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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 4, 2009 11:29:07 GMT -5
When I was first starting this hobby, I pulled directions from 3, no 4 different sources.
All sources (that I could find) state that for a 3 lb barrel to use 3-4 tablespoons of grit. It appears that this is the case for stage(s) 1 & 2.
Now I am hearing I should only be using 3-4 teaspoons.
Does this rule change from rock type to rock type or is it something I just need to modify for all rocks types.
As always ... my humble thanks
Julie
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Mar 4, 2009 12:52:13 GMT -5
Julie
I use four tablespoons in my 3 lb'ers for stages 1 and 2 and I use 6 tablespoons in stages 3 and 4.
Danny
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pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
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Post by pebblepup on Mar 4, 2009 13:24:31 GMT -5
Most of the time I use 4 tablespoons in a 3 lb. barrel in all stages. I wonder how effective smaller amounts would be. It would be nice buy less grit.
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Mar 4, 2009 14:54:21 GMT -5
I generally use roughly 1 tablespoon per pound through all stages, usually a bit more since I don't level off the measures, but I try to keep it close to that.
And this is for rotary tumblers, might be different on vibes, although I wouldn't know as I only have rotary's...
Oh I just read on another thread that half of what you use n a rotary is appropriate for a vibe, that might be where the teaspoon suggestions have their roots, although that's still not quite right, as it takes 3 teaspoons to make a tablespoon.
I can see where one could easily get confused
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 4, 2009 15:02:27 GMT -5
Julie:
The people that write the directions telling you to use excessive amounts of grit are usually the same people that profit from the sale of excessive amounts of grit.
They are very similar to the people that tell you that Stage 1 only takes 5 to 7 days. These are usually the people that sell rock tumblers.
Learn to know your grit. Sure, I use the 4 TBSP's of grit in Stage 1 and check every 5 days to 7 days. When you check, dig your fingers to the bottom of the barrel and feel if there is any grit left in the slurry. If there is grit left, you need to only add more time. If there is only slurry and no grit, you need to recharge the grit. A typical recharge of grit is the addition of 1 TBSP and more time. Repeat every 5 to 7 days until you are happy with Satge 1.
A typical Stage 1 for me is 6 weeks to 8 weeks because I like hard rock and am fussy with the finish. You wouldn't want to add 4 TBSP's of grit every week for 6 to 8 weeks.
Feeling the grit works for Stage 1 and Stage 2 because the grit is course and easy to feel. Someone else may have a few recommendations on how to test the pre-polish and polish.
I usually add half the pre-polish and polish (2 TBSP's of each) compared to the grit and never recharge. Time does the work on the final stages.
150FomFundy
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 4, 2009 16:06:58 GMT -5
Glad to hear all input about this.
It appears I have been pretty darn good about following sound advice and instructions so far. Unless I have issues or serious problems, I will not change my usage or methodology. I try to be very consistent across the board. This way I know that when a problem occurs, I have a pretty good idea of where in the stage(s) I went wrong.
I do know that grit can be an issue with softer stones and this I have experienced already. Live and Learn.
Not having a vibe, I did not know about the grit amount differences and am glad I have that information now and set aside so I can use it when I get a vibe.
I have had no issues, other than my one "blew its top" ;D
As always ... my thanks and gratitude
Julie
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Post by parfive on Mar 4, 2009 16:45:56 GMT -5
150FromFundy: “If there is only slurry and no grit, you need to recharge the grit. A typical recharge of grit is the addition of 1 TBSP and more time.”
Can’t say I agree with that, adding just 1 tblsp each re-charge. Can’t be very efficient.
“You wouldn't want to add 4 TBSP's of grit every week for 6 to 8 weeks.”
That’s what I do (every 4 or 5 days for me) and most everyone else, too.
Life’s short . . . grit’s cheap.
Rich
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Post by frane on Mar 4, 2009 19:00:27 GMT -5
Hi Julie,
Yep, the vibe uses teaspoons, after the first stage that is 1-2 Tablespoons.
With a rotary, it is good to stick to 1T per pound of rock in the tumbler. I also use about half that in 500, 1000, and polish.
Fran
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 4, 2009 21:59:41 GMT -5
Julie you should know by now there are many variations used successfully. I always tell people starting out to follow tried and true directions until they successfully tumble a few batches. Then start trying some of the tips and tricks they hear from long-time tumblers. Eventually they will find they incorporate some and reject others and end up with their own variation. It really isn't rocket science. Some methods speed up and some may slow down the progress but given time just about everything works.
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Post by MyNewHobby on Mar 4, 2009 22:08:23 GMT -5
Dear John ....
sorry .... couldn't help it .... ;D
I know ... so far I suppose I have been lucky and blessed to have followed tried and true without negative results.
I am sure that in time with the right rocks .... I will have to learn and adapt with other variations.
I am glad to know though that others such as yourself are willing to take a bit of time out to answer and yes .... in some cases coddle people like me that are just afraid of screwing up ...
These rocks are just absolutely amazing and beautiful things and I suppose there is a part of me that hates it when I ruin them.
I have murdered my fair share of geodes!!! Woof
As always .... my many and humble thanks
Julie
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Mar 4, 2009 22:25:17 GMT -5
Exactly what John said...there are no real hard and fast rules to this, and unless you are talking about the softest of stones, it's pretty hard to mess up rocks...  I put about a tablespoon of grit per lb. of material in my rotory, and I recharge it with the same amout once the grit is spent (ie I can't feel it in the slurry anymore). This can take anywhere from 4-10 days, depending on the type and amount of material I'm tumbling. I typically let it go a week before I check it, unless I'm dealing with a soft material, in which case I start checking after 3-4 days to make sure I'm not wearing them down too much. And as John also said, variations in these methods bascially only speed up or slow down the whole process... Best advice I can give....don't worry too much about it and have fun with it! |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 5, 2009 3:47:38 GMT -5
Hi Julie,
Can I add my 2 cents !!?
John is absolutly correct no hard and fast recepie , but one thing I watch is this
After 6 days wash out (or 7 days according to your system) if there is rough grit left (in the bottom of your washing bowl) you are putting to much Grit in if there is just a bit of finer grit its just right
I dont know if others agree but this is my "yard stick"
Have a good day Julie thanks for sharing Im sure you have been a big help to other's
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Post by akansan on Mar 5, 2009 17:34:28 GMT -5
After 6 days wash out (or 7 days according to your system) if there is rough grit left (in the bottom of your washing bowl) you are putting to much Grit in Or you're not running the barrels long enough. When I was in NM, I used 10 day cycles, as that's how long it took the grit to break down. I tried less grit, but it still took 10 days to break it all down... |
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Mar 5, 2009 18:03:25 GMT -5
A lot of it depends on the hardness and amount of material you are tumbling too....
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Mar 6, 2009 4:26:04 GMT -5
A good point Arkansan
I usualy have a mixed batch of Agates and Jaspers and Quartze
Its up to you Julie to experiment and find what is YOUR best recepie
Note
1 keep a Journal of you runs
2 What you put in
3 how much water
4 between Stage wash well and be clinicaly clean VI
5 time and date on time and date off
Some thing no one mentioned is RPM but if it is a comercial tumbler it wont matter,
My 6lb tumbler run's at 42 RPM If my tumbler ran at 52 RPM It would take less time , if it ran at 32 RPM it would take more time for the grit to break down,
There are a lot of variables hence the many recepies but there will only be one Julies perfect recepie in the future !!!!!!
Have a good day
Jack
yorkshire uk
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Post by frane on Mar 6, 2009 8:46:13 GMT -5
Oh, I have noticed that the grit breaks down so much faster with hard rocks like carnelian or agates. Usually at 4-5 days I have to add more. If it is something like labradorite, amazonite or moonstone, I am lucky if the grit breaks down by day 10.
Just a few extra observations there.
Fran
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Mar 7, 2009 14:41:53 GMT -5
As a good rule of thumb I always put 10% of the rock weight in as grit. Never had any problems remembering that one and works for me.
Cheers Scott
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2009 16:33:45 GMT -5
Greeting Ladies & Gents i am the culprit that confused poor Julie (Mynewhobby) about grit amounts in the first place, firstly sorry about that & the delay. It seems as if all the American tumbling recipes are based upon the same 1 Tablespoonfuls per pound of stone for 1st F80, 2nd F220,& 2 Tablespoonfuls per pound of stone for 3rd F400, 4th F600, polish no idea, but probably just as much as the cost of grits & polishes tends to be much lower in the USA than here in the UK. The grit amounts appears to be way too much, as in the U.K, the larger the F grade the more expensive it became & in the case of Lindi-A (Brown 0.3 micron Aluminum Oxide (Alu-Ox)) it was normally sold at $20 an 28.5g (1oz) to amateur lapidarists, are you really expecting each user to spend between $60 - $80 just to throw in your 1.36kg (3lb) rotary & then ditch when done? At that time the UK recipe was 1 heaped Tbsp per 1.36kg (3lb) load per grade of grit & 1 level Tbsp per 1.36kg (3lb) load for polish, even this recipe the polish amount was wrong, but at the time i could not explain why it was wrong! What i said to Julie (Mynewhobby) still bears true, but it depends on certain conditions being met, for example the type of tumbler; Vibe or Rotary & it's size & how hard or soft the stones are; it is not the same amount or grade to do all hardnesses, hard stones such as Quartz needs more grit than Moonstone also Chrysocolla need a finer grade & less grit unless you wish to grind it into mud in a few days time. My Ancient Rotary Tumbler Recipes!-- I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! Sticky's: Vendors worldwide, How to identify rocks & minerals!, FAQS: Add Tags:Save money on expensive grits & polishes! |
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