gunner1975
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2013
Posts: 3
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Post by gunner1975 on Jan 4, 2013 13:47:21 GMT -5
Hello All, I recently started tumbling with my 10 and 13 year old sons and found out I've quickly become addicted. Here's my current equipt, and my questions: 15 lb Thumbler and 4 asst 3 lb tumblers (all of these are the rotating kind). I've ordered a Lot-0 vibratory 4 1/2 tumbler and have a question about the best rotation between tumlbers. I also ordered an extra barrel for the lot-o. I'm currently tumbling some very hard agate in the 15 lb'r, using 60/90 SC. It'll probably need to run another two weeks or so. I'm contemplating using the other asst 3 lb tumblers for 120/220 and then the Lot-o barrel # 1 for 500 SC, and Lot-o barrel #2 for 1000 SC and then polish. Does this rotation make sense, or is there a better way to utilize the tumblers I have? Also, what should be the order of burnishing/1000/Polishing be? burnish between each cycle? what order should the different steps be?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Gunner
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Jan 4, 2013 14:36:19 GMT -5
Welcome. It is addicting!Sounds like you are on the right track.I do all my roughing out in the rotaries.Some on here,me included,let the rotaries run an extra week in the coarse stage,eliminating the 120/220 stage.Then 1000 and polish in the Lot-o.But I'd run the loads as you are considering,can experiment later.The great thing about rocks,if they dont come out right,throw them back in! Good luck! snuffy
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 5, 2013 20:46:47 GMT -5
I got started exactly the same way last year with my 13 (now 14) year old son. I'm at least as hooked as he is. We had a double three pound rotary and a Lot-O until this Christmas when we got a new double six pound rotary. We do all of our 60/90 in the rotaries and everything else in the Lot-O. The Lot-O is so much quicker that it sat idle most of the time because the 60/90 stage takes so long in the rotary. We keep our rocks in 60/90 until every last little imperfection is gone. I think we might be able to keep the Lot-O fed with the new tumbler.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,564
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Post by jamesp on Jan 14, 2013 17:56:10 GMT -5
The same here, 60/90 stage is where all the time goes.You will probably get addicted.I am obssesive now.Enjoy
PS I use the smaller rotaries to do the rest of the steps.But the lotto puts a polish that is hard to beat.You should have quite a production operation.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jan 14, 2013 18:18:45 GMT -5
Hi! I start my rocks in 60/90 in my rotary Lortone 12 lb (2 six lb barrels actually, same diameter though). Agates sometimes take 6 or 8 weeks or more, several re-charges anyway. It depends on how rough they are when I start them. I then do one charge of 120/220 for a couple weeks. Then I move them to my UV-10 and do another run in the 120/220 for 4 days. Then about 4 days in the 500. They get washed in that barrel. They get moved to the polish barrel where I usually run them for a week or so. Then they get burnished for about a half day after that.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 14, 2013 20:03:43 GMT -5
I do what Daniel does, exactly. QT12/QT66 rotary tumblers for 60/90 as long as it takes, then UV10 for 3-4 days per coarseness, then a separate polish barrel on the UV10
If you can do everything other than 60/90 in the vibe you will save grit. I use ~1/4 Cup of 120/220 per load - same for 500 and polish. I think those numbers would be a lot higher in the rotary.
A lot of stone in the rotary means that you can be selective and pull out 3-5# at a time and do it in the vibe. You will work out a rythym but the stones spend a lot more time in 60/90 than anywhere else, and every time you recharge you can be selective about what passes muster and moves to the vibe - putting everything else back in the rotary.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Jan 14, 2013 20:04:48 GMT -5
Welcome
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 14, 2013 21:00:02 GMT -5
I use 2 TBSP of 120/220 in the Lot-O, and then 1/2 tsp of 500, 1000, tripoli, and polish. There's a ton of savings in grit in the Lot-O.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 14, 2013 21:38:08 GMT -5
One way to avoid that initial step and delay is to start with beach/river stones that are already largely rounded and smoothed. Some may need a bit of a touch up on the grinder before going into the vibe, but most just plunge right in and don't need that initial step. Just another source of good tumbling material. Enjoy. Tom
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