stacker
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2017
Posts: 9
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Post by stacker on May 13, 2017 8:07:04 GMT -5
I have just purchased a single loto. I have read many threads on recipes but I am getting confused with the threads going from loto to other brands. Can I just get help on a good all around recipe for a loto. I will be tumbling in a 46c for the first stage. The rest of the stages will be in the loto. Here is what I was going to start with.
Updated post on 05-20-17 to using this recipe.
60/90 in my 45c for 1 week. Or until the rocks come out how I like them.
Switch to loto an run this.
2TBLS of 120/220 sic 48hrs reload
1/2 TBLS of 500 sic and 1TBLS of Borax 48hrs reload
1/2 TBLS of 1000 sic and 1TBLS of Borax 48 hrs reload
1/2 TBLS of polish and 1 TBLS of Borax for 48 hrs reload
1 TBLS of Borax for 1 hr
I filled the bottom of the barrel with E6000 to keep the ceramic from sticking in the bottom of the barrel.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 13, 2017 8:33:41 GMT -5
Hi Stacker, welcome to the forum. Your recipe looks overly complicated and each stage should run longer. Longer runs with fewer clean outs. It doesn't make sense to run a stage for 12 hours and then go back to the same stage again. As grit tumbles, it breaks down into smaller grit. There are some here who run large aluminum oxide polish for a long time with no clean outs and the large grit breaks down into smaller and smaller grit until it becomes almost a polish. I haven't tried that method, but my method has been working well for me for years. I rarely alter my recipe and I get consistently good results. First, I run my rocks in a rotary tumbler for as long as it takes to get all the flaws out. You don't have to run them until they're perfect, but I do. Getting rid of all the pits and cracks makes it much less likely that you'll carry grit from one stage to the next. If you do tumble rocks with hiding places for grit, make sure that they're very clean before going to the next stage. My rocks usually run a couple months in the first stage. I do weekly clean outs and inspect every rock. I remove rocks that are done and replace them with fresh, rough rocks. So each rock runs for as long as needed and no more. I move to the Lot-O when I collect enough rocks to fill it. When I move to the Lot-O I use about 30% ceramics. I use a mix of large and small sizes. Fill the barrel with rocks and top off with ceramics. Fill the barrel with water, and then put your hand over the top and tip out all of the water. Your rocks should be wet, but there should not be water setting on the bottom. Put the barrel on the machine. Cup your hand around the back of the barrel so the fan doesn't blow grit into your face. Add 2 TABLEspoons of 120/220 silicon carbide or straight 220 SC. Let this run for two days. Check it after about an hour and squirt in a small amount of water if it looks dry. Then check it before bed, in the morning and after work. You will need to add water along the way because you'll be creating a lot of rock dust that dries things out. Add water slowly wth a squirt bottle so that you don't add too much. After two days, do a clean out (don't put anything down your drain). I like to be very clean, so I put everything back in the barrel and run it for about a half an hour with a tablespoon of borax and enough water to slow the action down, maybe a quarter cup. Then I clean it out again. Sometimes I clean twice. I do this between every stage. The next three stages are all about the same. Use 1 TABLEspoon of borax and 1/2 TEAspoon of 500 aluminum oxide. Run for two days. Do the same for 1000 aluminum oxide and then aluminum oxide polish. Here's a synopsis: 2 TABLEspoons 120/220 or 220 Silicon Carbide for 2 days. Clean 1/2 TEAspoon 500 aluminum oxide for 2 days. Clean 1/2 TEAspoon 1000 aluminum oxide for 2 days. Clean 1/2 TEAspoon aluminum oxide polish for 2 days. Clean Another way to go is to eliminate the 1000 stage and run the 500 stage for three days. That's all there is to it. Feel free to ask more questions if I haven't been clear. The toughest part is going to be running your rotary stage much longer than you expected to.
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stacker
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2017
Posts: 9
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Post by stacker on May 13, 2017 8:48:14 GMT -5
Thank you so much!! I think your way looks better. So are you running Borax mixed with the 500 through polish? Or are you using it to just clean up between stages?
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stacker
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2017
Posts: 9
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Post by stacker on May 13, 2017 9:00:52 GMT -5
It looks like you are using AO on the all of the stages except for the 120/200. I believe the grit I have is sic 120/220, 500f, 1000. The polish is AO. With the lot-o will this be to aggressive with the SIC?
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 13, 2017 9:39:14 GMT -5
Thank you so much!! I think your way looks better. So are you running Borax mixed with the 500 through polish? Or are you using it to just clean up between stages? Yes. borax is used from 500 to polish and also in between for cleaning. I forgot to mention that borax kills plants, so be careful where you dump it.
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Post by Jugglerguy on May 13, 2017 9:41:03 GMT -5
It looks like you are using AO on the all of the stages except for the 120/200. I believe the grit I have is sic 120/220, 500f, 1000. The polish is AO. With the lot-o will this be to aggressive with the SIC? I have always used AO starting at 500, so I can't compare. SiC breaks into smaller, sharp pieces as it tumbles, so it's better for cutting. AO wears down into smaller rounded shapes, so it's better for smoothing/polishing.
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on May 13, 2017 22:51:25 GMT -5
Thank you so much!! I think your way looks better. So are you running Borax mixed with the 500 through polish? Or are you using it to just clean up between stages? My experience is pretty limited but I have been doing some playing around with a Raytek TV-5 vibrating tumbler and so far I'm not seeing the benefit of adding the Borax. Again my tests are limited but so far I can't see a difference in shine between runs with borax and ones without. I personally prefer to avoid borax since it is toxic to plants and makes disposal of slurry more of an issue. So far I have tried it in the 500 grit ALO and polish and also just in the polish stage.
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on May 14, 2017 12:17:18 GMT -5
Thank you Jugglerguy for the clarification on the recipe and those tumbles look awesome! I'm going to continue to follow this as it worked great on my first load. Good idea to run the AO 500 for 3 days if you don't have AO 1000 to ensure that it breaks down to something like AO 1000.
Eric
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