bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 13, 2016 8:22:43 GMT -5
Just to note, that this is the first batch I've done beyond Stage 1. I'm wanting to post before/after shots as they're turning out beautifully so far. Plus I haven't actually seen any photo collections that includes all stages. Just a before tumbling shot and after polishing shot. I'm told the stone is a mixture of ruby and sapphire. Each Stage in this series will be run for 7 Days, except for stage 1 that ran 9 days. Raw Rough: (Apologies for bad photo. Taken immediately after rinsing with water and not properly drying. and no idea why one has a crumb of pie crust on it) After Stage 1: Note: The bottom left rock was a rough I couldn't fit in the batch, used as contrast. After Stage 2: After Stage 3: Not sure on why a few have that kind of whitening bit to them, but they feel so smooth now. Note: Including a wetted closeup of one further down the page. Hopefully a good indicator at what they'll look like finished. After Stage 4: Relatively unchanged in look, but are smooth as glass. Wish I had a better camera and photography setup. It's literally me photographing them with my iphone6 while holding a table lamp sideways beside it, as the onboard flash tends to overexpose.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Nov 13, 2016 12:43:30 GMT -5
Ceramics can be moved on through all stages, plastic pellets should not move on with the rocks.
Why are you drying the barrel? Aren't you just going to get it wet again for the next stage?
Are you doing these in a rotary tumbler or a vibratory tumbler? They're looking pretty good so far, I was just wondering how long we'll have to wait to see them finished.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2016 14:39:48 GMT -5
Very cool.
I am sure I don't have to tell you that the only difference between ruby and sapphire is color.
Where did you get the material? Id like some too!
Cannot wait to see the grande finalé!
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bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 13, 2016 19:54:21 GMT -5
Ceramics can be moved on through all stages, plastic pellets should not move on with the rocks. Why are you drying the barrel? Aren't you just going to get it wet again for the next stage? Are you doing these in a rotary tumbler or a vibratory tumbler? They're looking pretty good so far, I was just wondering how long we'll have to wait to see them finished. Drying the barrel because I was going from one stage to another so needed to give it a scrub? And the outside got wet? ...I dunno really... Rotary. I obtained a Lot-O-Tumblr vibratory, but I haven't used it yet. I want to make sure I get the process down in rotary before trying vibratory (plus the vibratory one is twice as big and I don't have enough ingredients to use in it) I got them on ebay. Found a good dealer with great prices (as far as I can tell) and excellent shipping prices, especially if you buy in bulk.
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bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 20, 2016 8:45:42 GMT -5
Updated First Post with Stage 3 picture. Extra: Wetted closeup of stage 3.
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bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 20, 2016 8:51:40 GMT -5
BTW, I've never done Stage 4 Polishing before. Is there anything different from previous stages I need to be aware of?
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Nov 21, 2016 14:20:18 GMT -5
BTW, I've never done Stage 4 Polishing before. Is there anything different from previous stages I need to be aware of? If you're using a rotary, make sure you have more ceramics than normal and add either borax or sugar to your barrel to thicken the slurry. Then, after your polish cycle, plan a good burnish cycle with the ceramics and some borax. I wish you Godspeed, because I REALLY struggled getting a good shine with my rotaries, and then I bought a Lot-O, and it was like magic. That only means I am not very good at it, it isn't an absolute. I'm sure getting a beautiful shine from a rotary is possible, and I did finally get to where I got a B+ shine on a few batches, but with the Lot-O, it was drop-dead simple, and much faster. In looking at your stones, you have some beautiful stuff, but I would almost go back to Stage 1 or 2 to get a few of the flaws out of the stones. I know that's the LAST thing you want to hear right now, but I see lots of cracks, etc. in there, and if you want a truly mirror shine, you need to get almost all of the imperfections out of the surface of the stone.
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bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 21, 2016 17:50:38 GMT -5
I have luckily gotten my hands on a Lot-O too, but I didn't have enough of this hardness grade to use it. Depending on how well this comes out, I may get a few more pounds to break in the vibrator tumbler. That or toss in a bunch of quartz.
added a bunch of ceramic. I bought some golden syrup for thickening slurry, but I didn't know if it would be good in polishing or not. I'm too afraid to open it and add some in, because last time I interrupted a load I had difficulty cleaning the white slurry off where the lid fits on, and got a leak. and rather not add more polish given how expensive it is. Hope for the best I guess. and if doesn't turn out as good as it could be, will just run it a few extra days. (I ran stages 1 for 9 days cause of this. Plus given the material is a grade 9, figured it'd take longer to smooth than a jasper)
I definitely intend to give it a good burnishing after. Not sure what to use for that stage, though. does any soap bar work? what about dishwashing liquid?
I'm not looking for perfect, so any blemishes I may run into I'm okay with. This is the first time I've gone passed stage 1 after all. can't expect perfect. It will give me experience in what to do next time. and now that I have a vibratory, I should be able to do all later stages in that.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Nov 21, 2016 19:47:41 GMT -5
Garage Rocker, I remember you saying you mixed all kinds of material in your Lot-O regardless of hardness.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 21, 2016 20:42:15 GMT -5
Garage Rocker, I remember you saying you mixed all kinds of material in your Lot-O regardless of hardness. I do throw everything in the Lot O at once. The only homogenous batch I've done was some apache tears. Everything else has been a hodge podge of all different hardness, but still mainly agate and jasper. If there is something really soft, I'll pull it out before the others are done with each stage. Those probably aren't going to be your great shiners anyway. The Lot O is very forgiving.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 22, 2016 11:05:32 GMT -5
Looks liking they are rolling perfectly!!!! Doing a great job!!
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Nov 22, 2016 20:16:36 GMT -5
Garage Rocker, I remember you saying you mixed all kinds of material in your Lot-O regardless of hardness. I do throw everything in the Lot O at once. The only homogenous batch I've done was some apache tears. Everything else has been a hodge podge of all different hardness, but still mainly agate and jasper. If there is something really soft, I'll pull it out before the others are done with each stage. Those probably aren't going to be your great shiners anyway. The Lot O is very forgiving. What does a typical loading profile look like? For example, barrel 70% full with 70% rocks and 30% small media... Just trying to get educated before Christmas.
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bunnybunnybun
starting to shine!
Discovering my cooking is like tumbling. Both result in inedible rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 42
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Post by bunnybunnybun on Nov 23, 2016 16:53:23 GMT -5
I will certainly need to learn a bunch before touching my Lot-O. For one, I didn't realize how little water was needed inside. And one place suggests you clean it out every 12 hours? Others say 2 days. Heck, a book that was suggested by rocktumbler.com suggests stage 1 is a minimum of 4 weeks in a rotary. I feel there doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon standard for times. Anyone know a chart of times for how long to tumble and cleaning times and such, that is worth following? Cause right now I'm under the assumption Rotary=7 days, Vibratory=2 days. (as in a standard for your average load. not counting when something comes out bad and needs extra time)
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 23, 2016 17:12:52 GMT -5
I will certainly need to learn a bunch before touching my Lot-O. For one, I didn't realize how little water was needed inside. And one place suggests you clean it out every 12 hours? Others say 2 days. Heck, a book that was suggested by rocktumbler.com suggests stage 1 is a minimum of 4 weeks in a rotary. I feel there doesn't seem to be an agreed-upon standard for times. Anyone know a chart of times for how long to tumble and cleaning times and such, that is worth following? Cause right now I'm under the assumption Rotary=7 days, Vibratory=2 days. (as in a standard for your average load. not counting when something comes out bad and needs extra time) Your assumptions are right, for the most part. Most people cycle a rotary in 7 days. That is, cleanout at 7 days. This doesn't mean that the average load of rocks is going to be ready for the next stage in 7 days. I believe we can all agree on THAT. Like Jugglerguy said, the course grind done in a rotary tumbler is never 'done', it is a continual thing. Some move out, some move in at the 7 day cleanout. Only you will decide how long is long enough for each rock. You will probably never just dump a load right out of the rotary and right into the Lot O. It takes time to accumulate enough rocks moving out of the course grind to fill the Lot O. Good news is, you can put as much ceramic filler as you want in the Lot O and run it. So, you don't HAVE to wait until you have a full load.
The Lot O is very forgiving and once you get the rocks to that point, you've got it made. The 120/220 stage is the only one you have to watch for drying out quickly. That stage will require you to add water a time or two. I like to start a Lot O batch on the weekend, when I can pass by several times through the day and give a squirt of water. After that, the rest of the stages aren't prone to drying out as bad. The simple recipe, which you can make your own alterations to with experience, is found in simple format here:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/76542/lot-recipe-card
Give the rocks time in stage 1. You will be pleased with the results if you do.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 23, 2016 17:20:41 GMT -5
I do throw everything in the Lot O at once. The only homogenous batch I've done was some apache tears. Everything else has been a hodge podge of all different hardness, but still mainly agate and jasper. If there is something really soft, I'll pull it out before the others are done with each stage. Those probably aren't going to be your great shiners anyway. The Lot O is very forgiving. What does a typical loading profile look like? For example, barrel 70% full with 70% rocks and 30% small media... Just trying to get educated before Christmas. Any ratio you want. I'd suggest at least a handful of small ceramics. I start with that in the bottom of the barrel, then add whatever rocks are ready to go. If I have a bunch, with small rocks included, I won't add any more ceramics. If I add all my rocks and there's still room, I'll add mixed size ceramics. If I want to do preforms, I'll have over 50% ceramics. It's all about having as many contact points as you can in there. Filling small gaps. Just use best judgment when loading and I'm sure it will come out alright. If something goes wrong, backtracking is quick and easy in the vibe.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Nov 23, 2016 21:27:30 GMT -5
What does a typical loading profile look like? For example, barrel 70% full with 70% rocks and 30% small media... Just trying to get educated before Christmas. Any ratio you want. I'd suggest at least a handful of small ceramics. I start with that in the bottom of the barrel, then add whatever rocks are ready to go. If I have a bunch, with small rocks included, I won't add any more ceramics. If I add all my rocks and there's still room, I'll add mixed size ceramics. If I want to do preforms, I'll have over 50% ceramics. It's all about having as many contact points as you can in there. Filling small gaps. Just use best judgment when loading and I'm sure it will come out alright. If something goes wrong, backtracking is quick and easy in the vibe. Thanks for the information. In the rotary I'm really having trouble getting a shine on my leapord skin and kabamba Jaspers and obsidian. I hope that the Lot-o will change that. I'm guessing lots of media will be necessary.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Nov 23, 2016 21:45:07 GMT -5
I once put too many small ceramic pieces in the Lot-O trying to make up for a small quantity of rocks. I had a heck of a time keeping everything moving. I rinsed everything and pulled about 1/2 of the smalls and replaced them with the large and it made a world of difference. Lesson learned - have a good mix of sizes.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Nov 23, 2016 21:53:43 GMT -5
Any ratio you want. I'd suggest at least a handful of small ceramics. I start with that in the bottom of the barrel, then add whatever rocks are ready to go. If I have a bunch, with small rocks included, I won't add any more ceramics. If I add all my rocks and there's still room, I'll add mixed size ceramics. If I want to do preforms, I'll have over 50% ceramics. It's all about having as many contact points as you can in there. Filling small gaps. Just use best judgment when loading and I'm sure it will come out alright. If something goes wrong, backtracking is quick and easy in the vibe. Thanks for the information. In the rotary I'm really having trouble getting a shine on my leapord skin and kabamba Jaspers and obsidian. I hope that the Lot-o will change that. I'm guessing lots of media will be necessary. The obsidian may be your best hope of those three.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Nov 23, 2016 22:16:30 GMT -5
I think the green rock here is Kambaba jasper and it took a good shine in the Lot-O
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rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
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Post by rastageezer on Nov 24, 2016 3:40:15 GMT -5
Those long times (4 weeks) recommended in the rotary for stage 1 are, I am sorry to say, correct. Get those rocks as perfect as you can before you move them on. This cannot be stressed 'enuf. Mine sometimes go for months (Rios and Lakers) but I tend to larger stones and longer times between clean outs.
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