RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 26, 2010 15:02:03 GMT -5
Hi folks,
I am wondering how many pellets you use for the pre-polish and polish stage? I use about 1/8 pellets (or a little more) by volume for a Thumler model B, which is about 1" by height of the drum. And about 7" of rocks by height by the drum.
Thanks,
Cal
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Post by tkrueger3 on May 26, 2010 16:11:37 GMT -5
When I use either plastic pellets/beads or ceramic filler, I usually try to have a ratio of 1/3 plastic/ceramic and 2/3 rocks for the total load. If I'm tumbling softer materials, like sodalite or labradorite, I go heavier with the pellets and lighter with the rocks. Often, in a 50-50 ratio.
Of course, that's just me - others may have different methods.
Tom
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,503
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Post by Sabre52 on May 26, 2010 19:17:10 GMT -5
Howdy Cal. I usually go with one full cup of plastic pellets in my 12 pound Lortone barrels and about the same amount in my UV-10 but the pellets do climb out of the load a lot in the vibe....Mel
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on May 26, 2010 23:31:43 GMT -5
Ok, I messed, I should not have rushed through my question - I was hungry for lunch.
In any case, I wanted to ask the question as I wanted to move the tumbles to pre-polish after lunch.
I use one of those plastic Folgers cans to store my "ready for 120/220" rocks. The Folger can seems to hold the right amount of rock for a Thumler B tumbler. The Folger can hold 13 cups of rocks (I measured today).
After burnishing and cleaning the rocks, I put the rocks back into the barrel. The rocks filled 4 inches of the barrel. I added water to the bottom of the top level of rocks, added 2 inches of pellets and 7 heaping tablespoons of Tripoli. This left 2 inches of space at the top of barrel.
This is the formula that Tom uses (2/3 rocks & 1/3 pellets), which must mean that great minds think alike!!!
What I was sort of hoping for.....was that I was putting in too many of the rocks ready for 120/220 stage and I should cut back, which means I can run more lots through in a given year (I normally finish about 4 loads per year-running two Thumler B's).
I usually add stuff by sight (with very bad eyes LOL) - rocks, pellets, grit, water etc. If anything, I may not use enough pellets in the 120/220 stage, not that I notice too many fractured stones. I do try to have a good mix of sizes in all my loads. So, the small/tiny pieces help carry the grit and also cushion the bigger stones.
Ok, I am rambling...
Cal
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