fisherpal
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2012
Posts: 10
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Post by fisherpal on Nov 25, 2012 15:20:24 GMT -5
well, we've had our rocks tumbling for a week and a half now and I am amazed at what a difference you can already see in them. The colors and lines are getting much sharper although, of course, they have a long way to go yet before they are smooth enough for the next stage. I am wondering, though ... we unplugged the tumbler as we were going to be away all day and still don't completely trust this used machine when we aren't at home. We took out all the rocks, washed them off and put them aside. Before we put them back in and re-charge them ... I am wondering if I need to do anything with the black 'cement' at the bottom of the barrels? Should I remove this or will the natural tumbling action make it 'slurry up' again?
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 25, 2012 17:00:03 GMT -5
the compact grit will generally get back into the slurry ... but
1) if it is mostly broken down it will make too much mud too fast and limit the effectiveness of new grit. some could be helpful, too much is a problem
2) why is there cement? did you set the barrel upfight for some period of time (hours, days) before emptying? if it was just a few minutes and grit settles out of t eslurry that fast, then you have too thin slurry or too much grit or something wrong.
you need to diagnose what is happening.
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fisherpal
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2012
Posts: 10
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Post by fisherpal on Nov 25, 2012 18:35:10 GMT -5
As this is my first ever tumble, it could easily be something I have done wrong ... maybe too much grit? All total there would have been about 5 tbsps on each 6 # barrel. And, after taking another look at it today before putting the rocks back in, it wasn't as bad as I thought yesterday. It was more like black sludge and not nearly as 'solid' as it felt. A little stirring with a toothbrush and it slurried up again nicely. It's not a big panic as none of these stones are valuable - just a variety of rocks we have picked up over the years that we thought looked neat. I must say, though, that I am very pleased with how they seem to be coming along. Very early days yet of course.
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 25, 2012 19:29:52 GMT -5
a little sludge may jump start the mud. next time if there is a lot, you can rinse it out
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,564
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Post by jamesp on Nov 27, 2012 19:19:50 GMT -5
I run my rotary tumblers on a bit of a slant so that it will run against the south side end roller.I have no end roller on the north side,so the slant to the south.Well,i get a fair build up of hard muded grit on that south side during the early stage of the coarser grits.It eventually gets scraped of as things get tackier.I could imagine that it could become a concrete under certain situations(ie if it didn't get scraped off).It nags me a bit.You'll be addicted:>
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jukerocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 154
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Post by jukerocks on Nov 27, 2012 19:33:27 GMT -5
When I do have sludge in the bottom of my barrels, I realize that there is too much grit and not enough water. Before moving on to the next stage, I rinse all of this "used" up grit and sludge out with water. After more than a week - 7 days - most of the coarse grit is worn down anyway.
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