fisherdank
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by fisherdank on Sept 10, 2009 1:06:56 GMT -5
hey guys, im new to tumbling and have really tried to find a answer to this question. well i cant so i figured you all might know?
here it is.
OK i have a grit kit for my 12# tumbler it comes with
1# coarse
1#fine
1/2#pre polish
1/2# polish
i fill 3/4 with rock add coarse fill to top of rocks with water, tumble for 10 days,
next
my rocks only fill up a little over half full, i add fine grit fill to top of rocks with water tumble 10 day.
next
my rocks only fill up a little under half way....
so the question is can i fill up the barrel 3/4 the way with rocks that have been thro coarse and fine grit, instead of using plastic pellets? if so is 1/2# of pre-polish and polish enough for a 3/4 full barrel?
thanks for reading.
Dank.
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Post by superioragates on Sept 10, 2009 8:07:23 GMT -5
I am kinda new to tumbling as well, but from everything I read, and have learned so far, you need rocks or plastics/ceramics, that are clean, so as not to contaminate the rocks you want to polish. I would put some pellets or ceramics in there to make up the volume, or wait till you have a full barrel of rocks that have been through all the stages. As far as how much polish you need to add, depends on what size barrel you have, but in my 3lb tumblers I put 3-4 heaping tablespoons in the barrels.
Welcome aboard, and enjoy the wealth of knowledge that resides within. These folks are really nice people, and willing to help wherever they can!
Marie
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 10, 2009 8:13:53 GMT -5
I do more vibe than rotary, so get a few more inputs - BUT 3-4 heaping tablespoons sounds like way too much polish. In a vibe you add less polish than any other grit stage. For a 4lb bowl I maybe use 3 teaspoons.
Also, I am fresh from helping my sister's kids with their dual 3lb barrels, and water to the top of the rocks is way too much as well.
If you have strictly followed the "full range of sizes" dictum, and there are many little chips and pebbles, with consequent reduction in the space between rocks for water, you might be able to water upto the bottom of the top layer of rocks.
But most folks end up adding too many medium and larger rocks because they are more interesting. There are then large voids to hold water, and you have to put the water at least 3/4 inch below the top of the rocks - maybe a bit lower.
The main reason not to get slurry is too much water and not enough small helper rocks.
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Post by superioragates on Sept 10, 2009 8:17:30 GMT -5
Ok, well, I even cut it way back from the original directions on my tumbler. They sent me 1/4 lb of polish, and the directions said to add the complete contents for 1 barrel of rocks. So, I did some research, and saw that it didn't take that much, and cut it back to 3-4 tablespoons.
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 10, 2009 8:26:39 GMT -5
The people that like the polish found in grit kits typically use a lot of it. The better polishes work with 2 teaspoons. You want barrel 3/4 full at all steps for proper tumbling action. You may need to keep running step 1 loads until you have a step 2 load. Then do enough step 2 loads to have a step 3 load, etc. Ceramic media, gravel, rock chips, etc. can be used as filler also. The small pieces will also speed up the process.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2009 9:31:47 GMT -5
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fisherdank
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by fisherdank on Sept 10, 2009 10:03:35 GMT -5
OK so iv learned that i need a little less water, maby to just under the bottom of the top layer?
so the question still remains, is the 1/2# polish that comes in the Thumblers tumblers 12 # tumbler kit meant to polish 12# of actual rock or is it meant to polish 12# of rock that has been tumbled and lost 5 or 6 lb of rock?
what i would like to do is add rock(instead of pellets) to make it 3/4 full , but i don know if i need more polish too.
it would make sense to add rock, caz then you polish polished more rock per dollar spent on it! if i works ?
thanks again.
Dank
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 10, 2009 10:45:59 GMT -5
The problem with not tumbling full loads is the rock gets to top and drops causing chips/damage and not tumbling. You need the 3/4 full for the rolling tumbling action. Thumler's likely intends the polish to be used on a full (3/4 level) load. Small pieces of rock will work for filler although the small angle cut ceramic media is likely smaller than anything you would add unless you cut rock and save all the little corner cuts, etc.
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fisherdank
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 4
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Post by fisherdank on Sept 10, 2009 21:07:39 GMT -5
great to know, now i can be thrifty with my polish and save my coarse and fine polished rocks till i can fill up my tumbler 3/4 full, thanks again.
and as far as small rocks go.... i pick up every thing that looks like it would tumble up nicely, even pea and marble sizes, wich are now bb and pea sized after the 2 grits!!!lol
so ive got a nice mix of bb size to 2 inches with all different sizes inbetween!!
cant wait till there done! ill post some picks of very 1st batch when im done!
thanks Dank
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