nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 9, 2018 17:01:18 GMT -5
I have a crazy (maybe?) question. When doing a progress check during the initial grind, and it is determined that the rocks need to run in the first stage some more, is it necessary or helpful to clean everything out? I've just been checking the progress and adding more grit since I've already established my slurry. Just curious.
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Post by gmitch067 on Apr 9, 2018 17:15:17 GMT -5
Good question! In the first stage, it is probably OK to just add more coarse grit to the slurry... just be aware that the slurry will get thicker as the added abraded material increases. Also be sure to add more rocks/media to bring the level in the rotary tumbler back to 75-80%.
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Post by aDave on Apr 9, 2018 17:17:43 GMT -5
I have a crazy (maybe?) question. When doing a progress check during the initial grind, and it is determined that the rocks need to run in the first stage some more, is it necessary or helpful to clean everything out? I've just been checking the progress and adding more grit since I've already established my slurry. Just curious. I don't see a reason why you have to clean everything out if you're going to roll them further. Heck, even after I do a complete cleanout and rinse of everything, I add back in old dried slurry to jump start the slurry development. So, in a sense, we're sort of doing the same thing. However, I do complete cleanouts and rinses whenever I dump a barrel. It makes it easier to clean the ledge for the lid (Lortone), and I inspect every rock. I can't imagine not having the rocks rinsed in order to determine their progress/flaws/etc. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question, but I'm left wondering if you hand pick the rocks out of the barrel -- leaving the slurry -- and then rinsing them to look at them. Or, are you just dumping your barrel into a container, rinsing the rocks, and then pouring your slurry back into the barrel?
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2018 17:18:28 GMT -5
Good question! In the first stage, it is probably OK to just add more coarse grit to the slurry... just be aware that the slurry will get thicker as the added abraded material increases. Also be sure to add more rocks/media to bring the level in the rotary tumbler back to 75-80%. Ok maybe dumb questions, but when you add more rocks to bring the level back up
Is there a risk of those "new" rocks scratching or creating pits in the ones that have been tumbling?
Should just small gravel or media be used?
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Post by aDave on Apr 9, 2018 17:23:45 GMT -5
Good question! In the first stage, it is probably OK to just add more coarse grit to the slurry... just be aware that the slurry will get thicker as the added abraded material increases. Also be sure to add more rocks/media to bring the level in the rotary tumbler back to 75-80%. Ok maybe dumb questions, but when you add more rocks to bring the level back up
Is there a risk of those "new" rocks scratching or creating pits in the ones that have been tumbling?
Should just small gravel or media be used?
You weren't asking me, but as long as the hardness is similar, there shouldn't be an issue. I cull my first stage run all the time and simply top off with new material I want to tumble. At this stage, I won't waste grit on media or gravel.
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Post by gmitch067 on Apr 9, 2018 17:27:39 GMT -5
Thanks MsAli... I mainly do a "weed-n-feed"... adding new rough rocks as I remove ones that are ready to progress to 220-grit in a vibe tumbler. If you are tumbling soft in the coarse grit and plan to continue each stage in the rotary tumbler, then it IS probably a good idea to add ceramic media or gravel - like aquarium gravel instead of rough rocks.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 9, 2018 17:27:50 GMT -5
I have a crazy (maybe?) question. When doing a progress check during the initial grind, and it is determined that the rocks need to run in the first stage some more, is it necessary or helpful to clean everything out? I've just been checking the progress and adding more grit since I've already established my slurry. Just curious. I don't see a reason why you have to clean everything out if you're going to roll them further. Heck, even after I do a complete cleanout and rinse of everything, I add back in old dried slurry to jump start the slurry development. So, in a sense, we're sort of doing the same thing. However, I do complete cleanouts and rinses whenever I dump a barrel. It makes it easier to clean the ledge for the lid (Lortone), and I inspect every rock. I can't imagine not having the rocks rinsed in order to determine their progress/flaws/etc. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question, but I'm left wondering if you hand pick the rocks out of the barrel -- leaving the slurry -- and then rinsing them to look at them. Or, are you just dumping your barrel into a container, rinsing the rocks, and then pouring your slurry back into the barrel? I remove the rocks and clean them to check them, leaving everything else in the barrels. I am doing my rough grind ina thumler ar-2 and lortone qt6. Usually use an old toothbrush to clean the sealing groove on both before sealing back up.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 9, 2018 17:29:29 GMT -5
Good question! In the first stage, it is probably OK to just add more coarse grit to the slurry... just be aware that the slurry will get thicker as the added abraded material increases. Also be sure to add more rocks/media to bring the level in the rotary tumbler back to 75-80%. Ok maybe dumb questions, but when you add more rocks to bring the level back up
Is there a risk of those "new" rocks scratching or creating pits in the ones that have been tumbling?
Should just small gravel or media be used?
I don’t think there’s any problem at all with that. Most of us do that all the time. The whole point of the first stage is to scratch as much as possible to wear down the whole outside of the rock. If adding new material aids in that, no problem. Most rocks are not nearly as hard as silicon carbide, so they don’t scratch as much st the grit anyhow.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2018 17:32:28 GMT -5
Ok maybe dumb questions, but when you add more rocks to bring the level back up
Is there a risk of those "new" rocks scratching or creating pits in the ones that have been tumbling?
Should just small gravel or media be used?
You weren't asking me, but as long as the hardness is similar, there shouldn't be an issue. I cull my first stage run all the time and simply top off with new material I want to tumble. At this stage, I won't waste grit on media or gravel. Thank you-I can always count on you to help
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Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 9, 2018 17:32:37 GMT -5
I don't see a reason why you have to clean everything out if you're going to roll them further. Heck, even after I do a complete cleanout and rinse of everything, I add back in old dried slurry to jump start the slurry development. So, in a sense, we're sort of doing the same thing. However, I do complete cleanouts and rinses whenever I dump a barrel. It makes it easier to clean the ledge for the lid (Lortone), and I inspect every rock. I can't imagine not having the rocks rinsed in order to determine their progress/flaws/etc. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question, but I'm left wondering if you hand pick the rocks out of the barrel -- leaving the slurry -- and then rinsing them to look at them. Or, are you just dumping your barrel into a container, rinsing the rocks, and then pouring your slurry back into the barrel? I remove the rocks and clean them to check them, leaving everything else in the barrels. I am doing my rough grind ina thumler ar-2 and lortone qt6. Usually use an old toothbrush to clean the sealing groove on both before sealing back up. That should be fine. You might want to read this experiment by tkvancil where he tested just what you’re asking about.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2018 17:34:10 GMT -5
You all are very helpful
Now I have a new game plan to get though my stock
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2018 17:41:00 GMT -5
I remove the rocks and clean them to check them, leaving everything else in the barrels. I am doing my rough grind ina thumler ar-2 and lortone qt6. Usually use an old toothbrush to clean the sealing groove on both before sealing back up. That should be fine. You might want to read this experiment by tkvancil where he tested just what you’re asking about. THANK YOU!!
I wish the pictures were available
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Apr 9, 2018 17:50:06 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone that replied. That's the kind of info I needed. I kinda felt like working with the slurry that had been created would be beneficial, but wanted to hear from the pros.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 9, 2018 18:17:38 GMT -5
I have a crazy (maybe?) question. When doing a progress check during the initial grind, and it is determined that the rocks need to run in the first stage some more, is it necessary or helpful to clean everything out? I've just been checking the progress and adding more grit since I've already established my slurry. Just curious. Good question (not crazy) Are you talking about opening the barrel after 7 days and spot checking a few and then determining that they all need to run longer? In any one of my stage one barrels I will have some rocks that were just added last week as filler mixed in with some rocks that have been running 12 weeks. Spot checking will not allow me to pull out all of the rocks that are ready to move on to stage 2 each week. For that reason I practically never run a barrel more then one week without a full clean out. After doing this awhile and adding new rough every week you should eventually be removing a portion of rocks from stage one every week. I have a system in place that consistently allows my to pull 2-3 pounds of rocks out of stage one every week to keep my loto fed. I suppose if your only running something like a three pound barrel it is not as important but eventually you will have some rocks ready and some that are not. I do not run used slurry or thickeners into my stage one but if you are concerned about that it can be added back in from your clean out bucket when it settles to the bottom. Chuck
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