ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Oct 7, 2008 9:44:00 GMT -5
Hi, Finally found a deal on 2 used tumblers on fleabay. Got a 6 pounder and 3 pounder Lortones.  Will get a better picture when they arrive. I am excited and anxious for them to arrive. Initially I have 2 questions about getting started. First, what do I need for grit to get going with? I hope not to start a huge debate, but do I need to use a 3 step or 4 step grit process. Can you suggest a good place to get the grit. Now I have a selection of rough to tumble that we came home with from our trip to Gem Mountain which I have posted about here. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=introductions&action=display&thread=25381Now, I am not sure the stuff we have is the best thing to learn on. We have some amethyst, citrine, sodalite, amazonite, smokey quartz and aquamarine. We don't have enough of any one type of stone to fill the 6 pounder for the grinding stage. Could I mix a couple of these together to get started with, or should I look for some jasper or agate to learn what I am doing? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks Randy |
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Post by Titania on Oct 7, 2008 11:53:07 GMT -5
Hi Randy, I got started just like you...a stop at the gem places in NC.  It's a slippery slope, let me tell ya! Personally, I use a 4 step process: 60/90 --> 120/220 --> 500 --> Polish. You'd be safe to mix amethyst, citrine and smoky quartz in the same batch. You could mix the sodalite and amazonite, in a separate batch. That's as much mixing as I'd do. I've never tumbled aquamarine, so hopefully someone else can help with that. It'd be much easier for you if you started with agates or jaspers first, though. The other materials are harder to get right. I buy my grit from The Rock Shed. Shawn's a great guy, and he's got great prices, too. therockshed.com/grit.htmlBe sure to buy enough grit. You're going to go through lots of 60/90 and 120/220. I buy by the 5 lb bags. And Shawn has a great selection of tumbling rough, too. You could buy some agates and jaspers to get started with or even get some more sodalite and amazonite so you have enough to do a full batch. |
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Oct 7, 2008 16:01:05 GMT -5
Hoowdy and Welcome to the forum I use a 5 or 6 step 46-60 until smooth( could be months at this stage) , 80 -1-2 weeks , 220 -7-14 days, 500 -7 days 1000 7 days then 7-14 days polish, but it does depend on the hardness of the rock your tumbling A lot of folks also use www.kingsleynorth.com/ to buy from you should probably get 5lbs of each grit but only a 1 lb of polishes you DONT want to run out of grit ohhh and dont forget plastic pellets 5 lbs lol Dennis |
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Post by Titania on Oct 7, 2008 17:17:39 GMT -5
I HATE plastic pellets...I use ceramic instead. |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Oct 7, 2008 21:43:45 GMT -5
Welcome, ace! You've probably already noticed that there is no set standard tumbling formula and everyone will give you variations on the theme. I encourage you to experiment. While starting with a homogenous batch of agates or jaspers will increase your chance of getting it "just right" your first time out, your mixed batch should also work to give you results that you can proudly show off. I follow a scheme of: 60/90 silicon carbide coarse, 6 days per round, many rounds to get them right 120/200 SC medium, 7 days, followed by a 2 hour Borax rinse 500 SC pre-polish, 7 days, rinse 1000 aluminum oxide pre-polish, 7 days, rinse AO or other polish, 10 days, rinse You can also follow this standard recipe: www.rocktumblinghobby.com/cycle/cycle.htmlor follow the directions that come with your tumbler. Go for it and have fun! |
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Post by stonesthatrock on Oct 7, 2008 22:58:10 GMT -5
welcome to the board. you will enjoy all the people here. They are very helpful and have a lot of knowledge
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Oct 8, 2008 18:53:04 GMT -5
thanks for all the comments so far!!  I understand that every hobby or process like this, everyone has their own way of doing it. Its been like that with every other hobby I have participated in. With experience, you find out what works better for you and your equipment. Thank you for the link to the "suggested process" ejs! I intend to follow the directions as close as I can. I have figured out when suggesting to someone else a foolproof plan , don't get excited when that person is still unable to complete the task. Because I have learned never to underestimate the power of a fool to mess things up!  ;D The tumblers have shipped and should arrive soon. So I still need to order up some grit and agate or jasper to learn on. My 10 year old will probably participate a lot in this, so I really want the first couple of batches to turn out well to keep interest high and frustration low. I also hope to let her do as much of the fun stuff as possible and I expect to do the grunt work, such as cleaning the barrels, washing the stones, etc. Is there a particular kind of jasper or agate that you could suggest that would be easier for rookies to get good results with and harder to mess up?? Thanks again! Randy |
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Post by catmandewe on Oct 8, 2008 19:14:52 GMT -5
Hey Ace,
PM me your address and I will send you your first batch to tumble.
I have a bunch of stuff that is really easy to tumble.
Have a good day.................Tony
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Oct 11, 2008 10:13:31 GMT -5
I bought a basic grit pack with plastic beads from the rock shed and it is on its way. Hopefully I will have everything to start the first batch by next weekend. I will keep everyone updated on the progress we make. After reading many different things and posts here I am coming up with a couple of conclusions. Hopefully you can tell me if I am on the right track here or not. One of the most important things is patience. You can't rush the process or take short cuts if you want good results. Also, you have to be critical and honest when deciding if your stones are ready for the next step of tumbling. And you have to be thorough in cleaning the stones and barrels between steps. To begin with I plan to just follow the basic process that is posted here and make adjustments later as I gain experience. Are these conclusions on track?  Randy |
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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 Oct 11, 2008 11:50:52 GMT -5
Randy,
I am a newbie also. I think that you are on the right path. If not, then I'm not either. LOL. I think that with good starter rocks like agates and jaspers that you will get some really nice polished stones. The advise doesn't get any better than this forum. Good luck and have fun (we have been)!
Randy
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lynskyn1970
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 93
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Post by lynskyn1970 on Oct 12, 2008 16:18:35 GMT -5
hey there i have a whole bunch of agates you could start out with i have collected here in utah!!! i use plastic pellets and ther work fine for me. as you start tumbling you find what works for you. everyone has their own little ways of doing things. also i think that www.kingsleynorth.com has a general rock tumbling guideline on their site that you can print out. just general directions on tumbling. well have fun and good luck on your first tumble. feel free to pm me or e mail me if interested in any of the agate. |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Oct 12, 2008 22:27:24 GMT -5
Randy: FWIW, I'd say your conclusions are spot on. Another one that you didn't mention is the importance of starting with quality rough ("garbage in - garbage out" and all that). I encourge you to jump on in with whatever you have and learn as you go. Rocks are very foirgiving! Go for it!
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Oct 13, 2008 6:44:47 GMT -5
And keep a logbook on each barrel and each process, this is very important for your future sanity ;D, this way your sure to remember what you did correctly (or not) for each type of rock.
Number your drums (or name them, whichever is convenient for you, so you know which one you are working with).
Oh, and order some replacement belts too!
And remember "Luck is not a factor".......................................ya, right!
Dr Joe
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Post by Titania on Oct 13, 2008 9:15:14 GMT -5
Randy, I think you're spot on with your conclusions. You'll figure out what works best for you, but the guidelines here are a great way to get you 99% of the way to success. Oh, and don't panic about how long you leave something in the tumbler for. I tend to forget about my tumblers for a while and often leave them rolling for a month or so without attention. You can have a life, go on vacation, etc without being wed to your tumbler. (This doesn't apply so much to vibratory tumblers, I think, but I've never used one.) |
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Oct 15, 2008 19:25:35 GMT -5
The grit order came in Tuesday for the the Rock Shed. They included an instruction sheet which has some pretty simple, easy directions. Now just gotta get some time to get everything started, LOL. My little has her 5th birthday party Saturday, so will be a little busy until thats all over.
I appreciate all the comments! And I am anxious to get started now!
Another question? What info do you typically keep track of in your log books and how detailed does it need to be to be helpful later? Also with the Rock Sheds instructions they incuded a sheet with 4 different columns. Sorry I don't remember the titles for each column. It looked like it may get you started but seemed just a little too brief?
Randy
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Post by Titania on Oct 16, 2008 7:57:09 GMT -5
Log book? Pfaw! I'm nowhere near organized enough for that!  |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Oct 20, 2008 19:00:05 GMT -5
I just use a little spiral notebook. I record the date, what went in (kinds of rocks, how much grit, what kind of grit) and then write down when it is due to be done that stage.
I will often weigh the rocks at the end of the round and then again before I restart it. I spend so much time in the coarse 60/90 stages that I like to know that I am making progress. So I weight all the rock after I've rinsed them, weigh any rock that is separated out as ready for the medium stage, weigh any new coarse that goes in. That way, I can track my progress (i.e. % reduction during the coarse stage and how much is ready to move on). But I'm a numbers guy. In general, as long as you keep track of what stage you are in and when it is done, you'll do fine!
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ace
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 39
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Post by ace on Oct 22, 2008 9:16:55 GMT -5
thanks for the info ejs! I too can be a details guy. I will pick up a notebook next time I am at the dollar store or somewhere. We started a batch of agate on Sat. evening. Oh yeah, catmandewe sent me a box of agate and we are excitedly going thru it! There is some great stuff in there. I did not think about weighing the rock before starting it, but will do that for the next batch. That would have to give you a good idea how things are progressing.
I will post about the first tumbling batch as soon as I get my pics uploaded to the computer. Like most people with the first batch I am having a hard time being patient to see if things are working.
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It's a slippery slope, let me tell ya!
;D 
