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 17, 2021 16:41:14 GMT -5
Well today is clean out number 2. I will post pictures. I hope I see progress.
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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 18, 2021 0:10:35 GMT -5
Clean out #2 sucked. I didn't take any pictures, I didn't want to embarrass myself. Maybe next week. Sorry for the let down but I want great quality. Good news is my Lot-o tumbler is on it's way. Can't wait.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Mar 18, 2021 7:43:40 GMT -5
I’ve been keeping track of the weight of the rocks to get a better sense of how much shaping is going on. Even if it looks like little is happening, it can be surprising to see how much weight they lose in the first stage. They seem to lose, on average, about 4-6% of their weight each week in coarse grit.
Edit to add: that was a roundabout way of saying it may not look like much has happened, but the rocks are probably still doing a good amount of shaping.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 18, 2021 9:55:37 GMT -5
- Good Luck - Mistakes are made so you become stronger
I am doing a cleanout today where I should see the final polish on some rocks I brought back from Yuma Arizona. They have been rolling since the first day of the year.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 18, 2021 10:26:35 GMT -5
- Good Luck - Mistakes are made so you become strongerI am doing a cleanout today where I should see the final polish on some rocks I brought back from Yuma Arizona. They have been rolling since the first day of the year. If that's the case, than I oughta be able to whoop Hercules's butt at this point! LOL
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 18, 2021 13:51:10 GMT -5
It happens!
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Post by miket on Mar 18, 2021 14:06:28 GMT -5
Seriously, it can take quite a while. I have stones that have been tumbling for anywhere between a week and over a year in my 33b and qt66. I tumble pretty much only agates and jaspers that I collect and they run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If I didn't cab my poor vibe tumbler would die of boredom! They'll get there.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2021 12:28:53 GMT -5
Patience is not easy to come by! It really has to be learned. Your expectations will be real high, but the "quick" results will let you down. Yes a Vibe will help to some extent, but learning to be patient will assure your success!
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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 19, 2021 12:40:08 GMT -5
I was expecting a better batch but it seemed like more flaws showed up. There were more holes than on a golf course in most of the rocks. Some were close and I pulled a few pebbles but they were fractured. It is not that I can't wait, I can, it was the condition of the rocks. The rocks will mostly be ground down to nothing because of the holes.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2021 13:41:28 GMT -5
It is difficult to judge what the rocks are going to do once they start bashing into each other! The key is to try to select rough that is problem free from the start (no easy task with online purchases, a bit easier for in person and self collected material). Strongly pitted or fractured material is never going to fix itself in the tumbler. You either learn to live with it, or give up on it. Sometimes a long course run will work out some of the problem areas, but as the saying goes: garbage in- garbage out. Practice will allow you to spot problems before they happen. I usually take my trim saw to areas that are looking troublesome. In some cases a rock hammer and chisel. If it is real junk it ends up in the driveway.
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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 19, 2021 15:17:02 GMT -5
It is difficult to judge what the rocks are going to do once they start bashing into each other! The key is to try to select rough that is problem free from the start (no easy task with online purchases, a bit easier for in person and self collected material). Strongly pitted or fractured material is never going to fix itself in the tumbler. You either learn to live with it, or give up on it. Sometimes a long course run will work out some of the problem areas, but as the saying goes: garbage in- garbage out. Practice will allow you to spot problems before they happen. I usually take my trim saw to areas that are looking troublesome. In some cases a rock hammer and chisel. If it is real junk it ends up in the driveway. Thing is, it didn't look like junk going in, but now there are big holes on some of them. My crazy lace is fractured all to hell, my bots will take forever, my mossy looks okay. None of it is something to be proud of at this moment. Maybe my expectations are too high and maybe I might be rushing it mentally. Call me crazy but I think the sound of a running tumbler soothing and relaxing. I guess it is the rythm, so I don't think I am trying to rush things.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2021 15:58:13 GMT -5
Crazy Lace can be a troublesome tumble even at the best of times. I usually try cutting it at least it to see how solid it is. I have had some great solid material that fell apart in course. When it does work it is so worth the effort. Bits are boys and take forever (my last batch of boys ran in course for 16 weeks!) but the results are going to be stunning I'm sure. Mossy can also give you headaches if it is real fractured. When it is solid it is amazing! As for looking like junk, I hope you don't think I was implying your stuff was junk. Sometimes the rocks hide all their flaws just waiting to surprise you. Sounds like they gave you that nasty surprise. As punishment I suggest you put them in course grind for another week!
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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 19, 2021 16:20:37 GMT -5
I did put them in course again. I used 60/90 vs 80 grit this time and removed some of the ceramic material to add to the tumble space. Hoping that would do something. I'm prepared to go 3 or more months tumbling. My Lot-o comes tomorrow and I am excited. I had my fingers crossed that I find one and have it here. I paid less than $300 before taxes and shipping about $320 overall. I will share the link. rocktumbler.com/lot-o-tumbler/
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