rudy35
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 23
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Post by rudy35 on Nov 19, 2010 19:55:55 GMT -5
hello all, I have been lurking for about a month and am reading everything. I have two very bright granddaughters(8&9 yo) that want to know more about rocks and how to make them pretty. I purchased a Lortone 33b and a lt66 and a LOT O vibe with extra barrels for them all. I also bought a 25lbFRB of tumbling rough from Tony at the Idaho rock shop and a 7"tile saw from Lowes to cut Tony's rocks to size. I have two barrels of the 33b and one barrel of the 66 tumbling rough for the past three weeks,opening and recharging every week and removing rocks ready for the next stage.would pea gravel work well as a grit carrier for the coarse stage? i have an unlimited supply of this gravel. Can anyone advise me of the most efficient use of this set of tumblers and barrels? I should soon have enough stones to start the next stage.....should i use the tumblers for 120/220 or the vibrator?......I think this post is getting kind of long so i will end it for now...I appreciate any advice,thanks RUDY
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Post by drocknut on Nov 19, 2010 20:44:44 GMT -5
Welcome to RTH Rudy.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Nov 19, 2010 22:21:24 GMT -5
Welcome aboard, where bout's in MS? I used to live outside of Hazlehurst for a while, went to school at Union Academy outside of Crystal Springs, way back a hundurd years ago or so. My dad ran the handle mill there in Hzhurst for a while... long long time ago...
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 19, 2010 23:54:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Pea gravel will work fine as filler and grit carrier. You might be surprised ow nice it looks. I've seen some really nice gravel depending on location.
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jasperblue
starting to spend too much on rocks
Diggin' This
Member since August 2010
Posts: 140
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Post by jasperblue on Nov 20, 2010 1:35:57 GMT -5
Welcome! When adding small bulk rocks, the rounder the better. Assorted sizes from 3/16ths to 1/2 inch should do well. And as johnjsgems says, some of them may come out real nice! Use them over & over until they flatten out or disappear. Once you get to the fine and polish stages, you should use plastic beads. They work great and wont scratch or crack your good stones. With experience (practice), you'll learn what works best with certain stones. Agates are usually quite cooperative. Have fun! -Chris.
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 20, 2010 9:53:43 GMT -5
If you get them well rounded you can put them in the Lotto at 120/220. Or run a week in the rotary to finish shaping. I would run the gravel right through with the rocks. It would be better than plastic for vibe tumble polishing.
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rudy35
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2010
Posts: 23
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Post by rudy35 on Nov 20, 2010 11:28:09 GMT -5
I like the advice I'm getting thanks, Please keep it coming! If I use the lot o vibrator for the 120/220 stage,can I use this same barrel for the pre polish after washing it out? I read that you should have a separate barrel for the polishing stage? Thanks, Rudy
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 22, 2010 9:53:12 GMT -5
If by "prepolish" you mean the 500F (or 600) grit then yes, same barrel. The 120/220 will be broen down by 2 days. If you mean actual prepolish (tripoli, alumina, etc.) depends on bowl material and how effectively you can clean it. On my Mini Sonics I can wash the bowls and use for all steps. With a bowl like on Raytech (harder plastic) grit scratches the bowl surface and it would be better to have a polish bowl. If bowls are not really expensive a polish dedicated bowl would be a handy thing to have for all brands and types of tumblers.
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