rawrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by rawrocks on Sept 19, 2012 11:50:29 GMT -5
hello rock folk. life long collector here. found my way to this board due to being gifted with a rock tumbler that came with no instruction manual. it is old, i reckon, since the company that made it no longer appears to exist (in this dimension, at least.) it is made by mercury lapidary out of alberta canada. it has a green rubber/plastic bowl that is kind of hexagonal looking. (fact: when presented with this, the gifter said: do you know what this is? i shouted: is that a batman signal light??? errrr...no einstein, it wasn't. in my defense i have only ever seen pics of modern tumblers and child tumblers. this looks like a blooming signal light, i tell you.) anyway, i have read enough online to get the gist of how to use it and time frames and all but my question is trying to figure out the capacity of the barrel. apparently i can burn out the belt if i over load it. so, do i fill this puppy up then dump out the contents and weigh them and then use that as a guideline? apologies if this question appears silly. i just do not want to wreck this thing since i know another one won't come around again and i cannot afford a new tumbler. many thanks, many greetings to all and happy wednesday! oh yeah, and i am not exactly a math mind or overtly logical soul so any and all suggestions as to how i can figure out the capacity of the barrel would be very gratefully received. yar!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 19, 2012 13:25:35 GMT -5
welcome to the board. If you can post a couple pictures of what you have that would go a long way in getting you some answers (maybe include dimensions of the inside of the barrel too). General rule of thumb is to fill the tumbler between 5/8 and 3/4 full of rock. I have always used that and have never weighed any rocks. heres a link with instructions for posting pictures forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22977Chuck
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Sept 19, 2012 22:05:45 GMT -5
ARR!!! Is it new to just me or does everyone know today is international talk like a pirate day? I saw it on the news so I suppose its true. Anyway I know it is off topic but I just noticed how you ended your post. Coincedence.....maybe. I don't know, kinda cool either way.
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Post by montanamuskrat on Sept 20, 2012 1:29:34 GMT -5
Welcome to the board. Tom
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rawrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by rawrocks on Sept 27, 2012 15:04:05 GMT -5
hi chuck and tom. nice to meet you, and be part of the board. electricface: nope, just a coincidence that i was pirating talking on pirate day. i use pirate speak frequently. lol. it is fun. so i took some photos of the barrel to upload and can't figure out how to upload them. i see that the icon above in tags is, clearly, a photo one. how to get the photo between the codes..errr...working on it. success! so this is my new buddy. chuck, how much do you reckon this puppy holds? *does* it matter? thanks again, all. happy thursday! oh, and do i need to do anything special to seal this? i think it must be pretty old. i know i should just play with it, but i am a bit overly cautious with machines. i seem to the have the touch of destruction.
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Sept 27, 2012 23:16:30 GMT -5
Well I have to say "It looks pretty cool" but I can help you no further. I am new to this and have also seen only pics of newer ones and toy tumblers as well. Hopefully this works out for ya. I believe you have come to the right place for advice on your new friend. This place is teaming with people who don't mind sharing their wisdom. lol Be like me and ask so many questions that you repeat yourself without realizing it. I haven't got on anyone's nerves yet. Have I? "HEY!!! PUT YOUR HAND DOWN!!" Well except him. Ok I'm to tired to stay awake any longer. Good night.
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Post by catmandewe on Sept 27, 2012 23:39:40 GMT -5
That is a slant tumbler, it tumbles on the same principle as a cement mixer. They work good and are supposed to be faster at shaping rough than the rotary barrels, I would start it at about half full and see how it works. Covington still makes one like this, model 250TUM.
Tony
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 28, 2012 7:53:49 GMT -5
Covington and Barranca make one and Diamond Pacific did until recently. All are 6 lbs. approximately and with drum mounted you fill to just below the opening.
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rawrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by rawrocks on Sept 28, 2012 10:18:48 GMT -5
many many thanks! and (hold your punny bone): you all rock. i will try it out this weekend. have a great weekend, all.
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Post by paulshiroma on Sept 29, 2012 20:04:46 GMT -5
Very cool setup. Looking forward to seeing your work! And welcome to the forum. Paul
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 30, 2012 15:48:11 GMT -5
Cool looking barrel, what did you choose to tumble for your first batch?
Chuck
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rawrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by rawrocks on Oct 1, 2012 11:55:20 GMT -5
Cool looking barrel, what did you choose to tumble for your first batch? Chuck about 4 fist sized rocks i found, and then the balance was random rocks of varying sizes from very very small to small to medium small to large small. lol. everything i have read says to NOT have uniform sizing. i will check it saturday? sunday? and see how the first cycle went. it is pretty quiet, considering what i was expecting a rock tumbler to sound like. i am obsessed with it. i honestly could spend hours just watching it. it is rather hypnotic, visually. i also put in a stone that i am certain is one those in the know recommend to not tumble. i have this mad certainty that it will just work out. what the heck, you know? the earth was flat once, supposedly.
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rawrocks
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by rawrocks on Oct 1, 2012 11:57:15 GMT -5
Very cool setup. Looking forward to seeing your work! And welcome to the forum. Paul many thanks, and nice to meet you! in 4 weeks i should have something to show. well, i will definitely have something to show i just hope it is what i am expecting. lol.
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Post by talkingstones on Oct 3, 2012 20:56:17 GMT -5
Welcome to the board and looking forward to seeing the results! :-)
Cathy
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