|
Post by broseph82 on Feb 3, 2016 19:22:02 GMT -5
So I thought I'd mix it up a bit and do a load that would be relatively fast. In my trim saw scraps bin I have hard agates/Jaspers mixed and then the other bin is slag, obsidian, gabbro, labradorite, marble, softer stuff etc. Im using the Viking because I had a whole container full of scrap pieces and it was about to start to overflow. I didn't get a whole before shot because I was loading it straight into the tumbler and didn't want to dump it all out just to take a pic so here aee the shapes of some of the pieces. And video of a minute after loading the glass and 60/90: m.flickr.com/#/photos/136551163@N03/24684735122/It it ran for about 30hrs and this is what it looked like after cleaning with water: Now, I'm no jamesp . I don't break all my tumbles into smaller pieces. I toss it in like it is. You'll see what I'm talking about in this video: m.flickr.com/#/photos/136551163@N03/24175737993/I pulled out about 10 pieces I thought were perfect like they were and set aside. And a piece of marble that was perfectly rounded Some civil war slag(went back in) I added more trim pieces, 2Tbs of 60/90, 1c sugar, and 1c water
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 3, 2016 21:41:18 GMT -5
Hey, that's fast! Nice looking rocks, too! 60/90 in a vibe...definitely some major rock grinding going on!!!!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 3, 2016 21:53:58 GMT -5
Are you use media or smalls with the finishing grits ?
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Feb 3, 2016 22:27:19 GMT -5
Interesting.... watching...learning!
|
|
napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
|
Post by napoleonrags on Feb 3, 2016 23:00:42 GMT -5
Nice. OK, I live by the model "There are no stupid questions, just stupid people who ask questions." So I have a question: why gloves?
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Feb 4, 2016 8:55:02 GMT -5
Are you use media or smalls with the finishing grits ? I have yet to do a finishing stage yet. I've only gotten through the 60/90 stages. Other stuff is bagged and waiting for a full load before I complete it. I may use ceramic media. Will have to order more. napoleonrags I wear gloves because obsidian is very freaking sharp. Even though this load was well rounded there was a piece or two that look like it broke off and was sharp. It's also very messy and I usually have more lapidary work going on besides tumbling so I like to keep my hands dry and warm. Intheswamp yes rounded stuff very quickly. This thing is a beast!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 4, 2016 8:59:43 GMT -5
It does round fast. Make sure you use media. I frost Lab and obsidian even with 60% media in mine when finishing. Borax/sugar,/Metemucil, no matter.
Only choice I know is to adjust it slower.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Feb 4, 2016 10:21:59 GMT -5
A very fast tumbler! Wow!
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Feb 4, 2016 11:16:47 GMT -5
Cool post. I've roughed Lab and Ob together in a rotary. They play nice together.
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Feb 10, 2016 18:58:21 GMT -5
Well it's been 4 or 5 days since I've taken any of this out and cleaned it. I know I know I've been being naughty. Here's why you don't leave it all in its goop @intheseamp And the batch Added 4Tbsp of 60/90grit and 1C sugar and 1C water
|
|
gemini
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2016
Posts: 1
|
Post by gemini on Feb 12, 2016 7:20:57 GMT -5
New to site ~ Why sugar and water? What does this do?
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 12, 2016 8:39:50 GMT -5
Jimi uses sugar because he likes to put a "sweet polish" on the rocks. Well, I figure you know why the water's there. The sugar is to add some cushioning (prevents chipping/frosting) along with helping to transport the grit amongst the rocks. Eventually the ground off rock dust starts contributing to the slurry, creating it's own cushioning and grit transportation. People use all kinds of things....sugar, 40 Mule Team Borax, Dreft detergent, Tide, Metamucil, red clay (yeah, like comes off a red-clay bank or dirt road), etc.,...things to create a "thickener" rather than have the rocks clinking together in clear water. In a vibratory tumbler that isn't airtight it is easier to use these being as some create gases when tumbled and can blow the lid off of a rotary (rolling barrel) tumbler...though some people use them in rotaries with no problem. Some people never use thickeners and produce some very good stuff, too. It's all about *your* personal recipe. Of all of these, Borax seems to be the most often used one BUT it is a plant killer so be careful where you poor it out....don't water Aunt Hilda's prized begonias with it. I'm just starting out and I'm using Dreft. @brosehp82 and jamesp can shed more light and possibly correct any of my errors above regarding sugar (and the rest of what I wrote)...
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 12, 2016 8:49:24 GMT -5
Well it's been 4 or 5 days since I've taken any of this out and cleaned it. I know I know I've been being naughty. Here's why you don't leave it all in its goop @intheseamp Ok broseph82 , why is this bad? Too thick for the rocks to do a good vibratory tumble? I was thinking the "milkshake" consistency is what we wanted...this looks about like it to me...maybe I should think more along the lines of a half-melted milkshake? I can visualize how a too thick slurry would dampen the vibrations in a vibratory tumbler....but, would this be too thick even for a rotary doing rough grind?
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Feb 12, 2016 9:09:23 GMT -5
Well it's been 4 or 5 days since I've taken any of this out and cleaned it. I know I know I've been being naughty. Here's why you don't leave it all in its goop @intheseamp Ok broseph82 , why is this bad? Too thick for the rocks to do a good vibratory tumble? I was thinking the "milkshake" consistency is what we wanted...this looks about like it to me...maybe I should think more along the lines of a half-melted milkshake? I can visualize how a too thick slurry would dampen the vibrations in a vibratory tumbler....but, would this be too thick even for a rotary doing rough grind? It wasn't even moving being this thick. Just sitting there kind of vibrating and not rolling
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 12, 2016 9:16:52 GMT -5
Here is a cup of water and a cup of sugar in a 14 pound vibe gemini. Running aluminum oxide 500 for a polish. Works well in this vibe. The sugar simply thickens the slurry and adds lubrication. As Ed mentioned, thickeners varied. Many ways to skin a cat. In any case, too thin or too thick of a slurry can cause problems. A proper balance of water is most common way to control thickness. It takes experience in most cases to get the right consistency. Or follow instructions from the folks on the forum.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 12, 2016 9:39:21 GMT -5
Jimi, yeah, not moving isn't good...got that part. Gotta have that rolling/traveling action to it... James, that's how my 500 stage started out...fast and furious. How long had that load been tumbling? I know the Viking is a good bit more powerful than the Lot-O so it can probably move rock through thicker slurries but looking at the video I'm seeing some slurry but not a overall coating. Beginning or ending of stage? Thanks.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 12, 2016 9:56:19 GMT -5
Jimi, yeah, not moving isn't good...got that part. Gotta have that rolling/traveling action to it... James, that's how my 500 stage started out...fast and furious. How long had that load been tumbling? I know the Viking is a good bit more powerful than the Lot-O so it can probably move rock through thicker slurries but looking at the video I'm seeing some slurry but not a overall coating. Beginning or ending of stage? Thanks. That has started to get dirty, must be day 3 or 4 of the normal 4 day run. Those are the only 2 days I open the top. It is just AO 500 so it does not change speeds since 500 does not cut the rocks much and make mud. Add a cup each of water and sugar, check it on third day and rarely add water. Clean out on 4th. The routine. Do a cleaning/burnishing with Borax for 12-24 hours and done. I still only use SiC 30 in the rotary and AO 500 in the vibe. Then the quicky Borax run in the vibe. Pretty much retired from experimenting.
|
|
Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
|
Post by Intheswamp on Feb 12, 2016 10:13:51 GMT -5
Jimi, yeah, not moving isn't good...got that part. Gotta have that rolling/traveling action to it... James, that's how my 500 stage started out...fast and furious. How long had that load been tumbling? I know the Viking is a good bit more powerful than the Lot-O so it can probably move rock through thicker slurries but looking at the video I'm seeing some slurry but not a overall coating. Beginning or ending of stage? Thanks. That has started to get dirty, must be day 3 or 4 of the normal 4 day run. Those are the only 2 days I open the top. It is just AO 500 so it does not change speeds since 500 does not cut the rocks much and make mud. Add a cup each of water and sugar, check it on third day and rarely add water. Clean out on 4th. The routine. Do a cleaning/burnishing with Borax for 12-24 hours and done. I still only use SiC 30 in the rotary and AO 500 in the vibe. Then the quicky Borax run in the vibe. Pretty much retired from experimenting. Thanks for the info (as usual), James. I appreciate the time you take with sharing information like you do...not just to me, but to everyone. You're a good dude. As for "Pretty much retired from experimenting."....sure.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Feb 12, 2016 10:24:43 GMT -5
I like mine at a milk shake thickness,it loosens up a bit in a week,than I add more grit...
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Feb 12, 2016 10:28:40 GMT -5
I got samples of free grit from about 10 manufacturers Ed. Amazing how they will send you 5-10 pounds to try. Was looking at the assortment and organizing them the other day. Quite a collection.
|
|