ncboxorox
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2021
Posts: 62
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Post by ncboxorox on Oct 23, 2021 15:18:31 GMT -5
So I currently have a batch of agates and jaspers, some pieces were large but still small enough to tumble with ease, and everything is of similar hardness. The issue I am running into is at the end of a 7 day tumbling cycle my grit is depleted and my slurry is smooth, but my rocks look almost identical barely any material worn away. It is currently in its 8th week in coarse grit. Could my barrels be the issue? I am using harbor freight rotary tumblers so they are standard 3lb barrels with smooth interior walls. Would a barrel with flat interior walls make a noticeable difference? I assume it would since it only aids in tumbling the stones. I am using the tried and true recipe. The barrel is not over filled, I usually keep it at about 3/4 full with material and media, water comes to the bottom of the rocks on top, and I am using 4 tablespoons of 60/90 per pound of rock. Shouldn’t my material be getting somewhat smaller?! Especially after 8 weeks in the first step!!….or am I just that impatient
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Post by perkins17 on Oct 23, 2021 15:42:14 GMT -5
My Lortone 3lb barrels have small ridges. In my experience, rocks of that hardness will only get slightly smoother. Are the barrels overloaded?
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Post by knave on Oct 23, 2021 15:49:48 GMT -5
Try a few less rocks, and you can weigh them also to prove that work is being done.
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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 23, 2021 16:04:40 GMT -5
I am using 4 tablespoons of 60/90 per pound of rock. Hold up. 4 tbsp/lb? So for a 3lb barrel you're putting something like 12 tbsp of grit in? If that's the case your rocks may be swimming in grit rather than tumbling against each other. 3/4 rock fill with 3/4 cup of grit in a 3 lb barrel doesn't leave much room for rocks to tumble. You said the grit was spent though. Does this mean you don't feel any grit in the slurry between your fingers when you rub them together?
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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 23, 2021 16:33:50 GMT -5
In my 6 lb. barrels, I only use 7-8 tablespoons. 12 tablespoons seems like way too much grit for a 3 lb. barrel. I mainly tumble agates, quartz, jaspers
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ncboxorox
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2021
Posts: 62
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Post by ncboxorox on Oct 23, 2021 16:37:28 GMT -5
I am using 4 tablespoons of 60/90 per pound of rock. Hold up. 4 tbsp/lb? So for a 3lb barrel you're putting something like 12 tbsp of grit in? If that's the case your rocks may be swimming in grit rather than tumbling against each other. 3/4 rock fill with 3/4 cup of grit in a 3 lb barrel doesn't leave much room for rocks to tumble. You said the grit was spent though. Does this mean you don't feel any grit in the slurry between your fingers when you rub them together? Well 3lb total. including water, grit, media, and material. I measure out the grit based on the amount of actual rock material in the barrel and since it was just a little over a pound of rock material when I started I only put 4 tbsp of grit in there for each tumbling cycle. And yeah there is no remaining grit in the slurry. Smooth as a melted ice cream. Maybe I am not using enough grit?
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ncboxorox
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2021
Posts: 62
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Post by ncboxorox on Oct 23, 2021 16:38:30 GMT -5
Try a few less rocks, and you can weigh them also to prove that work is being done. that was my next plan of action if this week shows no improvement.
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ncboxorox
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2021
Posts: 62
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Post by ncboxorox on Oct 23, 2021 16:39:27 GMT -5
My Lortone 3lb barrels have small ridges. In my experience, rocks of that hardness will only get slightly smoother. Are the barrels overloaded? I don’t think so. It’s only 3/4 full and mostly media
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Post by knave on Oct 23, 2021 17:47:06 GMT -5
Mohs 7 rocks are slow to grind for sure
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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 Oct 24, 2021 4:44:03 GMT -5
Try using Much Less water for aggressive grinding. I add water only to 1/4 the level of the rocks
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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 Oct 24, 2021 18:00:20 GMT -5
You need the weight of the rocks working against each other When they are all floating in the water there is only half the grinding force Plus the rocks will coat themselves in grit for when the grinding is going on
Less Water Faster Grinding
The slurry needs to be about the thickness of Cornbread Batter after about a week of rolling
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