Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 13, 2022 23:23:09 GMT -5
I have this thing about not leaving appliances running when not at home. Yes, I know the refrigerator and other household appliances fall in that category, but I'm referring to things with moving parts, such as a tumbler. IF I were to turn off the ROTARY tumbler mid-tumble, would the slurry harden and permanently ruin the slurry and rocks if not restarted after X numbers of days? I know vibratory tumblers are higher maintenance so leaving unattended for days isn't an option.
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Post by rmf on Apr 14, 2022 3:25:16 GMT -5
Not tumbling for a couple of days in a loaded rotary should not be a problem. The issue with a vib is getting the water level adjusted back due to evaporation.
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Post by greig on Apr 14, 2022 7:41:09 GMT -5
Like anything, it depends: how long you have been running, type of rock, stage, how long offline, etc. A soft rock, early stage grit and the longer you have been doing the tumble will all make a thicker slurry and something that may settle and harden faster. If you are going to turn it off, you are better off to do a quick clean out and restart later with new grit.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 16, 2022 9:30:36 GMT -5
I have literally (AND I MEAN LITERALLY) left barrels sitting sealed up with rocks and slurry for a year! No issues with starting them up again. And for those that have to ask: I had a belt break on a tumbler. Took me a couple weeks to getting around to reordering and then, we'll too long to replace the belt. Yeah that load sat for a year before restarting.
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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 Apr 16, 2022 15:59:10 GMT -5
Just observing from the clean out buckets. You start with this soupy slurry. Even with water over everything, the particles start settling out, squeezing the water out as they settle. At some point you end up with a thick soft serve down at the bottom. With more time you end up with a plastic-like clay that you can break off from the bottom. More time and it settles into a harder, less plastic-like clay. Break those in half and they appear dry inside, even with water still over the top.
I'd imagine that any settling or cementing of your rocks wouldn't be something your tumbler couldn't have mixed back up and suspended in a short period of time. Maybe a few minutes.
The slurry packing I'm describing is something that takes days or weeks from a coarse grind washout. AO 500+ may not even be an issue. So shutting them down over night or a few hours is probably not a problem at all.
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 16, 2022 18:42:40 GMT -5
rmf Yes, I've read vibs require more attention and since I work it's not an option at this time to use one. I can see having one when I retire and would like to try one due to them being more efficient!
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
|
Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 16, 2022 18:44:14 GMT -5
greig Appreciate the feedback! 👍🏻
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
|
Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 16, 2022 18:49:33 GMT -5
stefan Interesting! Was this a rotary or vib tumble? I gather vibs have less water when tumbling hence needing replenished due to quicker tumbling/thickening of the slurry. Thicker slurry = hardening quicker than rotary slurry. Just a guess from my reading. Have never tumbled, but just got my media from Rockshed today!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Apr 17, 2022 9:40:47 GMT -5
rotary. I just cleaned out the batch today and zero issues. As long as the water does not evaporate it will be fine.
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Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
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Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 17, 2022 9:47:00 GMT -5
stefan Sweet! Thanks so much! 😁
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