Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 15:29:29 GMT -5
Hi everyone, question is when I open up the barrel can I just put more grit in the barrel, or is it necessary to get the rocks out and dump out the old slurry and rinse the barrel and rocks first and fill up with fresh water, the reason Im thinking about going another round in coarse is because I didn't have enough material to fill the barrel to the correct level so used airsoft bbgun plastic pellets and havent heard a lot of grinding and had to clean out foam from the slurry it was quite thick and when I did this with a paper towel I noticed a lot of grit stuck to the paper towels so not sure how much grit I lost.......I did all this 3 days into starting the barrel....tomorrow will be 7 days so advice needed....Thanks everyone
|
|
blessed
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 329
|
Post by blessed on Mar 10, 2014 18:21:12 GMT -5
I change every 7 to 10 days. wash every thing, new grit clean water. I do this as many times till the rocks are smooth and no pits. This may take several weeks. Depending on material. I hope you are using a rotary tumbler, if not forget everything I said.
James
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 18:36:17 GMT -5
I am using rotary and thank you VERY MUCH....the stones I am most concerned about is 6 aquamarine,and 2 emeralds.. big pieces...maybe too big for my 3lb barrel the rest is filler and airsoft bbgun pellets....im going to let it run 10 days the max as you said...not change tomorrow expecting a miracle, then just rinse observe and start again if needed...who knows everything sounds smooth and proper now.....but I just started hearing the grinding noise the other day....when I opened at day 3 it was thick and didn't see any progress on the top stones foamy and still sharp on the edges
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 18:41:25 GMT -5
I also seen a few problems that my emerald in matrix bothered me, the aqua I was really disappointed in.....maybe cause the aqua is such a color it really was just making the grit blotches in the crack so apparent? anyways im really hoping for something picture worthy with my aqua after all Is said and done........its not an easy stone to work with or maybe I just need to figure it out
|
|
|
Post by cpdad on Mar 10, 2014 19:01:07 GMT -5
dude or mam....sorry for that not sure ...just my thoughts on rough....and i must say i cant help with the aqua as i have never tumbled it. dont worry about bubbles in your barrel...if your barrel bottom doesnt poke out during rough....you are good to add more grit to your rough grind using the original water. i am doing all rough at the moment....i dont even look at the rough for at least a month...after a month i will change the slurry....and that isnt even close for them to move on to second stage....just do it then just to take a peak .... talking agates and jaspers . basicly if you do not have a gas problem....chunk some grit in and let them roll....kev.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Mar 10, 2014 23:43:53 GMT -5
@tumbleon
Developing a good thick slurry is important. Contrary to the name the stones shouldn't be tumbling, they should be sliding against each other. You can tell a lot by listening to the barrel.
You need to maintain the tumbler 1/2 - 3/4 full. I've also had varying luck tumbling stones of different hardness. Agates and Jasper's tend to beat the crap out of crystalline minerals, (Aqua / emerald). It seems like the crystalline stones seem to get a lot more pitted and the pits can be difficult to clean.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by tkvancil on Mar 11, 2014 0:08:22 GMT -5
Hi everyone, question is when I open up the barrel can I just put more grit in the barrel, or is it necessary to get the rocks out and dump out the old slurry and rinse the barrel and rocks first and fill up with fresh water, the reason Im thinking about going another round in coarse is because I didn't have enough material to fill the barrel to the correct level so used airsoft bbgun plastic pellets and havent heard a lot of grinding and had to clean out foam from the slurry it was quite thick and when I did this with a paper towel I noticed a lot of grit stuck to the paper towels so not sure how much grit I lost.......I did all this 3 days into starting the barrel....tomorrow will be 7 days so advice needed....Thanks everyone Me personally I clean out and add fresh every week. Others will add grit to their existing slurry at 7 or 10 day intervals. I have NEVER gotten a good grind or good slurry using plastic pellets in 60/90. This post may be helpful forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/693099/thread
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,563
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 11, 2014 8:29:56 GMT -5
Once the grit is worn down to sludge i like to clean out the pasty stuff and start with fresh clean water and fresh sharp grit. I think you need the cutting action of fresh water. Worn out grit is just that. When it is a fine greasy sludge it is broke down and useless for coarse grinding. And pellets during rough grind is counter productive.
|
|
SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
|
Post by SirRoxalot on Mar 13, 2014 20:55:00 GMT -5
Can't imagine why anybody would bother cleaning out a tumbler after a week's run unless a quick inspection suggests it's time to move the stones on. Reload grit, clean and dry the rim and get her rollin' again, easy peasy.
|
|
|
Post by deb193redux on Mar 13, 2014 22:18:18 GMT -5
you can maybe add grit once or twice, but once you get too much mud it coats the grit and the grinding action really slows down. you may not have to clean spotless unless changing grit size, but you do have to remove most mud now and then.
|
|
KA7EII
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2014
Posts: 6
|
Post by KA7EII on Mar 14, 2014 20:16:13 GMT -5
I use a Lortone QT6 rotary tumbler for my coarse grinding. When starting out, I run it for 7 days. After 7 days, I just add fresh 60/90 grit and run for another 7 days. After that, the slurry gets pretty thick and I clean out the barrel, add new grit and water and run it another 7 days. Each week, I also add a few more rocks to keep the barrel about 3/4 full. I always have plenty of extra rocks left over from previous coarse grinding that are not quite ready for the next step. After three weeks of coarse grinding, I clean up everything, sort out the stones that are ready for the next step then start the process over again.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 20:30:02 GMT -5
im keeping notes, thanks to everyone, I am new at this...I just started back again and it sound good, the barrel..im gonna let it slide a while, the instructions all said one week I did great my first batch, this is my second.....but im gonna be mor patient and I have a friend helping me out with material and grit.......hopefully this my second product will be even better, im definitely posting pics...god bless, Chris
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 20:37:09 GMT -5
I noticed my post title was re-named, but it makes more sense....thanks=] forgive me for being a newbie...Chris
|
|
grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
|
Post by grizman on Mar 14, 2014 20:54:51 GMT -5
dude or mam....sorry for that not sure ...just my thoughts on rough....and i must say i cant help with the aqua as i have never tumbled it. dont worry about bubbles in your barrel...if your barrel bottom doesnt poke out during rough....you are good to add more grit to your rough grind using the original water. i am doing all rough at the moment....i dont even look at the rough for at least a month...after a month i will change the slurry....and that isnt even close for them to move on to second stage....just do it then just to take a peak .... talking agates and jaspers . basicly if you do not have a gas problem....chunk some grit in and let them roll....kev. Wow Kev, I can't see that there can be much grinding potential after a couple of weeks. If the grit breaks down in halves, as each few days go by, there can't be any grinding going on, but maybe some very gentle smoothing, is all. Now, please keep in mind, I do not have the experience that some of you folks do, but I find I get great results with changing grit at a max of 10-12 days. I may go with more 60-90, or even 46-60, but I am usually pretty happy with 60-75% of my batch after two to three 10-day rounds. I then move on to the next level of 120-200 grit. I do realize we all have different methods that work great for us. There may not be just one "right" way.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 21:01:27 GMT -5
I was competley wrong I just make too many post! lol sorry but you guys are helping me out so much, I thank you for that!
|
|
|
Post by cpdad on Mar 15, 2014 19:06:02 GMT -5
let me clarify that....new coarse grit every 8-10 days....just open the barrel and chunk grit in ...no need to wash it...i dont even look at rough for at least a month....after a month in rough most jaspers and agates are not ready any way. the slurry is good at this point....things roll good....after 6 weeks...check for all ready to move on...then wash and start over...kev.
|
|
Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,772
|
Post by Mark K on Mar 16, 2014 22:58:36 GMT -5
I usually go for a week and clean the rocks, barrel, lid and everything else completely clean. I have yet to get a barrel to seal again after opening and not cleaning it off good.
Plus, if I can remove the stuff that is ready for the next step and replace it with new ones, I am ahead.
I would get rid of the plastic and replace it with quartz pebbles. Also, DO NOT POUR THE SLURRY DOWN THE DRAIN.
REPEAT!!!Don't pour any of the used grit or water in the drain or toilet. it will settle out before it hits the sewer and clog your pipes and you will be unlikely to be able to clear it out.
|
|