sford13
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 119 
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Post by sford13 on Dec 11, 2009 8:04:41 GMT -5
Ok I am still fairly new to all of this. Even though it seems like I have been doing this a long time now. I have come across a question or better yet maybe a way to improve my process. Currently for my rough grind I have been running a week and then straining off the slurry and rinsing the stones. Any that look ready I set aside for the next step. Than all the others are back in and new grit and new water added and another week is done.
Am I actually slowing the process down by doing it this way? I mean should I be just opening up the barrel and adding some fresh grit and maybe a couple extra rocks for the lost volume and put them right back on? But then how would I know how they are progressing unless I wash em off? Advice please.
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JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
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Post by JEFFD on Dec 11, 2009 8:31:41 GMT -5
You are on the right track. Adding grit to slury breaks down the new grit faster, I don't do that.
Adding rock for lost volume is good in the course grind.
Do not add rough rock to other stages as they will ruin what you have already done.
Patience Grasshopper.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 11, 2009 9:40:36 GMT -5
You're using exactly the same method I use. I only add slurry if I'm doing more delicate rocks and I want to retard the action a bit....Mel
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Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 11, 2009 11:37:11 GMT -5
What Mel said .....
Tom
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Post by Toad on Dec 11, 2009 11:50:02 GMT -5
Brand new grit at each re-charge will speed the time in the initial grind.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Dec 12, 2009 2:22:37 GMT -5
Hi Sford,
I domuch the same
I also wash compleatly then take out what is ready then add rough to what has been taken out ,
I add grit water , but as Ive washed all up there is no adesive (rock mud ) in the barrel I add a bit of wall paper adesive to act as a" carrier " so I can get a quick start at getting the cutting action going again
If you add Goop from the former batch its the same and quicker as long as you dont add to much (to much acts as a lubricant not a cutting agent )
This is what ive found out in my experiments
Open to correction from my RTH Buddies
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Dec 13, 2009 16:07:23 GMT -5
I just finished my first run of a course grind and I noticed there was a considerable amount of black stuff in the bottom of the barrel that looked a lot like grit. I don't have any more coarse grit to compare it to, but I let it go for about 12 days (though my tumbler has started to slow down sometime recently, and I'm not sure when). Is that black stuff unused grit? And if so, does that mean I should have let it go longer?
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Post by Toad on Dec 14, 2009 7:06:15 GMT -5
Probably grit - when broken down it should be gray. 12 days should have been plenty to break it down. Maybe you used too much water?
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Post by scared0o0rabbit on Dec 14, 2009 14:55:07 GMT -5
Maybe. The rocks are noticeably worn down from the prior week and the barrel was full of a grey goop, so obviously something was going on in there. I didn't use any prior slurry or anything to start the load also, so I know it didn't get as fast a start as I could have.
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Post by Toad on Dec 14, 2009 14:58:23 GMT -5
Since you got plenty of grinding action, you probably used too much grit...
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Dec 14, 2009 17:53:16 GMT -5
You can recycle the unused grit at the bottom of the barrel. Just scoop it out into a container and save it then use it 50/50 with new 60/90 for your next rough grind.
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