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Post by greensbororocks on May 26, 2010 20:02:51 GMT -5
I filled the bowl with rocks then, filled the bowl with water. I dumped the water out, kept the rocks in, added 2 1/2 table spoons of 220 grit and a couple sprays of water. Turned it on and, it is doing just like it should. With it on, I can almost see where the base of the middle meets the bottom. Should I add one more hand full of rocks?
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Post by 150FromFundy on May 26, 2010 20:33:08 GMT -5
Fill 'er up! I usually bounce rocks off the inside lid.
When not in motion, you can fill level with the top of the center cone. Beyond that, it gets messy. Try to keep grit out of the threaded rod and wing nut, or hex nut. Grit and vibration will cause premature thread wear and the nut will soon loose its bite on the threaded rod. Spary the rod and nut well with your water bottle (to clear and grit/slurry) before doing your bowl recharges and changes.
Good luck. It took me a few loads to get happy. Like a rotary, the most important stage is the first one with 120/220. Don't rush it. It may take a few 3 day cycles to get the saw marks and chips out.
More - Check your bowl often in Stage 1. Your perfectly moist and coated rocks will become glued together in a near-motionless blob of thickened slurry in as little as 3 to 4 hours. Check them before bed, check them first thing in the morning, check them when you get home from work, check them after supper. Repeat previous sequence. Stage 1 is high maintenance. It gets easier after that.
Darryl.
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Post by greensbororocks on May 26, 2010 20:55:29 GMT -5
I forgot, I also went and got new wing nuts and tubing to go over the threads.
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Post by greensbororocks on May 26, 2010 21:34:20 GMT -5
I am amazed! After just 3 hours, my batch was on its way to drying out. I even had the lid on!  |
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Post by deb193redux on May 26, 2010 23:13:36 GMT -5
the mud holds the water - it is not evaporating. Early on you can recharge after 12 to 15 hours.
if that does not fit your schedule, dump them in a bucket of water so the grit does not cement.
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Post by greensbororocks on May 27, 2010 9:23:05 GMT -5
That makes sense. I am on vacation this week, so I am able to check it every hour. It changes constantly. At the 12 hour mark, I am sure the mud will be so thick, that I will need to fully rinse and start over. I do not have a rolling tumbler, so I have to start with rough in a vibe.
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