arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 25, 2016 11:32:41 GMT -5
After week 2, I only pulled two stones from this batch.
I'm starting to learn that I was using too much water and I cut the amount way back. This batch will get it's usual dose of 1lb of 46/70 grit for week 3.
Agates and Jasper are tough!!
The bottom pic is a video of the tumbling action.
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Post by captbob on Mar 25, 2016 13:09:49 GMT -5
They're getting there.
Holy cow that tumbler is spinning fast! I don't recall if you posted what the RPM on your barrel is?
Kinda thinking that your high speed model tumbler may be a perfect candidate for some small filler - like ceramic media if you have nothing else. Even plastic beads could help. I would sure be trying various ways to cushion the load. Those rocks are gonna get beat to heck spinning that fast.
ETA: What lead you to believe that you are using too much water? I think it was you that was using too much when you first started tumbling (like water way over the level of rocks), but you cut that down to just below the rocks didn't you? Even water would help cushion the rocks.
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 25, 2016 13:52:22 GMT -5
Thanks captbob !
It's kind of misleading. Just below the layer of those large rocks, I have about 2-3 pounds of pea gravel. .
It's a Thumler Model B High Speed recommended by Shawn from the Rock Shop. He said as long as I was using the Thumler for Stage 1, I would be fine. I hope I'm not regretting my decision.
On the water issue, it seems the last two clean outs, the slurry has been really thin. When I tumbled in the 3lb HF tumbler the slurry was more like thin pancake batter than water.
The water level on this load is probably 1/3 of the barrel.
I have some plastic beads, I could toss in there as well if you think it would help.
I don't know if I need to go longer between clean outs (7 days) or adjust the load with more small stuff. Again, all that pea gravel sunk to the bottom and I just rinsed off the rocks and placed them back on top, added my grit and water, capped it up and started it back up.
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Post by captbob on Mar 25, 2016 14:34:02 GMT -5
Shawn recommended a high speed unit for rocks?? wow... So are you doing actual clean outs (emptying the barrel) or just checking and recharging with fresh grit? If you left all the smalls and used grit in the barrel while just pulling out your bigger pieces, you may have quite a mass of grit stuck to the bottom of the barrel. How did the used grit feel? You should be able to tell if it's done it's job (worn out and very fine) and needs replacing or if it should stay in and run longer. I've bought a bunch from the Rock Shed, but I'd be pretty upset if Shawn had told me to go with the high speed model. Some of your rocks, sorry to say, look beat up and it's going to be difficult if not impossible to go all the way through polish with that high speed model. I think you have a vibe to finish with (?) but you should be able to do a load start to finish in that rotary barrel. Refresh my memory... are you going to a different tumbler to finish? I have 4 of those same tumblers (not high speed) and they can put out very high quality rocks. Some may/will chime in that the high speed is going to be better/faster for shaping - I don't buy it. What good is shaping the rocks faster if they are spalled, crazed and bruised? Tumbling isn't a race, it's an exercise in patience if you want drool worthy rocks. Your experiments ought to involve methods of cushioning your loads - if you can't return that tumbler. Maybe just swapping out the motor for the lower speed model may be your best bet? a bit down this page: (80 bucks!) rocktumbler.com/tumbler-motors.shtmlJust MY opinion... ETA: I'd go with more water simply for the cushioning.
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 25, 2016 14:50:56 GMT -5
I have a Lot-O that I planned to do all other stages in. The Thumler is only for Stage 1.
Maybe Thumler will let me swap it out. Don't know. I hate to be out another $80.
This rock tumbling is definitely not a science, but rather an art...
Here was Shawn's email.
"Garret, Hi, Thanks for the note. I think if it's your plan to use it specifically as a roughing tumbler, I'd do a thumlers 15lb tumbler. It will hold a little more and has the metal barrrel. (w/rubber lining) Truthfully, if you know you are ONLY going to use it as a roughing tumbler, you might think about getting a highspeed model B. You would likely then need to do a couple of days in 120/220 in the lot-o before moving to pre-polish. The high speed will be a little rough on some stones so I'd only do that if you are doing mainly agates, jaspers and other hard stones. Hope that helps. Thanks again Shawn Rock Shed"
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Post by captbob on Mar 25, 2016 15:17:59 GMT -5
Shawn has a LOT more experience than I do, so I'll just politely disagree and say that that high speed tumbler wouldn't be my preference.
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 25, 2016 15:24:23 GMT -5
Thanks for your input sir!
I have not been really happy over the last three weeks with the way the rocks are looking. First, my barrel wasn't full enough and the rocks are getting beat up, albeit I have some quartz in there, but overall it's been a back and forth balancing act of too much water, too little water.. This shouldn't be that hard. I pour over the forums looking for answers, but everyone seems to do things a little different (science vs. art)
Anyway.. pressing on..
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 25, 2016 15:34:23 GMT -5
The high speed would not work for my tumbling preference. I need to be able to toss in every type of rock together in stage one without worrying about damage. My opinion tends to be Science over art. I toss in the same amount of rock grit and water every week and expect the same results. Here is a good example. Every rock in this link was tumbled together from stage one all the way through polish. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/73835/ya-me-last-weekChuck
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Mar 25, 2016 16:16:22 GMT -5
I used to coarse stage agate(Mohs 7 rocks) at 55 RPM in a 6 inch inside diameter barrel with a good balance of sizes. Preferably leaving the slurry on the thick side. Would avoid 220 and 500 and finer operations at that speed. With a thick slurry I would let it break the coarse slurry down in the last grit addition for an AO 500 transfer into the vibe though. But I coarse grind with thick slurry by adding clay as a thickener.
Thick slurry a different game. It offers lots of protection but requires a bit of know how. A bit surprised that they recommended that speed for a start up guy. 30-35 RPM is a lot safer for that size barrel. And allows all grits right up to final polish.
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
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Post by Intheswamp on Mar 25, 2016 17:15:58 GMT -5
Is it in the Victor's book where they talk about flat-sided barrels needing a different speed than round barrels. Round barrels basically being the smaller retail barrels and pvc barrels. I may be wrong (don't have the book in front of me) but I *think* the flat-sided ones require a slower speed than round ones.
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Post by captbob on Mar 25, 2016 17:18:52 GMT -5
That makes sense Ed in that in a round barrel the rocks would simply slide the the bottom instead of tumbling at a slower speed. Thinkin' the round barrel would need a higher speed to "throw" the rocks.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Mar 25, 2016 17:23:22 GMT -5
I thought so too, but it is the six sided barrels that are gentler and can be run faster.
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arkietumbler
starting to shine!
Member since February 2016
Posts: 28
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Post by arkietumbler on Mar 25, 2016 19:25:19 GMT -5
I loaded her up with more water and a pound of plastic pellets.
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wades
starting to spend too much on rocks
Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734)
Member since February 2006
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Post by wades on Mar 27, 2016 0:06:42 GMT -5
Looks like you have some pretty sizeable chunks in there. That can cause other rocks to get banged up.
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