p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 22, 2018 16:00:14 GMT -5
Being new to this hobby I have found myself diving in feet first and buying all kinds of stuff before my first batch even comes out of the tumbler! Is there a cure for this or what?
I just ordered a Lot-O Tumbler from Rock Shed so I can do the finishing stages while my Model B is churning another batch of rough. I'm too impatient to wait a week or more for each stage of the finishing process but that impatience wasn't cheap! I'm excited to get it as I have 10# of Bahia Agate, extra grit and ceramics with it and I'm already contemplating what I'd like to tumble next!
My first batch has been in the course grit for 5 days now and I know I made a mistake in combining different kinds of rock together for that batch. After the second day in the tumbler I realized I had mixed in 2 pounds of sodalite instead of the other harder agate I was planning to use. I thought; "no problem, I'll just check it and take it out early." Well, I opened the tumbler yesterday (after 4 days) and poured all the rock into a strainer and rinsed it. I was shocked to see that my volume of rock was almost 1/3 of what I started with! Is this normal?
Many of the rocks I had rock hounded while on a hiking trip were just gone so I definitely need to do a better job of identifying what I have and not mixing rock. The Sodalite was well rounded but it was dramatically reduced in size so I kept that out for the finishing stages. Put the other agate I had in the tumbler, added some ceramic media to bring the volume above half (because I didn't have any more rock) and added more course grit and it's off and running again.
So from just this short experience, I've learned as a beginner it's probably best to stick with one type of rock until I learn what I can combine. I've also learned that I probably need stop buying grit packs and buy more bulk especially if I run the same stage multiple times. I've also learned that shipping is not cheap for bulk rock so I need to find other sources locally and/or take more rock hounding trips.
I saw some photo's in other threads where people are running 4-6 large (model B size) thumblers at a time, how in the world do you get enough rock for this many tumblers? I have hard enough time filling just one!
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Post by MsAli on Oct 22, 2018 16:15:16 GMT -5
Being new to this hobby I have found myself diving in feet first and buying all kinds of stuff before my first batch even comes out of the tumbler! Is there a cure for this or what?
I just ordered a Lot-O Tumbler from Rock Shed so I can do the finishing stages while my Model B is churning another batch of rough. I'm too impatient to wait a week or more for each stage of the finishing process but that impatience wasn't cheap! I'm excited to get it as I have 10# of Bahia Agate, extra grit and ceramics with it and I'm already contemplating what I'd like to tumble next!
My first batch has been in the course grit for 5 days now and I know I made a mistake in combining different kinds of rock together for that batch. After the second day in the tumbler I realized I had mixed in 2 pounds of sodalite instead of the other harder agate I was planning to use. I thought; "no problem, I'll just check it and take it out early." Well, I opened the tumbler yesterday (after 4 days) and poured all the rock into a strainer and rinsed it. I was shocked to see that my volume of rock was almost 1/3 of what I started with! Is this normal?
Many of the rocks I had rock hounded while on a hiking trip were just gone so I definitely need to do a better job of identifying what I have and not mixing rock. The Sodalite was well rounded but it was dramatically reduced in size so I kept that out for the finishing stages. Put the other agate I had in the tumbler, added some ceramic media to bring the volume above half (because I didn't have any more rock) and added more course grit and it's off and running again.
So from just this short experience, I've learned as a beginner it's probably best to stick with one type of rock until I learn what I can combine. I've also learned that I probably need stop buying grit packs and buy more bulk especially if I run the same stage multiple times. I've also learned that shipping is not cheap for bulk rock so I need to find other sources locally and/or take more rock hounding trips.
I saw some photo's in other threads where people are running 4-6 large (model B size) thumblers at a time, how in the world do you get enough rock for this many tumblers? I have hard enough time filling just one!
1) There is NO cure-sorry 2) Need to have a NO MORE BUYING self-imposed restrictions! Or a monthly budget 3) Buy BULK grit, especially your coarse. 4) Normal to have volume loss and very important to check your MOHS before you combine 5) ROCKHOUNDING IS FUN! & sometimes way more rewarding than buying & in itself can be profitable, especially if you have stuff in your area others don't have & want. 6) & in answer to your last question-see your 1st question. We all have a disease
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Post by aDave on Oct 22, 2018 16:49:37 GMT -5
4) Normal to have volume loss and very important to check your MOHS before you combine p40whk ,this is probably most important when you are running mixed batches, especially with unknown rocks. IF you are buying your rough online, some vendors will list the hardness in the product description. You can run different types of rocks together without issue, as long as they are close on the hardness scale. I seem to recall reading somewhere to tumble rocks where Mohs scale difference is no greater than one point between all of your material to be tumbled together. Not sure where I read that, but it seems like it could be a good guide to go with. Agates and jaspers tend to run anywhere from 6.5 to 8 (7-7.5 seems to be the most common numbers IMHO) on the Mohs scale, and it's not really a big deal to run them together. When you start dropping below 6 (sodalite is about 5.5-6 on the scale), you will see what you noted...the softer stuff disappearing at a much faster rate. Also, softer rocks may have to be run a bit differently in the latter stages than harder stuff, and the softer stuff can be more difficult to put on a good polish. Do a Google search about the Mohs scale and how to test rocks. You can test with common items, or you can go out (spend MORE $$$ ) and buy a commercial kit, if you are so inclined.
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 22, 2018 17:08:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I'm familiar with the Mohs scale but I had so many different types of rock in front of me I neglected to pay attention to what I was loading. I should probably make some sort of wall chart (or buy one somewhere) that has a breakdown of the different rock properties.
Edit: Maybe someone could recommend a good starter book or reference guide?
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Post by Pat on Oct 22, 2018 17:20:28 GMT -5
I’m sorry. There is no cure.
Not a tumbler, but many pros here.
Welcome 👍🏻
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Post by grumpybill on Oct 22, 2018 19:29:57 GMT -5
I check stones by rubbing them on a mill file. Stone doesn't show scratches, it goes in the tumbler. If it scratches, it either gets thrown in the garden or set aside for special treatment.
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lancemountain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 214
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Post by lancemountain on Oct 22, 2018 20:19:55 GMT -5
It's going to get worse hah. You'll end up with 60 pounds of rough before you know it.
I always stick to one kind of rock at a time personally
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Post by MsAli on Oct 22, 2018 20:47:29 GMT -5
It's going to get worse hah. You'll end up with 60 pounds of rough before you know it. I always stick to one kind of rock at a time personally that's the truth!
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joyb
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2018
Posts: 9
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Post by joyb on Oct 22, 2018 22:39:14 GMT -5
I'm new to this too and this is the best place to get expert advice!
I've become an addict overnight and afraid everyone is right about there being no cure....but there's worse things we can be addicted to....right? I don't buy rock I pick it up in creeks, rivers, mountains, well, pretty much everywhere!
I went to Rock Shed and got a package deal of 5lb of each of the 4 stages of media (total 20lbs for $64) for a vibratory tumbler and they use a lg flat rate shipping box for $18 to ship all. The only thing it's missing is pellets, but I already had those. Also bought Borax at a Dollar General for the burnishing stage, that was cheap enough!
Have fun & welcome!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 23, 2018 3:38:48 GMT -5
The only way I could deal with my impatience was to buy more tumblers, so that I had a barrel I could open and play with every weekend. I would often have 5-6 rotary barrels going at any one time. But I built up to that. Lortone 6 and 12 lb mostly. Finally got the 40 lb. Everything gets finished in the Lot-O-Tumbler, with the rare exception of when something is too big to fit. Enjoy! Can't wait to see your photos. Welcome to the group!
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 23, 2018 5:40:39 GMT -5
It was either buy the Lot-O-Tumbler or a smaller two barrel Lortone Tumbler since my volume is low just starting out. I figured I'll just have to buy/find more rock for the Model-B instead of getting the smaller Lortone as it was more beneficial to have a higher quality finishing tumbler. I'm hoping that was the right decision.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 24, 2018 12:35:29 GMT -5
It was either buy the Lot-O-Tumbler or a smaller two barrel Lortone Tumbler since my volume is low just starting out. I figured I'll just have to buy/find more rock for the Model-B instead of getting the smaller Lortone as it was more beneficial to have a higher quality finishing tumbler. I'm hoping that was the right decision. I think that was a good choice, although it means you'll have a learning curve for both kinds of tumblers at the same time. But stick with it, ask questions of the forum, and we'll see you through. Read old threads about the Lot-O-Tumbler and you'll find lots of newbie questions and good answers. Prepping some filler media would be a good way to fill up your loads - I use large-size mainly-quartz aquarium gravel. You can find nice big bags of it at Petco. Lots of the stones are already round. Weed out the junky stuff and polish up the good stuff. (The jaspery bits will round up a bit and polish as well, but start with the nice round quartz pebbles for faster gratification). That's the filler I use to get a high shine in the Lot-O. Also, if there is a beach or a river near you where you can pick up quartzy rocks to work with, they are some of my favorite tumbles anyway, and can give you practice before you drop a wad on pricey rough. And don't be afraid to throw whatever you find there into the tumbler. If it doesn't work, no harm done. (Until you get to the polish stage - then a rock that's still rough/brittle can sabotage your batch - but you'll figure all this out.) Have fun! :-D
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 24, 2018 13:38:45 GMT -5
Prepping some filler media would be a good way to fill up your loads - I use large-size mainly-quartz aquarium gravel. You can find nice big bags of it at Petco. Lots of the stones are already round. Weed out the junky stuff and polish up the good stuff. (The jaspery bits will round up a bit and polish as well, but start with the nice round quartz pebbles for faster gratification). That's the filler I use to get a high shine in the Lot-O. Also, if there is a beach or a river near you where you can pick up quartzy rocks to work with, they are some of my favorite tumbles anyway, and can give you practice before you drop a wad on pricey rough. And don't be afraid to throw whatever you find there into the tumbler. If it doesn't work, no harm done. (Until you get to the polish stage - then a rock that's still rough/brittle can sabotage your batch - but you'll figure all this out.) Have fun! :-D I never considered using aquarium gravel as filler material. That's a great idea!
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 24, 2018 15:39:36 GMT -5
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Post by johnw on Oct 24, 2018 16:26:31 GMT -5
Being new to this hobby I have found myself diving in feet first and buying all kinds of stuff before my first batch even comes out of the tumbler! Is there a cure for this or what?
I just ordered a Lot-O Tumbler from Rock Shed so I can do the finishing stages while my Model B is churning another batch of rough. I'm too impatient to wait a week or more for each stage of the finishing process but that impatience wasn't cheap! I'm excited to get it as I have 10# of Bahia Agate, extra grit and ceramics with it and I'm already contemplating what I'd like to tumble next!
My first batch has been in the course grit for 5 days now and I know I made a mistake in combining different kinds of rock together for that batch. After the second day in the tumbler I realized I had mixed in 2 pounds of sodalite instead of the other harder agate I was planning to use. I thought; "no problem, I'll just check it and take it out early." Well, I opened the tumbler yesterday (after 4 days) and poured all the rock into a strainer and rinsed it. I was shocked to see that my volume of rock was almost 1/3 of what I started with! Is this normal?
Many of the rocks I had rock hounded while on a hiking trip were just gone so I definitely need to do a better job of identifying what I have and not mixing rock. The Sodalite was well rounded but it was dramatically reduced in size so I kept that out for the finishing stages. Put the other agate I had in the tumbler, added some ceramic media to bring the volume above half (because I didn't have any more rock) and added more course grit and it's off and running again.
So from just this short experience, I've learned as a beginner it's probably best to stick with one type of rock until I learn what I can combine. I've also learned that I probably need stop buying grit packs and buy more bulk especially if I run the same stage multiple times. I've also learned that shipping is not cheap for bulk rock so I need to find other sources locally and/or take more rock hounding trips.
I saw some photo's in other threads where people are running 4-6 large (model B size) thumblers at a time, how in the world do you get enough rock for this many tumblers? I have hard enough time filling just one!
p40whk, Welcome, and be advised there is absolutely no cure for what you have, it's a habit that will not go away but on this site we are all afflicted, so we can help you. I understand well your concept of jumping in and getting all kinds of stuff, I did exactly the same. From my perspective it's all in the excitement of the chase both for different rocks and the various pieces of gear, but as time goes by it all kinda settles and you start to focus on a few specific rock types and tumblers. For my preference I am partial to Bahia agates since they really tumble well, as do Crazy Lace agates and these two types can be mixed without any issues. Anyway being here you are in good company and remember we have all at some point in time been where you are now. BTW your comment " saw some photo's in other threads where people are running 4-6 large (model B size) thumblers at a time, how in the world do you get enough rock for this many tumblers I have hard enough time filling just one!" is appropriate. I have just transitioned from a Lot-O thru a Covington twin six quart tumbler to a Thumler Model B and UV18 to a Diamond Pacific 65T and am running a load of 130 pounds of Bahia's and Mex Lace at a time. Addicted, naw, nuts, well maybe, but then again, I am retired and this is my hobby, so who cares? ....................... Happy tumbling. Cheers, johnw
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