stubby
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2004
Posts: 150
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Post by stubby on Apr 28, 2004 8:58:12 GMT -5
Looking for opinions on 60/90. Have finally decided to be more patient and run multiple weeks. Sounds like some of you just add new grit to the barrel and some "clean up" before starting another week.
Stubby
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 28, 2004 9:05:03 GMT -5
I run my 60/90 for 7 to 8 days. I then clean the barrel and rocks, sort out any that are ready to move on, add more rough to fill the barrel, charge with grit and start again. My 60/90 grit seems to be very effective for up to roughly 8 days. I also have a tumbler that runs nothing but rough grind. I stockpile rocks between each stage so that my loads are always full, no matter what stage I'm running.
Ron
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Apr 28, 2004 9:55:49 GMT -5
The less work involved, the happier I am. When I'm running tough agate or jasper through a three week coarse grind, I just add more grit, and ususally a bit more rock, once a week. No need to empty and clean it out, that's just a waste of time, unless you're running a batch of mixed hardness.
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 28, 2004 10:16:06 GMT -5
I don't mind giving my rocks all the TLC that they need. I don't do any sorting for hardness until after they have been through the rough grind stage. Even at the same hardness, some rocks need much less grinding to shape up because of their shapes. But then I have the time to play with them as well.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Apr 28, 2004 12:33:22 GMT -5
I've found that if I just add more grit every week without cleaning out the old grit, that the slurry settles in the bottom of the barrel like concrete . Usually with pieces of rock cemented together as well. I prefer to clean out once a week. You could let if go 8-10 if you want. One week is about the right amount of time. Give or take.
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Apr 28, 2004 14:34:51 GMT -5
I agree with everyone...I'm running 45/70, but same deal of leaving it in multiple weeks. Multiple barrels does help.
I'm with james though, I worry about accumulation of slurry, so dump and refill - sometimes with no "washing" of the rock - just to get most of the crud out. The grit tends to stay on the bottom anyway, so I don't lose much.
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stubby
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2004
Posts: 150
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Post by stubby on May 1, 2004 11:28:03 GMT -5
Thanks for all the comments. It all helps!
Stubby
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on May 1, 2004 12:36:55 GMT -5
But then I have the time to play with them as well. I bet all that rubbing and caressing your rocks puts a big smile on your face. (now, that was really tacky, but I just couldn't resist! ;D Me bad!) Stubby, I do pretty much the same as Ron. I used to just add grit, but found that when I did that, I had a bunch of crud on the bottom. So, I started cleaning the barrel and at least rinsing the rocks off a bit before recharging. I go thru the rocks and those that are done to my satisfaction I set aside to scrub later, then add however many rocks needed to make up the difference, recharge the grit and get them rolling again. I don't get quite as impatient as I was when I first started tumbling - I am working more now and sometimes I am so tired I don't even check them on the day I am suppose to!
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Post by cookie3rocks on May 1, 2004 22:11:44 GMT -5
llana, You been drinkin beer again? ;D
cookie
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WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
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Post by WilliamC on May 2, 2004 7:43:09 GMT -5
Greetings All,
The time in first stage totally depends on the type of rock. Elementary I know, but I've been tumbling some of the verdite I got from Gerdus (which is a kind of serpentine to my best understanding). Now this verdite is some TOUGH rock, hard as h*ll to break, dense and heavy, jagged angular chuncks. But I can load a QT12 barrel 2/3rds full, add one cup of 60/90, water, let it roll for a week, and the rocks darn near wear away. I get back about 1/3rd a barrel full of shaped stones, the slurry is lime green in color, and there's still a good bit of left-over grit in the bottom of the barrel. Contrast this with using 2 cups for 1 week with agates/jaspers, all the grit gone, most of the rock still there, and most needing additional weeks in 60/90.
Methinks for my next run of rough verdite I will use 1/2 cup grit in the 12 pound barrel, and if this is still too much I'll start some in 120/220 grit instead.
WilliamC
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Justme
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 38
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Post by Justme on May 7, 2004 21:08:49 GMT -5
From my own personal experience I found that when I just added more grit to the barrel I had too heavy of a load. I am one who follows the manufacturer's recommendations since I don't want to spend the $$$ on a new motor when I can spend it on ROCKS! Also, I did not see the same progress being made on the stones during the 8-10 days I let the load run.
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