|
Post by grumpybill on Jul 10, 2017 8:55:36 GMT -5
The continuing saga of a dummass who started into tumbling without doing any research (i.e. finding this forum), written in hopes of helping other first-timers.
The first mistake I made with the course step was following Lortone's instructions and moving the stones to the next stage after a week. The pits and pockmarks didn't show up until after the pre-polish stage when they were filled with the white AO. Imperfections don't easily show up when the stones are wet after SiC stages.
I had too many large stones in my 3lb barrel...probably 1/3 of the load, several were 2” in diameter. I had what I thought was a good mix of sizes down to pea size, but maybe not. I now load my barrels by putting in a layer of the larger pieces (only one or two much over an inch) and filling in any gaps with small stuff, rinse and repeat. A good shake helps settle things things in.
For small stuff I used pea gravel from along the street. I didn't examine it closely enough...some of it was sandstone which deteriorated overnight in the tumbler and made a muddy mess. But, hey...quick/thick slurry is good, right? After that first batch, I examine the pea gravel more closely.
The first time I opened the tub (yeah, like most 1st time tumblers I couldn't resist looking in after the first day) I had a LOT of foam. Big soap bubble-type foam, not beer head-type foam. I think this came (at least partially) from not properly washing the stones my grandkids picked up and the pea gravel I added. I'd only given them a quick rinse. Before starting my second batch of “found stones”, I ran them for a couple hours in Borax and water, drained and rinsed before starting the course grit stage. Much less foam. I've also found that adding some Borax to the mix seems to cut down on the foam.
Following Lortone's instructions, I cleaned everything up and moved on to step 2 after a week. I think I may have lost count and only ran 5 days in step 2. Lesson learned: keep a written log of everything.
Coming up in the next installment: Step 3 pre-polish.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Jul 10, 2017 9:08:03 GMT -5
Morning grumpybillPretty much all of us members do most all the things you do and did. Human nature kind of thing., You can always regrind them in coarse and it did let you see some results more quickly and thus learn faster. Good for you. May your rocks always be shiny and your barmaid never ignore you !! Cliff
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Jul 10, 2017 9:31:46 GMT -5
Yep, those are common mistakes. Foam is normal in a tumbler, but I don't usually have any after a week in coarse grit. I don't open before a week anymore. I don't add borax until the 500 stage in my vibratory tumbler. It shouldn't hurt anything, I just don't find it necessary.
I use pea gravel from a beach in my tumbler if I don't have enough smalls around. So adding small gravel is a good idea, just not soft stuff.
Keeping notes is a great idea.
|
|
Win
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2017
Posts: 336
|
Post by Win on Jul 11, 2017 7:48:04 GMT -5
I'm on my first batch and totally relate to what you're experiencing. I tumbled Agate for two weeks and moved onto Stage 2, about 1/2 the rocks were pitted, back to Stage 1, added some more rocks to fill. I'm now on my 4th week in Stage 1 for some of the rocks, feels like I may never get to 3 & 4!
This site has really helped, I guess the Lortrone directions are OK but it's the knowledge here that really will get us a good finish.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jul 17, 2017 21:03:48 GMT -5
grumpybillI like to keep two tumblers running. I use a 12 lb lortone and a 3 lb lortone. The 12 pounder usually cranks out enough rocks in the three or so weeks that the 3 pounder needs for stage 2 through polish. There is definitely a learning curve when you first start. Keep at it and pretty soon you'll be an expert.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Jul 17, 2017 23:36:08 GMT -5
Yep, those are common mistakes. Foam is normal in a tumbler, but I don't usually have any after a week in coarse grit. I don't open before a week anymore. I don't add borax until the 500 stage in my vibratory tumbler. It shouldn't hurt anything, I just don't find it necessary. I use pea gravel from a beach in my tumbler if I don't have enough smalls around. So adding small gravel is a good idea, just not soft stuff. Keeping notes is a great idea. Thanks for the beach pea gravel. Driveway pea gravel here is always sharp and is mostly granites so been running lots of pricey ceramic. Have a river right behind my house.I owe you a cold one.
|
|
|
Post by grumpybill on Jul 21, 2017 5:38:11 GMT -5
grumpybill I like to keep two tumblers running. I use a 12 lb lortone and a 3 lb lortone. The 12 pounder usually cranks out enough rocks in the three or so weeks that the 3 pounder needs for stage 2 through polish. I decided to do something similar...but on a smaller scale. Shortly before I gave up and started over with my first batch (in a 3 lb. barrel), I bought a used 3 x 1.5 for little money. (I'm not only a grumpy old man; I'm also a cheap SOB.) The 3 pounder is currently running course with the agate from my failed batch along with some of a "mix" I bought. The little critters are running course with: A) the grandkids' granite pebbles, B) some blue quartz I bought and somewhat preshaped (first attempt), and C) my first attempt at "sea glass". After the course stages are complete, the plan is to dedicate the 3 pounder to course and the small barrels to later stages. (I have an extra 1.5 lb. barrel that will be dedicated to polishing.)
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jul 21, 2017 15:33:38 GMT -5
grumpybillIt sounds like you have a pretty nice setup. You will be cranking out polished stones in no time. I always try try to keep the hardness / durability of the stones about the same. If I have agates, I'll tumble them with other agates, jasper or pet wood. Glass should only be done with other glass or obsidian. If you are tumbling glass, check your tumbler often. If you notice any bulging be ready to burp the barrel. The only times I had a tumbler lid pop off was with glass or obsidian, (apache tears). My theory is that glass has lots of small pressurized bubbles in it. The grinding releases the pressure in the bubbles. I also find that having rocks of different sizes makes the grinding more efficient. I shoot for about 50% small stones in the barrel. Medium stone 25-30% and not too many larger stones. Good luck. I can't wait to see pictures.
|
|
|
Post by grumpybill on Jul 21, 2017 15:49:53 GMT -5
Starguy The glass is in its 2nd week. I opened and checked it every day during the 1st...no gas, just lots of thick heavy foam. So thick and heavy that when I lifted a few pieces of glass to check progress, I had to push them down to put the lid back on. I added a handful of pea gravel after the one-week clean up.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jul 21, 2017 20:08:51 GMT -5
@grumpybil Expect to run longer than one week in the coarse grit. I've found that after 3 weeks I'm starting to pick some stones out that are ready for fine grit. I just keep setting aside stones that are ready for fine until I have enough for an actual fine grit tumble. Keep in mind that my 12 pound tumbler is pretty efficient at grinding in coarse grit. I tumble a lot of agate and they seem to take a while to get a nice shape. I also have a grinder so I tend to do a little grinding on the nicer stones. Jugglerguy can explain how,long it takes to get through coarse tumble too. I'm a little picky and try to get my coarse grind pretty smooth before going to fine. I wish I could send you some pictures but Photobucket ruined all my posts. They want $399'a year to allow you to post photos here. I'm kinda old grumpy and cheap too.
|
|
|
Post by coloradocliff on Jul 21, 2017 20:21:10 GMT -5
@grumpybil Expect to run longer than one week in the coarse grit. I've found that after 3 weeks I'm starting to pick some stones out that are ready for fine grit. I just keep setting aside stones that are ready for fine until I have enough for an actual fine grit tumble. Keep in mind that my 12 pound tumbler is pretty efficient at grinding in coarse grit. I tumble a lot of agate and they seem to take a while to get a nice shape. I also have a grinder so I tend to do a little grinding on the nicer stones. Jugglerguy can explain how,long it takes to get through coarse tumble too. I'm a little picky and try to get my coarse grind pretty smooth before going to fine. I wish I could send you some pictures but Photobucket ruined all my posts. They want $399'a year to allow you to post photos here. I'm kinda old grumpy and cheap too. Tommy has some help on the posting of pictures. I am using the Rock Show Photo gallery. You can do most of it free and fotr life unlimited a small, one time contribution. Pictures post fine and you can use the attachment button for small ones like this. HAvent figured out the larger size anyway, yet. Pm Tommy . TAkes just a little while and I was glad I did, Regards, Cliff
grumpybill When you pull out stones that are ground enough for next stage make sure you put them in a bowl of water so the rock mud doesn't dry in the cracks and look bad later when polished. You can add fresh tumble to bring the barrel back up to your level. If you aren't using a colloidal solution you might think about it. Cheap clay cat litter about 8 oz will make a nice slurry and cushion your rocks against chipping and microfractures that will show up by the polish stage and cause you anguish.. They pee bucket me off.
|
|