playin4funami
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2011
Posts: 87
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Post by playin4funami on Mar 30, 2011 20:28:43 GMT -5
I see alot of folks doing batches, start to finish, does anyone here run a bunch of one grade at a time? I have started running a bunch of loads of rough, taking stuff out when I like the shape and stuff and adding more as I go, then just storing all the first run in a bucket, adding some more grit now and then and just running the same slurry. then on the second phase I am doing the same thing, etc. etc. it seems to work pretty god, but you have to wait along time for finished goods, but it does seem to really save time in the long run, especially on the first two stages, and I always have enough rock to fill the barrels without adding a bunch of media to fill out the load.
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Post by gr on Mar 30, 2011 20:43:15 GMT -5
That is one way to do it. when I first started I did it that way. now I just do batches because I have enough barrels to roll different types of material and do what works for me. since you are fairly new to this sport, you will settle in to what works best for you. keep asking questions, start a log of what you do each time and the very most important thing of all, are you ready for this?? POST PICTURES of your work!!
gary
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 31, 2011 8:10:02 GMT -5
I have a 12 Lber that run course 24/7. I check it every 2 weeks- pull out what is ready- dump the rest back in- fill it up for lost rock and let it rip. After I have enough to start my 3Lbers I run a seperate barrel for each stage. I often have several different stages going at once (like righ now I have a batch in polish, one in 500 and one in course) The more machines and barrels you have the easier it is to do this!
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Post by connrock on Mar 31, 2011 8:43:38 GMT -5
It's pretty hard to run just batches unless you have several different size tumblers.
If you start out with 10 lbs of rough and after several rough stages you cull the good ones it leaves a void in the original barrel. You either have to add more of that same type of rough or use something like a media to fill the barrel properly or,,,,
You start a smaller tumbler and keep roughing in that one.
In any case I doubt if you can get all of the rocks to rough out properly all at the same time,,,,,,,there always seems to be at least 1 that is never roughed properly.
My thoughts anyway!
connrock
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 31, 2011 9:29:38 GMT -5
If there is anything like a "right way" I think you got it. If you run coarse until you have a full load of rocks ready to advance (really ready) you will have better finished product. I've seen lots of polished rocks full of pits/gouges, etc. that were basically a waste of time and media. It takes more patience to only advance ready rocks but you end up with really nice finished rock. Breaking up fractured rock, grinding out flaws, etc. will speed things up too. If you collect your own rock you can be selective and not tumble really fractured/poor rough to start with or determine if the time needed to remove flaws is worth it.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 31, 2011 9:56:00 GMT -5
It also goes to say that different rocks have different levels of acceptable readiness. I'm working some Woodward Ranch material that will NEVER have all the pits removed. In certain cases you just have to either live with pits and fractures, or toss the rock out. It boils down to personal standards. But indeed it is best to work as you are.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,342
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Post by quartz on Mar 31, 2011 12:27:19 GMT -5
I'm now running a load of VERY rough hillside agate [i.e. not pre-tumbled in a river] for one of the kids. He was specific about not grinding to perfection, wants some "nature left on them". The pieces run from peas which will be smooth, to half-pounders that will show some of that "nature". Establish your own preferences as how perfect you like to see, that being largly dictated by the end use of the piece. We do run in batches, with an extra one to supply makeup for grinding loss. Our big thing is polish quality.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 31, 2011 15:31:35 GMT -5
I think you have to go with batches if you want the best finished product. But straight through can work if you throw out a few rejects now and then.
On problem I had was getting a lot of piles of stuff at different stages. I was doing the stay in rough, the ready to move on pile, the needs help (to remove deep flaws) form the saw or grinder pile, the nice rock why not trim a preform pile. And it just got out of control. Then I had the keep in medium pile and the remove the small flaw pile and the wait till you get a full load of obsidian ready for medium pile and the wait till you get a load of quartz ready for medium pile. Some of these piles had ceramic in them that I was going to move along with the rock. Sometimes I picked and sifted out all the ceramic and kept putting it back in with the rough.
I moved a few time and put my piles in buckets, and then I began again with new rough and made more piles. Right now my VT-8 and Gy-Roc are sitting idle because I am overwhelmed with what to do next a managing all the piles.
So be careful if you do batches to be a little more disciplined than I was.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,471
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 31, 2011 20:38:03 GMT -5
I do my tumbles in batches and use dedicated barrels or tubs for each stage. I run the big tumblers in coarse grind constantly and remove rocks that are suitably rounded and smoothed each time I recharge. I accumulate stones done to completion for each stage in bins until I have a full load for the next step. Sometimes it takes awhile to get the ten pounds for my UV-10 gone through coarse as much of my stuff is fairly angular to start so takes a long time (4-8 weeks) . Once I get a full load, I can usually accumulate enough coarse ground stuff while completing the other three or four stages so I can run loads pretty much constantly with maybe only a little time gap for completing the ten pounds in coarse. Main difficulty is equipment break downs. I've got five broken down Lortones right now so that slows the process.....Mel
PS: I agree with Stefan on the Woodward and other west Texas agate. Beautiful and interesting material but you have to learn to live with the flaws because you'll , in most cases, grind up the whole agate before you get a perfect stone. Some materials are ideal for the tumbler and some you just have to accept the hand you're dealt.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Apr 1, 2011 5:48:41 GMT -5
Hi, I guess I dont do a lot of rocks to you USA folk ,
I do what I call a "assembly line" production take out after 6 days what is shaped up nice
I do add local rock (sea shore stuff) to make up the barrell
I sort it and put the ready for stage 2 good in one box and the sea shore stones ready for stage 2 in another so I always have some "top up fillers" for stage 2
Like some one says it is each person ow preference
And as Gary says KEEP a journal so you know what you have done and How ! ! !
I always run a mixed batch and I guess there is a little difference in the Moths value so my Assembly line works for me
Keep us posted to your progress and all the best
Jack Yorkshire uk
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Post by connrock on Apr 1, 2011 9:28:41 GMT -5
I think I may have misunderstood what "batches" are being referred to here.
I thought "batches' meant doing the same exact rocks in 1 "batch" but if I'm getting things right now I think "batches' may mean to keep the rocks in whatever size grits are running?
Rough batch
220 batch 500 batch etc,etc???
Forgive old minds here!
connrock
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 1, 2011 10:11:48 GMT -5
I guess it could be either or! I usually run Mixed Batches (different type of rock but similiar hardness) but I also Batch out my rocks- (starting a 120/220 batch). Oh and we don't called them Old Minds- we call them Youth Challanged!
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