celticraven
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2015
Posts: 21
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Post by celticraven on Dec 28, 2015 18:28:39 GMT -5
So I am totally new to rock tumbling. I bought my daughter one for Christmas this year because like me as a youth she has been coming home with "cool" rocks she finds from the playground or other places. Usually quartz or something but decided to encourage the habit and have her start learning about rocks. On Christmas day we loaded the rock tumbler with the bag that came with it exactly to the spec in the manuals. The tumbler we got was a Lorton 3B. I've checked it daily to make sure there wasn't a solidification, and as I have read between stages, wash it, wash it again, and wash it again to make sure earlier grit doesn't infect the later batches.
There were some incredible raw tigers eye and agate shipped in that bag, along with some quartz and a piece of amethyst, and we have a lot of other stuff from the shed we to go in later batches, I am just getting pensive on the first tumble after lurking here and going ignore the 7 day and let it run 10? or wash it examine for cracks and reload if needed?
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celticraven
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2015
Posts: 21
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Post by celticraven on Dec 28, 2015 18:30:13 GMT -5
Oh I am in Central Virginia, and am loving getting back into rock-hounding with my daughter!!!! Any and all advise is welcome on that topic too!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Dec 29, 2015 9:19:34 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to the group:) You and your daughter have got yourself a nice tumbler to start out with. There are others that will chime in with more experience than I have but I just want to caution you to be patient. The first stage takes way longer than any book will tell you. Well depending on what you feed the tumbler. If the rocks are typical non rounded broken with a hammer rock you may have to run stage one for 8 weeks or longer, longer, longer. I have a Lortone QT66 and it runs 36 grit 24/7/365 (more or less), I add more grit every second Sunday without ever looking at the rocks and the alternate Sundays I empty and pick out the rocks that will never be perfect (deep fractures etc) and remove the perfect rocks. Recharge and let it go again. Repeat the process until I have enough material for the vibe (UV10) This is a good starter link to rotary tumbling. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/36488/free-tutorial-rock-tumbling-rotaryThere are a few folks on here that tumble in a week what I do in a year, they are real pro's and have a wealth of info to help you. Again welcome to the group its a nice friendly spot the spend some time. Enjoy and be patient:)
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Post by drocknut on Dec 29, 2015 11:18:37 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on Dec 29, 2015 13:39:49 GMT -5
Welcome! I started as a little girl when my father bought me a 3A, and it finally died on me after 50 years. My SO bought me a new one for my birthday, and I'm on my first round with it. Yay for you, starting your daughter with what can end up as a life long hobby! Rock people are the best.
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celticraven
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2015
Posts: 21
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Post by celticraven on Dec 29, 2015 16:07:14 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! We are having fun so far I think I am as excited as she is!! Tom, I have read that Tutorial several times. I have two barrels, so I am thinking wash the first one really well, then use it for only stage 1 and 2? Then use the other for stages 3 & 4 only? Reading that tutorial is what made me nervous LOL.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 29, 2015 16:09:17 GMT -5
Yes welcome to the forum,I'm an old hounder,but new at tumbling-this area has some great advice and information,nothing better..............
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Post by paulshiroma on Dec 29, 2015 22:23:43 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! I hope you and your daughter have a great time!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Dec 30, 2015 10:22:41 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! We are having fun so far I think I am as excited as she is!! Tom, I have read that Tutorial several times. I have two barrels, so I am thinking wash the first one really well, then use it for only stage 1 and 2? Then use the other for stages 3 & 4 only? Reading that tutorial is what made me nervous LOL. First off doing a cleanout/recharge at 10 days should be fine. The rocks won't suffer. I do every seven days so I can work on Saturday when I have plenty of time. Have done 10 day cycles in the past with some materials. Take notes at least until you get your methods down. Cut back on the water. Most tumbler instructions say bottom of the top layer which I think is too much. In my 3 pounders I came to use 1/2 cup water. You cant even see the water in a 3/4 loaded barrel. It helped things go a little faster and used up all the grit. After that have fun and don't be nervous. Even if something goes wrong you can just grind the rocks some more.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Dec 30, 2015 11:19:23 GMT -5
Yes I agree with Ken, back of on the water it works much better
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