USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 8, 2021 20:16:13 GMT -5
Wednesday is my first clean out. It is like waiting for Christmas morning as a child. An observation that I have in week one, is that the tumbling gets louder as the week progresses. I don't know if it is because the stones got smaller or I'm just anxious to open them up.
What should I look for? My grinder will probably be here tomorrow so any major spots will have to wait. I think I have time to get a lot o tumbler for the polishing. I don't think these will be ready for a few weeks yet.
My expectations are high. I look for perfection coming from my history in the Marines, can't have nothing less.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 9, 2021 20:03:12 GMT -5
Semper Fi! and thank you for your service! Now please do not expect perfection after only one week. Most of my course grinds take me 6 weeks minimum (I have 1 barrel that runs nothing but course and gets checked every other week and I pull the ones that are ready and reload and keep it going!) What you want to look for is chips, cracks, pits, or other problem areas. I have a small rock hammer that I use to try to "test" weak areas, I would rather a crack split while I'm working course grind, than wait until polish to let go. Save the ones that are to your liking (remember the course grind does most of the work- the remaining stages are mostly removing the scratches from the previous stage.) If your not happy with the rock- run it some more. I usually keep a container with rocks that are ready to move on and everything else goes back into course. Once I have enough saved them I start the medium grind. Most of my batches start to finish (I only rotary tumble) take about 14 to 16 weeks! Patience will be your friend!
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 9, 2021 20:15:26 GMT -5
I don't expect perfection in 1 week, just the end result. It bothers me when I watch a YouTube video and they rush stage 1.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 9, 2021 23:53:02 GMT -5
I got less than 24 hours until I do my first clean out. I will share some pictures of some of the rocks as I inspect them sorry, no before shots.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 10, 2021 12:42:16 GMT -5
Today is day 7 of my tumble. Should I wait until about the time I started the tumble or can I clean out a little early. Advice please
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Post by aDave on Mar 10, 2021 12:56:49 GMT -5
Today is day 7 of my tumble. Should I wait until about the time I started the tumble or can I clean out a little early. Advice please You're good to do it now. In all reality, any effective grinding/shaping had already occurred within the first few days of your run. Some will even do cleanouts at around day 5 or so, just so they can add fresh grit to replace the well-worn grit. If you open up your barrel, and all the grit is gone, you may want to adjust your cleanout schedule and do it earlier. As you noted, change in the sound of the tumble may be one of your biggest indicators that you can do a cleanout. With all of the grit gone, there is nothing between and on the surfaces of the rocks. So, you might hear more of a clacking sound. This is opposed to when you start a run with fresh grit. That grit, since it's coating the surfaces of the rocks, kind of keeps direct contact from happening because it's not ground down yet. And, size reduction comes into play a bit as well as there is more room for the material to fall.
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Post by greig on Mar 10, 2021 12:59:31 GMT -5
My two cents. Take a peek. Open the tumbler and take out a few rocks to see if you are happy. If you are not happy and think they need longer, then put them back in, clean up the rim and button it up for tumbling for longer. ie. let the rocks tell you when they are done. There is nothing special about 7 days, other than that is a good average. Softer rocks require less time and harder unshaped rocks take longer. Improvise and overcome.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 10, 2021 14:39:40 GMT -5
Very informative, maybe I will determine my clean outs based off the sound. When it gets loud I'll "take a peek".
When I opened my first barrel it was real foamy, but easy to clean up. Maybe that is an indication that the grit ran out, I don't know.
I am using 6 tablespoons of 80 grit for a 6 lbs barrel, maybe that is too little or too much, but from what I have seen on YouTube it is about a tablespoon per pound. Maybe I could use a courser grit but I don't have any. I am also using ceramics in the tumble, I got a feeling I am over filling my barrel but by the looks of the stones they seem to be progressing well, just slow.
I opened my Mossy Green Agate and broke what I knew would be a headache later, thanks for that tip Rob. I still have my Mexican lace agate and Botswana Agate to clean out. So far so good.
I am posting pictures in the photo section, but not of all the rocks, that would take too long.
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