Bains
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2004
Posts: 12
|
Post by Bains on Mar 2, 2014 18:22:48 GMT -5
I am a rank novice at this hobby and have been reading a lot and am almost more confused then when I started.
Because of some estate related issues I am the proud owner of some CE small 6#, two barrel tumblers, a Midway 8# vibratory tumbler with multiple barrels, a Lortone 12# rotatory tumbler, and an 18# Thumbler Tumbler.
My question is related to my inexperience on what to do with this equipment and some tigers eye that I want to polish and to rock sizes overall during the tumbling process.
The Tigers Eye pieces I want to polish is mostly 2"x1.5"x.75". Some of the pieces are 3"x1.5"x.8"
Apparently folks use the rotatory tumblers for basic shaping and the course and fine grind process. Can I just toss in this size mixture of Tigers Eye into the 12# Lortune unit and coarse and fine grind it? Should I add some smaller pieces of something like jasper?
I am concerned that the oblong pieces of tigers eye will get ground down and not retain the longer shape. Is that concern valid?
After the coarse and fine grind my intention was to switch to a vibratory process with either the Midway or Thumbler units. Apparently the process is to get the barrel about .7 full so the mixture moves around. My intention was to add some glass pieces (Dollar Store) and some ceramic media. As I understand the process I need to add moisture several times per day during the polishing process and use a loupe to check the surface texture between each step.
Will this approach work? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 2, 2014 18:40:38 GMT -5
I've never tumbled tiger eye, but it seems like I've heard that it can be hard to tumble. You might want to try something else first and save the tigers eye for when you have more experience, but I'll let others with experience advise you on that.
As you have read, a lot of us use rotaries for rough tumble and en switch to vibratory tumblers. I do only my 60/90 stage in the rotary. I'm not sure what your concern with the oblong pieces is. Whatever shape it is, the rotary will take off any sharp jagged edges first and then continue wearing it down more or less uniformally all over. If a piece starts out oblong, it will end up oblong, but smaller. Depending on how rough your rocks are to start, they can get a lot smaller. It also depends on how perfect you want them. I like my rocks to be completely free of pits before moving on to the vibe, so my rocks take a long time and get a lot smaller in the rough stage.
I don't have the same type of vibratory tumbler as you, so I can't tell you how full it needs to be. I add more water to mine during the 220 stage and less in later stages. I usually give it a few squirts about twice a day in the 220 stage and very little in the stages after that. I only squirt when I see the action slowing to almost a standstill.
I'm not sure why you want to add glass. Just go with ceramic media. I use a mix of sizes. I go two or three days per stage and I never check mine with a loupe. You might learn something using a loupe, but I wouldn't go out and buy one.
|
|
Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,772
|
Post by Mark K on Mar 2, 2014 23:13:18 GMT -5
Jugglerguy is right. Start out with some agate or jasper first. Tiger eye is just to hard to start out with.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 2:58:02 GMT -5
Greetings [bains] firstly with a rotary the maximum volume load is 75%, on a vibratory maximum volume is 100% full & works best with damp rocks not wet. Your rock sizes are ok, but you will only get a few pieces of your largest size see My post for more information. Do not use Glass, as glass gives off gas, you can use fish tank gravel as it is around pea sized & smaller. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from this monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
|
|