 7-10 in the 3 lb barrels, but maybe I should be using a little more.
I'm really glad to have the 2X6 rig though, it makes keeping the smaller barrels going a lot easier, since after a few weeks running 10 lb or so through coarse at a time-there is always more stuff sitting around ready to go to stage 2.
|
|
tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
|
Post by tombodc on Sept 26, 2008 18:54:14 GMT -5
Less rocks less water seems to work better for me on rocks that have a tendancy to crack but I also watch them each night to make sure they don't need a dab more water... Also, I have been using 2 heaping TBS per 1.5# barrel... being shy isn't going to hurt the rocks any but it will slow you down a bit...
|
|
