jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 9:26:20 GMT -5
I started a tumble of many different rocks back on July 23 before I joined this forum. Filled my tumbler 1/2 full with rocks, pellets, water, and coarse grit. I let it tumble for 11 days, while I read many posts. I learned about hardness, water level, borax, fish gravel, and even cactus juice, trim saws, wire wrapping, cabs, and preforms, and so much more. So I moved my rocks into fine grit, I added more rocks so the barrel was 3/4 full, I even added some polished stones and some rocks that I bought that I was told would be good grit carriers.i let that tumble 7 days. I decided I would wash my rocks with some liquid dish soap for 4 hours and then hosed them down. I did not like the shape of my rocks and noticed some chips. I decided that I would put them back into coarse grit. The next morning I noticed foam coming out of the lid like my tumbler had rabies. So I emptied everything took more than 1/2 the pellets out added rocks and lowered water level. It has been tumbling since. I took the rocks out this morning thinking I would more them to fine grit and have noticed chips. Will these chips go away in fine grit or should they go back to coarse grit or should I take them to extra coarse grit or hand polish them? First 2 pictures are the rocks that I think have chips. 3 picture is the rocks that are to carry grit. Rest of pictures are the other rocks that have been tumbling. imgur.com/a/vjXDBThanks for reading. Looking forward to the recommendations. Sorry for the run-on sentences and grammar, it's not very teacher like.
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Post by catmandewe on Aug 18, 2015 9:53:25 GMT -5
I am assuming it is a 3 lb tumbler? Fill it 3/4 full, add grit (5 tablespoons rough grit), add water so it covers most of the rocks but not all of them, let tumble for 4-6 weeks, they should be ready for polish when you pull them out. If it bulges you might need to burp them occasionally.
Tony
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 18, 2015 10:06:21 GMT -5
My tumbler puked on me a few times too-after that I would make sure the nut was staying tight on the container.. As Tony said,only 3/4 full,etc,etc... I tumble every grit for three weeks (Three stages) or so,finally polish for five days,than soap for a few hours... They always come out great....
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Post by captbob on Aug 18, 2015 10:07:59 GMT -5
I'm sorry to say this, but regardless of our answers, I doubt that we can do much to help you with the crazy part. I wouldn't fret too much on this as many most of us here are are also card carrying members of the crazy club.
"Filled my tumbler 1/2 full ..." That's problem #1. Your barrel needs to be at least 3/4 full and probably more in the finest grits and polish stage.
"I let it tumble for 11 days ... I moved my rocks into fine grit" Bwhahahahaha Get back to me after another month or two! Doesn't matter what the instructions say. The rocks need to tumble in coarse grit until they are ready to move on. Tumbling and calendars don't belong in the same sentence. Many of your rocks need weeks more time in coarse grit.
"I did not like the shape of my rocks and noticed some chips." See above. Not enough in the barrel and too short of a run. Fill 'er up some more and let it run.
"The next morning I noticed foam coming out of the lid" Did you add a new type of rock? Some rocks off gas when tumbled which could cause this. I'm thinking you simply had a bad seal, but it could have been due to something you added to the batch.
"Will these chips go away in fine grit..." No
"or should they go back to coarse grit" Yes
"should I take them to extra coarse grit or hand polish them?" Huh? Hand polish them?? I thought you were tumbling them. Why the heck would you want to hand polish them?
"Sorry for the run-on sentences and grammar, it's not very teacher like." Paragraphs are your friend.
Pictures... some nice material. Most needs weeks more in coarse grit. Pull out rocks ready to move on and keep adding rough pieces until you have enough shaped and smoothed to fill a barrel of the next stage grit.
This tumbling thing takes TIME. Lots and lots of time. Patience grasshopper
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 18, 2015 10:11:37 GMT -5
Chips are probably caused from the barrel being 1/2 full. At 1/2 full there is too much "head space" and the rocks will fall and crash into each other. Tumbler barrels should be 2/3 to 3/4 full no matter what the instructions that come with them say. Additionally too much water can also lead to chipping. The rocks will "float", or more accurately not break surface tension, and again fall and crash into each other.
The fine grind will not remove chips. Coarse grit will but may take some time to do depending on depth of the flaw.
Looking at your pics I can see that some look pretty fractured. You get that with commercially crushed rough. Chips can occur along the edges of those fractures even in a well loaded barrel. Nature of the beast I suppose. You do have some nice ones there worth spending time on. If you don't like the way they look coming out of coarse grind you'll probably not like the look polished. Generally. Don't rush the coarse grind. Patience is a rock tumblers best friend.
A little on water. Most tumbler instructions say water to the bottom of top layer of rocks. Most folks on the board agree that this is too much. In my 3#ers I use 1/2 cup H2O and 1 cup in my 6#ers. Some use even less. When I put the water in I can't see it through the rocks.
When you say pellets are we talking plastic? If so you don't need them in coarse grind. Plastic is meant to cushion. Generally used in fine through polish stages where you want tumbling action slowed down to protect your shaped rocks. In coarse grind the 3/4 full barrel gives all the cushion you need along with the slurry that develops.
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jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 10:28:19 GMT -5
I am assuming it is a 3 lb tumbler? Fill it 3/4 full, add grit (5 tablespoons rough grit), add water so it covers most of the rocks but not all of them, let tumble for 4-6 weeks, they should be ready for polish when you pull them out. If it bulges you might need to burp them occasionally. Tony Yes it is a 3 lb thumbler tumbler. Got it off Craigslist for $25 because a the "drive band" was broke, and the rods stopped turning. Got the band for 6 dollars and used KY jelly to fix the rods.
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jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 10:30:29 GMT -5
I'm sorry to say this, but regardless of our answers, I doubt that we can do much to help you with the crazy part. I wouldn't fret too much on this as many most of us here are are also card carrying members of the crazy club. "Filled my tumbler 1/2 full ..." That's problem #1. Your barrel needs to be at least 3/4 full and probably more in the finest grits and polish stage. "I let it tumble for 11 days ... I moved my rocks into fine grit" Bwhahahahaha Get back to me after another month or two! Doesn't matter what the instructions say. The rocks need to tumble in coarse grit until they are ready to move on. Tumbling and calendars don't belong in the same sentence. Many of your rocks need weeks more time in coarse grit. "I did not like the shape of my rocks and noticed some chips." See above. Not enough in the barrel and too short of a run. Fill 'er up some more and let it run. "The next morning I noticed foam coming out of the lid" Did you add a new type of rock? Some rocks off gas when tumbled which could cause this. I'm thinking you simply had a bad seal, but it could have been due to something you added to the batch. "Will these chips go away in fine grit..." No "or should they go back to coarse grit" Yes "should I take them to extra coarse grit or hand polish them?" Huh? Hand polish them?? I thought you were tumbling them. Why the heck would you want to hand polish them? "Sorry for the run-on sentences and grammar, it's not very teacher like." Paragraphs are your friend. Pictures... some nice material. Most needs weeks more in coarse grit. Pull out rocks ready to move on and keep adding rough pieces until you have enough shaped and smoothed to fill a barrel of the next stage grit. This tumbling thing takes TIME. Lots and lots of time. Patience grasshopper We should meet! Do you like meatloaf?
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jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 10:33:57 GMT -5
Chips are probably caused from the barrel being 1/2 full. At 1/2 full there is too much "head space" and the rocks will fall and crash into each other. Tumbler barrels should be 2/3 to 3/4 full no matter what the instructions that come with them say. Additionally too much water can also lead to chipping. The rocks will "float", or more accurately not break surface tension, and again fall and crash into each other. The fine grind will not remove chips. Coarse grit will but may take some time to do depending on depth of the flaw. Looking at your pics I can see that some look pretty fractured. You get that with commercially crushed rough. Chips can occur along the edges of those fractures even in a well loaded barrel. Nature of the beast I suppose. You do have some nice ones there worth spending time on. If you don't like the way they look coming out of coarse grind you'll probably not like the look polished. Generally. Don't rush the coarse grind. Patience is a rock tumblers best friend. A little on water. Most tumbler instructions say water to the bottom of top layer of rocks. Most folks on the board agree that this is too much. In my 3#ers I use 1/2 cup H2O and 1 cup in my 6#ers. Some use even less. When I put the water in I can't see it through the rocks. When you say pellets are we talking plastic? If so you don't need them in coarse grind. Plastic is meant to cushion. Generally used in fine through polish stages where you want tumbling action slowed down to protect your shaped rocks. In coarse grind the 3/4 full barrel gives all the cushion you need along with the slurry that develops. Yes plastic pellets, I was told it would create a more rounded look. My slurry really does not develop. I think it's because I am using to little grit and to much water.
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Post by captbob on Aug 18, 2015 10:34:47 GMT -5
We should meet! Do you like meatloaf? The food or the band? Well, actually, yes to both! Come on over. Guess we pretty much covered the bases here, but I would like to add that Tony's method of going straight from coarse grit to polish is probably best left to the more experienced rock tumblers.
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jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 10:36:00 GMT -5
I am assuming it is a 3 lb tumbler? Fill it 3/4 full, add grit (5 tablespoons rough grit), add water so it covers most of the rocks but not all of them, let tumble for 4-6 weeks, they should be ready for polish when you pull them out. If it bulges you might need to burp them occasionally. Tony Sounds like I am going to need to buy some rocks, since I will be taking the pellets out.
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Post by captbob on Aug 18, 2015 10:40:31 GMT -5
Yes plastic pellets, I was told it would create a more rounded look. My slurry really does not develop. I think it's because I am using to little grit and to much water. As Ken said, plastic pellets for the finest grits and polish only. Slurry ought to develop in 2 to 3 days in such a load. "I think it's because I am using to little grit and to much water." You're already learning! Now we just gotta work on that patience thing.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 18, 2015 10:50:07 GMT -5
Yes plastic pellets, I was told it would create a more rounded look. My slurry really does not develop. I think it's because I am using to little grit and to much water. Pellets could be the culprit as well.
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jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Aug 18, 2015 15:22:11 GMT -5
My tumbler puked on me a few times too-after that I would make sure the nut was staying tight on the container.. As Tony said,only 3/4 full,etc,etc... I tumble every grit for three weeks (Three stages) or so,finally polish for five days,than soap for a few hours... They always come out great.... I have had a problem with filling the container 3/4 full. It seems to heavy and then won't turn. I did get a new lid so I hope it won't puke anymore.
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