gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Feb 24, 2009 2:16:19 GMT -5
I'm new to rock tumbling and just started my first batch 2 days ago with a Lortone 33B and some mixed rough from the RockShed. I followed the directions:
2/3 full of rock
4 tablespoons of coarse grit
water level at the bottom of the top layer of stones
I went to check on them today, and saw that the bottom of the barrel was caked with grit and some of the rocks were stuck in this sludge. I don't think the rocks stuck in the sludge at the bottom were tumbling. Not sure where I went wrong. Not enough water? Too much grit?
Also, there was quite a bit of gray foam when I took the top off.
I went ahead and cleaned everything up and recharged the barrel.
Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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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 Feb 24, 2009 8:49:31 GMT -5
I can think of a couple of possibilities: - The first is pretty obvious, not enough water...after a while you will be able to tell from the sound that there is not enough water because you will not Hear the right action.
- The second could be that the barrel is too full. Your two thirds might be a tad too full. Try to be on the 5/8ths side of two thirds
- You needed to rinse the rocks a bit before starting because they have too much loose or clayey matrix attached.
I really believe you just needed a bit more water, don't stress too much, experience will make you a better person, er.. tumbler Welcome to RTH csroc |
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 24, 2009 10:04:58 GMT -5
I'd say a little less grit (maybe 3 tablespoons) fill rock to 3/4 full and water so a few of top layer are sticking out of water. What you tumble has a bearing on how much sludge forms also. You may have to thin slurry as needed. I usually use 2-3 tablespoons grit and check in 3 days. Then I add grit or water as needed. Having a mixture of rock sizes is really important too. You can fill rock to 2/3 full then add non-abrasive ceramic cylinder to the 3/4 full level. If your rock mixture includes small sizes you can omit the cylinders during first grind.
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gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Feb 24, 2009 12:09:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! I believe it is probably a combination of too little water and too much grit. The instructions state that a 3lb. barrel should get 4 tablespoons of coarse. However, I do not believe that I had 3lbs. of rock. I guess I should weight them next time. Thanks again!
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Feb 24, 2009 14:44:21 GMT -5
And don't even bother checking course until it has run alt least 5 days, nothing to see here....
The sludge and rocks settle when the barrel is sitting upright, while its turning everything is most likely doing what it should be doing.
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Post by frane on Feb 24, 2009 21:09:14 GMT -5
You are actually not doing anything wrong. When the tumbler stops and sits for even a minute or two. Small rocks will cement themselves to the sludge in the bottom of the barrel as it settles. Once the barrel starts the rotation again, they break free in a matter of minutes.
I would also cut back on the grit. No more than 3T should be necessary. The foam on the top is usually in a high silicate load or you have a lot of organic matter in with the rocks (dirt) that will add to the foam as it breaks down. This can also cause the lid to pop off if not checked every couple of days, especially at the start of a tumble. If you continue to get foam throughout, it is just the rocks. If it is only in the beginning, it is dirt. I have been running a wash tumble for about an hour and then rinsing out the barrel before I start the grit. Seems to have cut down on that a lot.
Fran
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gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Feb 24, 2009 21:53:44 GMT -5
Fran, Thanks for the words of wisdom. It's nice to know I'm not doing much wrong except maybe adding too much grit. I've learned from several people on this forum, including yourself  , to wash the rough rock before I tumble. Everything seems to be going well now. It's been three days since I last checked on the rocks. I popped the top and, of course, noticed that the level is down. I added a few more rocks and a little more water to bring the level up to about 2/3 full. Is this a normal thing to do, or should I have left it alone? Since the new rocks I added will not be in the same state of "grindage", do I just pick out the ones I deem worthy for the stage 2 grind and the end of the 1st grind? |
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Post by Sea Faring Wang Dang on Feb 25, 2009 0:16:53 GMT -5
Wow!!! I was about to start a new thread asking the same question as gzed1500. Having the same problem with one of my tumbles. I will take all of you kind folks advice. Thanks again. Saved the by the Ole Masters again. |
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Post by MyNewHobby on Feb 25, 2009 14:56:37 GMT -5
I am so glad that I checked this thread ... I too have had barrels that when I opened them up, there was quite a bit of foam.
It has also reminded me to wash/rinse the rocks well before starting a tumble.
As always .... thanks to all!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 25, 2009 15:54:32 GMT -5
Gzed: Yes, just move on the ones that are ready for stage 2 and then add more rocks for another coarse grind. I don't normally add new rocks mid-stage, but it won't hurt anything. I check my coarse grind every 1-2 weeks, but my rocks are generally dirt-free when I start them.
Chuck
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gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Feb 25, 2009 15:55:56 GMT -5
Will do Chuck! Thanks!
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Post by rocklicker on Feb 26, 2009 14:26:28 GMT -5
One side note: I found if you are tumbling small slabs they sometimes end up on the bottom along with a lot of sludge. They seem to want to stick to the bottom of the barrel.
Steve
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Post by frane on Feb 26, 2009 16:18:11 GMT -5
When I am still in the course grind and the rock level drops, I add a few rocks but never increase the water. Too much water will slow down the shaping of your rocks.
Pull the rocks that look like they are ready to continue but if it is only a few, set them aside and add more rock and grit. The important thing is to have enough to go on to the second stage and often, that can require a bit of additional rock and time. If you rush through, that is when you end up not having enough volume at the final stages and start getting chips and cracks.
Good luck!
Fran
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, to wash the rough rock before I tumble. Everything seems to be going well now.
