jthacker48
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2021
Posts: 3
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Post by jthacker48 on Apr 9, 2021 15:04:47 GMT -5
Im in Phoenix, AZ. A friend has given me about 600 lbs of MSI Ash River Rock sold at Home Deoot. I would like to polish these rocks to pull out the black for use in a French drain and landscaping. I'm hoping the hive can help keep me from spinning my wheels, money, and time with little to show for it.
1) Are these rocks capable of producing a polished black finish?..think of a zen garden. I read an article on rocktumbler.com where they discussed HD river rock tumbling. The pictures certainly looked like it might be the same product and the results were great. I just want to double check.
2) I don't own a tumbler so I'm considering using my small Harbor Freight cement mixer and taking the wings out of it. Is this stupid?
3) Is there a more cost effective method? I've got about 600 lbs total. Based on my estimates, I'm going to need at least 75 pounds of each of the various grits to achieve the results I'm after. Is it likely that a company in town has the ability to do large scale tumbling? Or any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance and I apologize for my naivety.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on Apr 9, 2021 15:29:04 GMT -5
Woah Nellie... Talking about jumping in with both feet in the deep end of the pool.... To start it seems that product is actually black quartz rock. As such the hardness would be moh's scale around 7. You would have to do cement mixer scale but I do not know how well they work as a tumbler as I am betting it would be too fast. Changing speed could be as simple as a pulley swap or much more difficult on direct drive models. Another idea is a homemade system using a 55gallon drum. Grit wise you are going to need more of first grit and less of following. Finally, I did find this.. www.instructables.com/Landscape-Rock-Tumbler/ but they are just cleaning not tumbling to a polish.
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 9, 2021 17:07:23 GMT -5
Yikes! I was driving into work today and was thinking about the harbor freight cement mixer and wondering if it would work as a tumbler? How very strange. So my short answer would be YES! But as standles stated SPEED KILLS! Your going to want to slow it down to 35 to 80 RPM max. Also bare in mind that most tumbles need to run for 10 weeks minimum. Course run is going to be 2 to 8 weeks, maybe more After that your looking at 2 weeks in medium, 2 weeks in fine, 2 weeks in prepolish, and 2 weeks in polish. If your looking for super perfect rocks with no chips or fracture, well not only are you going to have to run longer but you will need to figure out how to cushion the load in the later stages. Other than that it should be a pretty standard tumble lol
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Post by stonemon on Apr 9, 2021 17:32:01 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!
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jthacker48
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2021
Posts: 3
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Post by jthacker48 on Apr 9, 2021 18:34:40 GMT -5
Your going to want to slow it down to 35 to 80 RPM max. Here is a link to my mixer: www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.htmlI was pleasantly surprised to see that it runs at 35 rpm. That seems pretty ideal. As for the noise, I forgot to mention that I've got an insulated shopping container in the back yard. In addition, we so happen to be in the middle of a remodel so I've got several packages of insulation I can surround it with to reduce sound further. Based on what I'm hearing, I think I'll do an initial test run and see how it works before ordering a dump truck full of grit. Keep the suggestions and comments coming though. Really appreciate it.
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irlcjrohr
starting to spend too much on rocks
If it does not melt, polish it.
Member since April 2020
Posts: 123
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Post by irlcjrohr on Apr 9, 2021 20:07:37 GMT -5
jthacker48 , that is an impressive idea. Way to think out side the barrel! - 1-1/4 Cubic Ft. capacity and open at the top will dry out faster.
- A Lortone 3lb barrel is 49.73 cubic inches = 0.0287 cubic ft. So the mixer is 43.56 the capacity of a 3 lb barrel. (inside 4-1/8" deep x 3-7/8" dia. )
- I use 3 tablespoons of grit for stage one tumble, 130.6 tablespoons or 8.1 cups for the mixer if it scales 1 to 1.
I would be interested in the dimensions of a 12 lb barrel and the amount of grit people use. That might be more of an indicator.
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 10, 2021 6:57:54 GMT -5
I will get you the inside dimensions (aprox as it is a multi sided barrel) later today when I do a clean out. I probably use less grit than I should as I'm only adding 9 tablespoons per load. It will be after lunch as I got my shot this AM and then lunch.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Apr 11, 2021 7:15:09 GMT -5
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 11, 2021 8:27:45 GMT -5
THumlers 12 Lb barrel is 5 and 3/4" diameter and 7 and 3/8 inches high (inside dimensions)
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 11, 2021 8:51:28 GMT -5
I'm gonna guess it's for one of two reasons: 1. His friend already gave him the river rock, so no need to go buy any... and probably more importantly: 2. Sometime you just gotta do a "Hey, y'all watch this!" kinda thing just to see if you can. LOL jthacker48 - I'll be curious to see (if you can post pics) and read about the results! My father in law keeps telling me I should bring over some of the large prairie agates I find and put them in his cement mixer. So, I'm definitely curious.
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irlcjrohr
starting to spend too much on rocks
If it does not melt, polish it.
Member since April 2020
Posts: 123
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Post by irlcjrohr on Apr 11, 2021 9:13:19 GMT -5
THumlers 12 Lb barrel is 5 and 3/4" diameter and 7 and 3/8 inches high (inside dimensions) 5 and 3/4" diameter and 7 and 3/8 inches high is 191.5 cubic inches or .1108 cubic feet The mixer is 11.28 times the volume of the 12 lb barrel. 9 tablespoons for the barrel would be 101.5 for the mixer or 6.35 cups.
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Post by greig on Apr 11, 2021 18:14:27 GMT -5
I heard years ago about somebody who used an old truck tire on a rim. He used it for stage 1 & 2 and then moved the rocks to something smaller to pre polish and polish. No reason a cement mixer wouldn't work in the same fashion. I think I would try to use sand blasting grit which can be bought pretty cheap in 50 lb bags. It's not perfect grit for tumbling, ,but no point trying to finesse it.
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jthacker48
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2021
Posts: 3
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Post by jthacker48 on Apr 12, 2021 8:23:18 GMT -5
I'm confused. Are you saying that you want to tumble a bunch of black quartz rocks to dump in your french drain? If so, why? They should already be shiny from the water in the french drain. Seems like a ton of work for not much payback. Like I said, I'm confused. You can buy tons of polished black landscape rocks from Lowes for about a dollar a pound. Here is the link. ] It's a French drain that is highly visible between my pool and backdoor. I also plan to use them in various landscaping projects. As for polished rocks at Lowe's, it would be a cost of $800 to get the equivalent amount I've got on hand currently. I assume I'll come out ahead (possibly) at the end of the day.
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 12, 2021 18:10:51 GMT -5
No you won't if you factor in grits and polish, cement mixer and modifications, time (we are talking a minimum if all goes perfect of 4 weeks, probably more like 10 or 12), electricity (yea that motor is gonna spin the ole meter pretty fast!) and any potential repairs that need to be done. I would still do it as how cool would it be!
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Apr 13, 2021 20:00:12 GMT -5
My hubby has mentioned trying a cement mixer for some of our big river rocks. I think it is a gas that you are going to try it. Let us know how it works, good or bad!! Fingers crossed!!
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Post by paulshiroma on Apr 13, 2021 23:38:23 GMT -5
My hubby has mentioned trying a cement mixer for some of our big river rocks. I think it is a gas that you are going to try it. Let us know how it works, good or bad!! Fingers crossed!! I definitely second these comments. Let us know how this goes and take pics along the way.
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