llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
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Post by llanago on Feb 18, 2004 22:29:42 GMT -5
Anybody ever done any dry tumbling?
Went to the rock shop today and spent a considerable amount of time talking with the owner. She's been in the rock biz for 52 years. Told us that they use 46/70 grit for three weeks, then pre-polish for a week and polish a week. Said the 46/70 breaks down into medium, then fine and that you don't have to recharge. Also said that dry tumbling in the 46/70 will produce a product ready for pre-polish in 3-4 days.
Anybody ever tried this and what kind of results did you have?
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Post by docone31 on Feb 18, 2004 22:39:25 GMT -5
It does work, however I find wet tumbling provides more predictable results. It is also quieter, my tumbler is in the kitchen, my jewelers bench is in the living room, and storage is the other bedroom. I like wet tumbling for its respective silence also. I have run coarse grit for five weeks, and then run 880, prepolish, and polish. I do prefer running grit cycles. I have done tumbles twice that way.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
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Post by llanago on Feb 18, 2004 22:48:17 GMT -5
She did say dry tumbling was pretty loud. My tumbler is in an area between my bedroom and living room and I'm not sure I will be able to handle the noise, but think I might try it.
Been a long time since I have been to a rock shop with bin after bin of rocks. It was so neat! I wish I would have had a big wad of money to spend! I did buy a 6 1/2 chunk of mook and I can't wait to do it!
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
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Post by thewiz on Feb 18, 2004 23:00:05 GMT -5
worth a shot mines in the basement in my shop bedrooms two floors up let you know have to recharge in two daye
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Justme
starting to shine!
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Post by Justme on Feb 19, 2004 23:06:05 GMT -5
Would dry tumbling work better for harder rocks like agate? Getting results faster would be great. Another advantage is there is not worry about the barrel freezing if you tumble in an unheated garage or shed.
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WarrenA
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Post by WarrenA on Feb 20, 2004 0:55:09 GMT -5
I made a box out of 2" hard yellow foam and put the tumbler in it the heat from the motor has been enough to keep it from freezing in my unheated garage. the box measures 2'wide by 3' long by 16" tall
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by llanago on Feb 20, 2004 10:21:20 GMT -5
I don't have any personal experience with dry tumbling or this 46/70 grit. Am just passing on what the lady at the rock shop told us.
My tumblers are inside so I don't have to worry about freezing.
According to the lady at the rock shop, this 46/70 grit breaks down from coarse to medium to fine in the process of tumbling. Using it dry takes about 4 days, wet about three weeks. Then the rocks are ready for pre-polish. Said you don't have to recharge as you do with the 60/90 grit. I assume that at the end of 4 days and/or three weeks, there will probably be rocks that aren't shaped and smooth just like with the 60/90 grit, so they would have to go thru the cycle again.
I put a load of quartz I found in dry tumble yesterday, so I guess by about Sunday, I will have an idea of how it works. I was surprised that the dry tumbling really isn't much louder than the wet tumbling.
I do like the idea of being able to have finished rocks in about three weeks with the dry tumbling rather than 6-8 weeks, but whether that really happens remains to be seen.
I will report on my success/failure with this dry tumbling.
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
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Post by RiverOtter on Feb 21, 2004 1:07:17 GMT -5
Yes llano please keep us posted. I'm very curious to hear how that works out. I'm wondering if you could do it with say emerald and corundum so it wouldn't take as long. Some pics might be nice too if you can.
Otter
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 21, 2004 11:26:18 GMT -5
I agree. I always interested in any way to speed up the rough grind. Some of these (especially Ruby) seem to take forever. I've had some Ruby running for 17 days now, and I'm not sure that another 17 days will be enough. I thought about investing in some boron carbide grit, but the price is a little (okay, a lot more) prohibitive.
Ron
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
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Post by shorty on Feb 22, 2004 13:57:39 GMT -5
i tried to dry tumblesome jasper .all it did was keep it dull it wouldnt polish at all. shorty
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Feb 22, 2004 15:27:28 GMT -5
Shorty,
Did you run all stages dry? Or, just the rough and up to and through pre-polish?
Or, did you run the polish dry also?
I like the idea to cut down the cycle time. It takes so long when running wet. Thought I would try it dry. But, I am still trying to figure out the best process. thanks, Cal
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Justme
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Post by Justme on Feb 22, 2004 19:09:58 GMT -5
Ilanago, how is the quartz dry tumble doing? Thanks for doing this trial run for us ;D
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
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Post by llanago on Feb 22, 2004 19:53:05 GMT -5
I checked the quartz today. After 4 days in 46/70 dry tumble, I could see a bit of shaping and smoothng, but not even close to what I want. I recharged with 90 grit, added water and put it back to tumbling.
So, a 4 day dry tumble doesn't do the trick. It might help hurry it along alittle bit. Guess I could have recharged with the 46/70 and gone another 4 days dry but the grit still looked to be in good shape, so I just added some 90 to it.
Will check it in a few days and see how it's looking.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
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Post by llanago on Feb 23, 2004 10:36:20 GMT -5
Well, I messed up on the number of days for the dry tumble.
Barbara told me the rock shop lady said 7 days, not 4. Don't know where I got the 4 days.
She loaded her 15#r Friday and is dry tumbling, so I will report on her progress.
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
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Post by shorty on Feb 23, 2004 12:35:16 GMT -5
redwood i just did the last two stages of polish. shorty
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valard
off to a rocking start
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Post by valard on Feb 27, 2004 23:31:18 GMT -5
llanago- the rock shop you are talking about is just south of Boerne. I've had the same conversation, followed the advice, and had about the same experience. I have a lot of respect for those folks' knowledge, so I figure there must be something different in our equipment, because I don't get the results they describe.
One thing I would add, is that they say that if a rock doesn't look ready for prepolish, just toss it into the next rough batch. On that basis, I have to admit that a fair number of the rocks are ready for prepolishing, and I guess you could just accumulate enough over time to make it work out. I must say that the idea of not changing out the batchs every week is very appealing.
Happy polishing.
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
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Post by thewiz on Mar 8, 2004 16:50:10 GMT -5
hey llanago have you talked to that lady at the rock shop to see how that last batch you talked about came out. and how did your quartz come out having both 46/70 and 60/90 in it.my 60/90 seems to break down fast every 3 days was going to try some 46/70 when i run out of 60/90
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 11, 2004 13:19:15 GMT -5
valard, yes, that's the shop. I think I am going to sign up for one of their Saturday morning classes.
They use Lortone rotary tumblers and at least three vib tumblers - what kind I don't know. The next time you are there have her take you on the tour through their shop out back. As a beginner rock tumbler, it was really interesting to me.
I screwed up with my first dry tumbling attempt, in that I thought she said 4 days. After 4 days, I wasn't pleased with the results, so recharged with 60/90 and added water. I let that run for 7 days and was satisfied that they could go to the medium phase. That's where they are now and Monday they will come out. Hopefully, they will go into the fine then.
I did start a batch of petrified wood/palm wood in the 46/70 dry and will run it for 7 days. Will check on them Monday and see where to go from there. I really, really hope they are ready for prepolish! I have been tumbling for about 7 weeks and still don't have a finished rock! Of course, that could be because when I check them, if there is just one little pit, crack or crevace, it goes back in the coarse. I decided when I checked last time I was being way to picky and it was time to move them on to the medium grind. I washed and scrubbed and washed some more to make sure I didn't have any cross contamination. Guess I will see the results when I open that barrel on Monday.
Now, valard, it's the 20 questions. LOL!
Where do you live - San Antonio or one of the surrounding areas? Have you been rockhounding around this area? If so, what kind of rocks have you found.? Is there a rockhounding club around here?
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valard
off to a rocking start
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Post by valard on Mar 21, 2004 9:53:02 GMT -5
I've been out of town, or would have responded sooner. I live in San Antonio. I don't know of any rockhounding clubs as such, but I did attend one of those Saturday morning classes (great fun!), and I heard some prople talking about a recent successful rockhounding trip. I'm sure they could put you onto the info you need to try, but I'm not sure there is a club. If you find out about one, please post here.
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valard
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2003
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Post by valard on Mar 21, 2004 9:55:19 GMT -5
I forgot to add: I've never been rockhounding, but I would love to try it, if time permits. I'm not sure what there is around this area. Most of the spots I have heard about are towards West Texas. Good luck.
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