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Post by captbob on Oct 30, 2015 8:49:56 GMT -5
If you are going to shut it down while you are gone (this weekend?) do it now. You just started that run yesterday, so you have brand new grit (no slurry) in the barrels.Shut down and leave the barrels as they sit. If you had a well developed slurry, I might answer differently.
I leave mine running, but to each their own. No fun worrying while you are away.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 8:55:39 GMT -5
If you are going to shut it down while you are gone (this weekend?) do it now. You just started that run yesterday, so you have brand new grit (no slurry) in the barrels.Shut down and leave the barrels as they sit. If you had a well developed slurry, I might answer differently. I leave mine running, but to each their own. No fun worrying while you are away. Excellent points, Bob. No slurry developed yet and no need in worrying...pull the plug. You're a pretty bright kid, Bob, I'll teach ya somthin' yet! Ok, but what if he had a good slurry going? What then...
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Post by captbob on Oct 30, 2015 9:02:09 GMT -5
Clean out - the slurry could be saved if you wanted to.
all kinds of ways you could work it. Just depends on how anal ya are.
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rockonjake
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2015
Posts: 3
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Post by rockonjake on Oct 30, 2015 9:35:21 GMT -5
If you are going to shut it down while you are gone (this weekend?) do it now. You just started that run yesterday, so you have brand new grit (no slurry) in the barrels.Shut down and leave the barrels as they sit. If you had a well developed slurry, I might answer differently. I leave mine running, but to each their own. No fun worrying while you are away. Excellent points, Bob. No slurry developed yet and no need in worrying...pull the plug. You're a pretty bright kid, Bob, I'll teach ya somthin' yet! Ok, but what if he had a good slurry going? What then...
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Oct 30, 2015 13:28:41 GMT -5
I left it running Thanks guys. i was just worried about the cap popping off or some disaster of the like. typical worries. i'm sure it'll be alright though.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 13:32:58 GMT -5
Ok, if that was the worry you might could've set it in a pan or something...but there again, that could happen if you're at work, asleep, etc.,.
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Post by captbob on Oct 30, 2015 13:39:36 GMT -5
I smell smoke...
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 15:23:12 GMT -5
No comment.<g>
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Post by captbob on Oct 30, 2015 15:36:23 GMT -5
come on...
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Oct 30, 2015 16:56:06 GMT -5
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 17:11:53 GMT -5
Don't worry, br, when the motors burn out they don't put off much smoke...but that hot ball of molten metal will burn through 1/4" steel!!!!!! (captbob made me do it!)
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Oct 30, 2015 18:49:59 GMT -5
Don't worry, br, when the motors burn out they don't put off much smoke...but that hot ball of molten metal will burn through 1/4" steel!!!!!! (captbob made me do it!) oh gosh... i feel great now thanks!
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 19:10:58 GMT -5
It'll be fine, don't worry, we're just poking fun at ya. The motors do get hot, but that's normal for them. I used my little temperature gun on my old Model A tumbler (old setup that ran two 3# metal cans back in the day) and the hottest spot was 160F...and it's probably rolling a little more weight (heavy pvc barrel) than it was designed for when it was new. That's pretty warm but as long as you don't have a bowl of charcoal lighter sitting right beside to it I wouldn't worry. Now, if you did leave a bowl of charcoal lighter sitting beside it that's another story...and we want to hear it!
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Oct 30, 2015 19:24:13 GMT -5
It'll be fine, don't worry, we're just poking fun at ya. The motors do get hot, but that's normal for them. I used my little temperature gun on my old Model A tumbler (old setup that ran two 3# metal cans back in the day) and the hottest spot was 160F...and it's probably rolling a little more weight (heavy pvc barrel) than it was designed for when it was new. That's pretty warm but as long as you don't have a bowl of charcoal lighter sitting right beside to it I wouldn't worry. Now, if you did leave a bowl of charcoal lighter sitting beside it that's another story...and we want to hear it! So the 10lbs of dynamite i left with the fuse ends next to the motor was a bad choice?
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 30, 2015 21:11:23 GMT -5
<grin>
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Nov 5, 2015 21:50:12 GMT -5
Week 2 recharge complete.
Ok things improved again. I unfortunately did not have a slurry still though. just grey water. BUT there was no clumps of grit stuck to the bottom. so i think it did it's job better this time. the rocks were clearly visible and you could see some grit on them but i still think i had the water a touch high. darn. The rocks are looking good for the most part except for a few bad eggs that just probably wont tumble well. some need a ton more time but im afraid by the time they're good to go they'll be about 50% or less the size the started as haha...i can already tell a big difference in many of them.
I took the media out and filled the space with new rocks. in prep for stage two, one barrel has most of the stones that almost ready while the other barrel has most of the new rough. It'll be about 2 more weeks at least, maybe 4 at the most until i have enough for a full barrel of stage two. i did set aside about 15 small pieces or so that are ready for that next stage. I used even less water this time. the rock level is at 2/3 while the water is at 1/3 or slightly more, 3 scoops of fresh 60/90. much more aggressive tumbling action now.
Anyway that's the update for now! Thanks for reading.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Nov 5, 2015 22:11:55 GMT -5
Sounds like you're making progress!!!! So....no fires or explosions, eh?
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Nov 5, 2015 22:26:41 GMT -5
nope! lived to tell the tale. no catastrophic problems yet haha.
unfortunately going to need to put things on hold for a week or so in about five days. have some family coming to town and being in a 1 br apt that is not going to work haha.
I think i'll just do a full clean out and store the rocks in a container with water until i can start back up.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Nov 6, 2015 7:38:32 GMT -5
That sounds like a plan to me. Yeah, rocks tumbling might now sound relaxing as exotic rain or ocean waves to some people.
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br347213
starting to spend too much on rocks
Henderson, NV
Member since October 2015
Posts: 106
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Post by br347213 on Nov 10, 2015 13:00:25 GMT -5
Much progress today! had to clean everything up and put the tumbler away for a week unfortunately but it had its positives for sure.
going with less water made a huge difference! the progress made was really impressive for only five days. some of the new stones i put in there made as much progress as the others had in 2 weeks! i was really suprised and very happy. but also sad that i wasted a lot of time for two weeks ha...I culled a few more ready for stage two and put the rest in separate tupperwares with their slurry and some extra water to completely submerge them.
so things are finally coming together. i was also able to practice fully cleaning out the barrels so that i'm ready for when i have to do that again for stage 2. wasn't too tough with a big bucket of water, a sponge, and paper towels. the tumbler motor gets a nice break too which is probably good.
The new rough i added is looking sweet, really nice agates with good banding. excited for the final product.
That's all for now, will start things back up in a week and do a recharge two days after that.
edit: I also have a question. i have a few rocks where there are some pretty sizeable vugs and also others with a fair amount of undercutting going on. should i just scrap those ones or keep going to see if hey improve? They're all one's that have been in there over 2 weeks.
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