CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on May 15, 2022 16:23:34 GMT -5
Today was a big clean out. Lot-O, and all 4 lortone 3lb barrels. I thought all was lost. We went out of town last Monday…and right before we were leaving, I cursed myself for not getting to my Lot-O. Did a quick hose rinse, then dumped in a bucket of water to deal with when I got back…so today was the day. I did a good wash and laid everything out to dry. Went to start the rotaries while these dried. My glass tumble, as expected was fake blue. Ok. Expected. Otherwise pleased with results. The Arkansas batch is awful. Nothing is moving forward. And I might not waste my time through stage one. They’re super rough. They’ll need some dremel fixing or something. Or like a year in stage one. Another skill I’ll need to work on. Ok. Sure. Expected. Back to the Lot-O. I “thought” were through the final polish…and everything is….blah. Ok. Maybe start stage 2 again. Disappointing, but save-able. My stage one Lake Erie finds will likely be ok. But, nothing great to show for a month of tumbling. Go to throw my Lake Erie finds in the Lot-O….hmmmm. Why is pre-polish sitting here?? OH!! The first Lot-O batch hasn’t had a final polish!! Thank goodness for a system to remind me when I’m too lazy (tired) to look at my written notes!! So…what I wasn’t happy with just needs a final polish and hopefully will be great!!
Just a long diatribe because no one else will care. Who else has systems to remind them of where they are in process?? What tricks can you share?
And for all of you having bad days. I feel you. Here’s to better days! 🥃
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Post by jasoninsd on May 15, 2022 19:13:54 GMT -5
Well...I have NO better system whatsoever...just wanted to say congrats on figuring out what was wrong! LOL
*I've had plenty of days where I couldn't remember my own name (it seems)...let alone where the tumble is at in the process! LOL
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 917
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Post by nursetumbler on May 15, 2022 20:22:01 GMT -5
I have a white board with 6 lines, 1 for each barrel, that has rock name, grit coarse, date in, check date and notes. Helps
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 424
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Post by lunker on May 16, 2022 13:54:22 GMT -5
My system is pretty simple. I work 8 days on and 4 days off. I try to service my tumblers on my first day off. I really don't even look at them except for a glance on the way into the house to make sure they're still turning. I have a notebook to keep track of progress.
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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 May 16, 2022 15:27:41 GMT -5
Dedicated wall calendar. Over on the Friday/Saturday side of each week I write down the barrel label and what stage I just put it in. The following week I reference it when doing clean outs and figuring where it's going next.
A: 500 AO B: polish wk1 C: 120/220 SiC D: polish wk2 E: 120/220 SiC F: 36 SiC G: 500 AO
In this example I'd clean out D first, leave B alone, then clean A and G, then C and E, and finally F.
D sits on standby while I fill A and G with polish, and C and E with 500 AO.
I'll sort through F and see if there's enough to fill D with 120/220 SiC. From there I'd likely fill F with more coarse material, charge with 36 SiC and get it back on.
I have one of those 4 color pens; red, green, blue, and black. Each week I write it in a different color on the calendar to help make sure I'm reading off the correct week.
I'll add notes on material type sometimes if it's out of the ordinary. I tumbled some wood for the neighbor and had to keep track of where it was, for instance.
Bonus: I get to put "cool wall calendar" on my Xmas list each year. I had a Bob Ross one last year, and one loaded with fractals this year.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,094
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Post by stefan on May 22, 2022 11:45:43 GMT -5
A notebook. WHat is where and when it needs to be changed. I'm currently converting it to a spread sheet, but will probably forget to update it.
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