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Post by liveoak on Jul 24, 2022 6:14:30 GMT -5
Are separate barrels absolutely necessary for 500 and then polish, for rotary tumbling,
or is running a borax run in between each run enough to clean it out.
I have a separate tumbler for grinding, just hoping I can use my 3 lb for both fine & polish ?
I figured I'd try it and see if I can detect issues - but maybe someone has first hand experience.
Thanks for any input,
Patty
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Post by HankRocks on Jul 24, 2022 6:31:50 GMT -5
Are separate barrels absolutely necessary for 500 and then polish, for rotary tumbling,
or is running a borax run in between each run enough to clean it out.
I have a separate tumbler for grinding, just hoping I can use my 3 lb for both fine & polish ?
I figured I'd try it and see if I can detect issues - but maybe someone has first hand experience.
Thanks for any input,
Patty Warning as I think my method goes against conventional wisdom. I have run the same barrel(rotary) from coarse thru polish on a few occasions. Normally I use same barrel(rotary) coarse thru pre-polish with no soap between stages and then over to the Vibe for polish. I have reduced any soap borax runs until after polish. I used to run soap & borax between SiC and pre-polish but eliminated it as I figured that a " good" rinse with the hose is sufficient. Have not seen any reduction in polish quality. For me, grit contamination is over-rated as an issue in the Rotary. Since I only use the Vibe for polish I cannot speak to running other stages that way.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jul 24, 2022 6:32:19 GMT -5
ABSOLUTELY? No of course not. I ran just one barrel for all stages for a couple years. Of course clean out is VERY important. I built my collection of extra barrels slowly over time so it wasn't such a financial strain.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 24, 2022 6:40:11 GMT -5
YEAH
Patty
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,035
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Post by rockbrain on Jul 24, 2022 9:31:00 GMT -5
I got a nice shine out of the last batch. I mix the barrels and mix the ceramic media. I don't mix the poly beads. I clean out the barrels and lids with a dish brush. Since I've been here I've started running some borax between grits to help clean the barrels and the rocks.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
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Post by quartzilla on Jul 24, 2022 9:55:45 GMT -5
What Stefan said. I do run separate barrels and did it exactly how Stefan mentioned. Helps shorten the amount of time on clean outs.
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Post by Bob on Jul 30, 2022 16:44:49 GMT -5
No.
I just finished polish week in 20lb barrel that is usually for coarse grind. Cleaned it thoroughly though.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 31, 2022 6:02:59 GMT -5
Thanks everyone Now that I got new bushing installed in my dual 3lber ,
I'm back in business !
Patty
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Post by broseph82 on Oct 12, 2022 22:05:25 GMT -5
YEAH
Patty
Don't sweat the small stuff. I don't even burnish with borax. When I think my load is done I squeeze some blue dawn inside and let run for 20min and I'll get a wet shine. Also, just let the 500grit run a day or two longer and you may not even need a separate polish. Just my $0.02
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Oct 12, 2022 22:19:31 GMT -5
I just rinse mine very well between stages and so far so good, but I have also not checked my rocks under a microscope to see if there are scratches I cant see with the naked eye.
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Oct 12, 2022 22:22:33 GMT -5
The real advantage to this hobby, and I might ruffle some feathers saying this, is that, unless you are competing in tumbling comps or selling your work, you can be as sloppy as you want. Since we are not making a food product, and there is no risk of making someone sick if we screw up, you have a lot more latitude for what you can and cant do. As long as you are happy with your rocks when they are done, that is all that really matters.
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 13, 2022 0:33:53 GMT -5
Patty, the worst that will happen is you will have to clean and run the polish stage again. I use a separate barrel for polish from other stages, but I'm sure when there's been a gap in time between 500 and polish I've forgotten which barrel is which, and all has been okay.
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Post by liveoak on Oct 13, 2022 10:26:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the further confirmation on the barrels.
Of course, in the meantime my dual 3 lb tumbler has died Working on next step .
Patty
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Oct 14, 2022 6:29:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the further confirmation on the barrels.
Of course, in the meantime my dual 3 lb tumbler has died Working on next step .
Patty
Argh! Sorry to hear that. What are the symptoms? Think it can be resurrected?
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Post by liveoak on Oct 14, 2022 7:58:32 GMT -5
Dead Motor, & weak replacement bearings. The cost doesn't add up to be practical , seeing as it's a HF dual one.
So my husband has gotten some pillow block bearings together,
and some shafts & a motor, and it's on his welding project list to put it together for me.
On my Christmas list
Thanks for the sympathy
Patty
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,558
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Post by jamesp on Oct 14, 2022 8:36:28 GMT -5
Are separate barrels absolutely necessary for 500 and then polish, for rotary tumbling,
or is running a borax run in between each run enough to clean it out.
I have a separate tumbler for grinding, just hoping I can use my 3 lb for both fine & polish ?
I figured I'd try it and see if I can detect issues - but maybe someone has first hand experience.
Thanks for any input,
Patty Warning as I think my method goes against conventional wisdom. I have run the same barrel(rotary) from coarse thru polish on a few occasions. Normally I use same barrel(rotary) coarse thru pre-polish with no soap between stages and then over to the Vibe for polish. I have reduced any soap borax runs until after polish. I used to run soap & borax between SiC and pre-polish but eliminated it as I figured that a " good" rinse with the hose is sufficient. Have not seen any reduction in polish quality. For me, grit contamination is over-rated as an issue in the Rotary. Since I only use the Vibe for polish I cannot speak to running other stages that way. Contamination is overrated Henry. Wash well with clean water and move to the next abrasive. Never used soap except a dab in the vibe a few minutes before clean outs.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,558
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Post by jamesp on Oct 14, 2022 8:40:44 GMT -5
Dead Motor, & weak replacement bearings. The cost doesn't add up to be practical , seeing as it's a HF dual one.
So my husband has gotten some pillow block bearings together,
and some shafts & a motor, and it's on his welding project list to put it together for me.
On my Christmas list Thanks for the sympathy
Patty
Home builts with grease fitting fitted pillar blocks is the way Patty. Bronze bushings ain't made to run 24/7 lest you own an elf to keep them oiled. Use one motor with long shafts so you can put 2 to 4 barrels on that beast.
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Post by liveoak on Oct 14, 2022 9:09:36 GMT -5
Home builts with grease fitting fitted pillar blocks is the way Patty. Bronze bushings ain't made to run 24/7 lest you own an elf to keep them oiled. Use one motor with long shafts so you can put 2 to 4 barrels on that beast. Thanks Jim,
I believe Tom is going to make it to hold 4, 3 lb barrels .
We shall see & I'll have to post photos once he does.
Patty
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,558
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Post by jamesp on Oct 14, 2022 10:17:20 GMT -5
He can make the shafts wide enough to hold 3-6-12 pound barrels... Best to drive both shafts(ha, positraction) to avoid slippage which can unknowingly burn a spot in the barrel.
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Post by liveoak on Oct 14, 2022 11:12:05 GMT -5
He can make the shafts wide enough to hold 3-6-12 pound barrels... Best to drive both shafts(ha, positraction) to avoid slippage which can unknowingly burn a spot in the barrel. Yup- I know he said something about having to drive both shafts.
We briefly looked into what other containers we could use for barrels- still a work in progress.
To start my 3 lber's will do. But I think Tom had the same idea, make it fit multiple sizes.
At this point I'm really just wanting it for pre-polish & polish, as my reversing faster one works great for the grinding.
My impatience is making me think of trying a pre-polish/polish run in the reversing fast one just to see how it goes.
I know everyone said it's too fast for that - but then most people said it wouldn't work well for grinding - so I won't know unless I try.
What's the worst thing that can happen, I could make smaller rocks
Patty
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