zioSergio
starting to shine!
Member since February 2018
Posts: 35
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Post by zioSergio on Mar 10, 2018 6:12:30 GMT -5
My first batch has started. It's been a long wait... but I'm very finicky, and I wanted to set up everything at my best. First of all the tumbler. Since it runs in my garage, but in a place where there are many garages side by side, I managed to reduce the noise as much as possible - I don't want strange questions from my neighbors So I prepared a nice cover for my tumbler, with a spare plastic box dressed up with thick tissue. The result is fine. Hours of work, but satisfactory. And about the stones... I wanted to pick them by myself, but the places where I want to go to find some good rocks are a bit far, and the wheather here has been bad (rain + snow) these last weeks. So I decided to pick some ugly stones, just to make a workout, a practice I mean. I took care that their hardness was the same, and more than 6. Since I collected some "big" rocks (diameter 6 cm or more), I broke them with a monster hammer. The pieces obtained were very sharp, but it was what I wanted, to appreciate the smoothing that I'm expecting from the tumbling. I'll keep you updated.
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Post by fernwood on Mar 10, 2018 8:22:35 GMT -5
Do you have any way to smooth the sharp surfaces? this will reduce your tumbling time considerable. Also, the sharp edges, may cause grooves in other stones. Love that you wanted to hand pick your first batch. So gratifying to go from start to finish. Please keep us updated on progress. Ask questions as needed on grits, fillers, etc.
Regarding the cover, does it allow for venting from the tumbler, ie air flow to the motor? What type of tumbler?
Others will probably chime in, who are more experienced than me. Wishing you a great first batch.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 10, 2018 9:41:09 GMT -5
Sounds like you got it figured out... Good luck..
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zioSergio
starting to shine!
Member since February 2018
Posts: 35
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Post by zioSergio on Mar 10, 2018 11:00:09 GMT -5
Regarding the cover, does it allow for venting from the tumbler, ie air flow to the motor? What type of tumbler? It's a Lortone 3A. Yes, I know, the air flow will be a potential problem, when warm weather will come. Now it's still cold here in northern Italy. I've got the time to work out a solution...
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sactorick
having dreams about rocks
gemfield
Member since October 2017
Posts: 67
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Post by sactorick on Mar 11, 2018 9:32:23 GMT -5
Good luck zioSergio! I'm new at this also and have a Lortone 3a. I've had some great results and one not so good batch. It's a lot of fun. Keep us updated on your progress.
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zioSergio
starting to shine!
Member since February 2018
Posts: 35
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Post by zioSergio on Mar 16, 2018 18:23:34 GMT -5
Today I decided to stop the first stage, since it's a practice work with non-interesting stones and I don't care for an extra finishing. Amazing!! All my sharp rocks are now rounded and soft. The grit has completely disappeared, and a fraction of the stones weight disappeared with it. Water has become a brown-grey liquid mud. I stared at it for a while So I immediately started phase 2, with an intermediate grit, and I filled with some ceramics the volume left free, to get the 2/3 of my barrel. I can't wait to see what will happen. To be continued...
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zioSergio
starting to shine!
Member since February 2018
Posts: 35
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Post by zioSergio on Apr 1, 2018 3:27:51 GMT -5
Second stage (intermediate grit) terminated. I should say that I'm really satisfied: everything worked as expected. My sharp edges stones are now incredibly smooth... passing my fingers on them is a great pleasure. But it was just a practice run, with ugly stones that I don't mind to polish. I decided to stop here this batch. Next time I'll take some good-looking rocks.
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Apr 1, 2018 9:03:47 GMT -5
Second stage (intermediate grit) terminated. I should say that I'm really satisfied: everything worked as expected. My sharp edges stones are now incredibly smooth... passing my fingers on them is a great pleasure. But it was just a practice run, with ugly stones that I don't mind to polish. I decided to stop here this batch. Next time I'll take some good-looking rocks. Excited to see them
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