plankspanker
starting to shine!
Member since October 2021
Posts: 31
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Post by plankspanker on Oct 13, 2021 10:54:47 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I'm new to rock tumbling, and i'm wondering if it's possible to be running all four grit stages simultaneously using two double drum tumblers. I'm hoping to be able to start one batch of stones with the coarse stage, then move it to the medium grit in the second drum while starting a second batch with the coarse grit, and then moving the first batch from the medium grit into the first drum of the second double drum tumbler with the fine grit, and so on like that to where i end up running all four of the grit stages. I hope this makes sense and is possible. I'm trying to figure out if this is a good way to keep batches moving along and at the same time being able to use each of the four drums as a dedicated drum for one grit to avoid grit contamination. Many thanks for any advice here.
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Post by Rockindad on Oct 13, 2021 11:18:17 GMT -5
Sure, many of us do this or something very similar. For the best results though- instead of moving entire batches a step at a time, let your rocks spend as long as they need in the first stage, pull individual rocks when they are ready to advance, wait until you have enough to start a batch in the next stage. This will be dictated on your desired results. What shape are you going for? What kind of flaws can you live with? Once you are past the first stage the stones in a load will typically be moved on together barring breakage, etc.
So much has been written about this on the board, spend some time here and it will become very clear. Also check out the Rock Tumbling Photos section. Look at the various threads. You will see some are just trying to pretty the rocks up a bit and some are going for perfection. It's all up to you.
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plankspanker
starting to shine!
Member since October 2021
Posts: 31
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Post by plankspanker on Oct 13, 2021 16:57:08 GMT -5
Thanks very much Rockindad, for your insightful help and advice on this. I went ahead and ordered the Lortone 33B double drum tumbler and two extra drums today. I am blessed with being able to get up to the lake superior beaches regularly where many types of stones and agates are plentiful, as well as glacial float copper, so this should be quite the new adventure.
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RedWingTumbler
having dreams about rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 65
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Post by RedWingTumbler on Oct 13, 2021 17:26:53 GMT -5
I have four drums, but have given up on trying to keep batches together. Things move much faster for me if I have all four drums tumbling coarse, with rocks of the same type. This allows me to get enough rocks ready for stage 2 four times faster than if I only had one drum with coarse. Once I have enough rocks to fill a barrel for stage 2, I will use one barrel to go from stage 2 through 4 (or 5, if I decide to add a 1000 grit stage), with the other three still running coarse.
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Oct 13, 2021 17:41:19 GMT -5
Echoing similar sentiments. So much more time is spent in coarse than the other stages. Pretty much have coarse running all the time, picking out stones that are ready to move forward during the weekly cleanouts. Then put them in for stage 2 once enough is stockpiled for stage 2 and a barrel is, or can be made, available.
A lot of people use a vibe for finishing and their rotary tumblers are almost exclusively running coarse.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Oct 13, 2021 19:21:17 GMT -5
Echoing similar sentiments. So much more time is spent in coarse than the other stages. Pretty much have coarse running all the time, picking out stones that are ready to move forward during the weekly cleanouts. Then put them in for stage 2 once enough is stockpiled for stage 2 and a barrel is, or can be made, available. A lot of people use a vibe for finishing and their rotary tumblers are almost exclusively running coarse. This is exactly what i ended up doing. Started with a lortone 45c and got tired of waiting for enough material to come out of the coarse stage. Bought a lortone qt66 and used the 2 6 lb. barrels for coarse the 45c for everything else. Eventually bought a Lot-o vibe and use the 45c and qt66 for coarse and finish everything in the vibe. This really sped everything up but this was also acquired over a couple years
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lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
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Post by lparsons on Oct 13, 2021 22:33:14 GMT -5
plankspanker, I’m so jealous! 🤣🤣🤣 I wish I lived near a natural source of tumbling materials. I hope you will share pics of your results, so I can at least get a second hand thrill.🤣
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plankspanker
starting to shine!
Member since October 2021
Posts: 31
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Post by plankspanker on Oct 14, 2021 11:28:15 GMT -5
plankspanker , I’m so jealous! 🤣🤣🤣 I wish I lived near a natural source of tumbling materials. I hope you will share pics of your results, so I can at least get a second hand thrill.🤣 Hi lparsons, your response really puts it all in perspective, i appreciate the reminder to never take it for granted. I've been very fortunate to obtain float copper and agates from up there.
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Post by Starguy on Oct 14, 2021 14:31:13 GMT -5
plankspankerYou’re lucky to have a good source of LSAs. I love those things. I am currently running a 12 lb Lortone and a Lortone 33B. The 12 pounder runs nothing but coarse. I’m trying to work up enough stage 2 rocks to run both of the smaller barrels concurrently. I could really use another 12 pounder.
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plankspanker
starting to shine!
Member since October 2021
Posts: 31
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Post by plankspanker on Oct 27, 2021 6:39:42 GMT -5
Thanks very much everyone for all the great input, it will be a huge help to say the least!
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