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Post by captbob on Oct 10, 2019 15:50:44 GMT -5
It’s easy to measure weight loss after a week in 500. When I said five percent, it wasn’t a guess. I haven’t bothered with 120/220 since ~2006. Waste of time. Well yes, if going straight to 500 after the coarse grind, I would expect to lose significant weight in the 500 run. 120/220 being a waste of time I have to completely disagree with. Unless the final coarse run lasted long enough... Any coarse grit will become a finer grit given time. All a bit of a learning curve. Someone that's Been There Done That may skip steps as they know what's going on and what longer run time results are.. I wouldn't recommend skipping 120/220 to anyone without years of experimenting behind them.
I'm pretty sure I could tumble a perfect load using ONLY 60/90 and polish - given time.
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Post by captbob on Oct 10, 2019 15:40:45 GMT -5
I would expect to lose more after the coarse shaping run when in the 120/220 (or straight 120) step and maybe even a bit on 320 if I'm using that before 500. Just in my experience, not that I'm weighing rocks anymore after all these years, my 500 run is simply removing the finest of "scratches". Maybe enough material (rock) is being removed to register on some scale, (see who catches that) but as anal as I am, by the time my rocks make it to 500 many would be sending them to polish instead. After my weeks (or months) in 120/220, the grit has broken down finer than 500 anyway! All good. Bottom line is GOOD tumbles take time. - even if cheating with a vibe!  Wouldn't doubt if maybe jamesp did some experimenting on such as well. |
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Post by captbob on Oct 10, 2019 14:23:43 GMT -5
Hopefully, you are running something between 60/90 and 500. By the time I get to 500 I wouldn't expect any weight reduction that a scale someone has at home could detect. Each step takes less time than the one before because there is less needed to be done. Polish being the possible exception, as I have found that the longer polish runs the better. Learned that when I let a polish cycle run for a year.  |
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Post by captbob on Oct 9, 2019 16:46:56 GMT -5
As I said earlier, it just depends on how picky ya are.
I wouldn't consider going from 500SiC to polish after just a one week run - EVER.
Give it a shot if that's what you want to do. You can always go back and run steps and grits over again.
Adding another step or more time (often MUCH more time!) usually pays off.
We learn by doing. The rocks won't care.
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Post by captbob on Oct 9, 2019 12:34:38 GMT -5
I am anxiously waiting for the homemade tumbler that will, without a doubt, put every other homemade tumbler ever built to shame.
Something nuclear powered perhaps?
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Post by captbob on Oct 9, 2019 9:44:20 GMT -5
Faster. The SiC should be more aggressive than the AO in removing the "scratches" from the previous step.
The SiC won't lay down a base polish like the 500 AO will.
What is your following step after 500?
If you go straight to polish after 500, and you are not in a hurry, I might even consider running the 500 SiC then the 500 AO before polish. Or just let the 500SiC run a little longer to break down more.
If you go from 500SiC to 1000AO (or Tripoli) before polish that would also be a good option.
Going straight from 500SiC straight to polish is a pretty big step. Unless it runs long enough to really break down.
Reckon it depends on how picky ya are!
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Post by captbob on Oct 8, 2019 17:45:33 GMT -5
Killin' time looking at all the pretty cabs in this section and your "graveyard" I said to myself (yes, I do that) was rose something. Chuck provided the something part.
Like the dino and your mushrooms mostest.
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Post by captbob on Oct 8, 2019 7:59:23 GMT -5
I guess my point was what does some wear on the shafts hurt? Have your tumblers quit turning?
I understand being proactive rather than reactive, but there is also such a thing as overkill.
What for?
Seems you are painting the car because it got dirty rather than just washing it.
Guess we all have our own little OCD demons!
ETA: Ya know Rock Shed sells the complete shafts with all the rollers, bearings & clips right?
Looking at costs, it seems the completely new shaft is only a couple bucks more than the parts separately.
No need to reinvent EVERY wheel you come across!
Make a home made tumbler to run all your barrels. I'm sure it would be much nicer than something you can buy off a shelf. And live up to your expectations. Personally, I'd love to see it!
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Post by captbob on Oct 7, 2019 13:32:33 GMT -5
I can't figure out what is going on here. I thought you only had 3 Model B tumblers. You have more now? The photo shows 4 tumblers worth and now you say that you have the same amount to do today. 8 tumblers worth? Seems that you have been rock tumbling for less than 2 years and you have all those shafts needing to be refurbished? Maybe this is the problem - Every 6 months they need to be cleaned and re-lubed. I may not check the rocks inside for a year at a time, but I always oil, clean and reoil the ends of the shafts at the white "bearings" every couple months - at the most. Month and a half is better if I can make the time, but it is usually two. How often are you oiling the motors? Dude... this is a tumbler, made to be used by folks with little to no clue what they are doing, not some Nascar engine. Oil the shaft ends, run the little white "bearings" back & forth a few times over the fresh oil, wipe off the shaft and reoil.
Dealing with the rocks inside is optional. The rocks don't care!
I bought all the extra parts to do this from the Rock Shed 5 or more years ago just to have them on hand. I bet I could find that bag of parts around my garage somewhere - if I had to - in less than 30 minutes!
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Post by captbob on Oct 3, 2019 11:32:36 GMT -5
Glad the little young man wasn't hurt, but killing someone probably isn't something that is going to be easy for him to deal with. I wish him well.
A few problematic points to the story, but I guess the bottom line is the boy is alive.
(this article is almost 4 years old)
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Post by captbob on Oct 3, 2019 9:41:23 GMT -5
Good lookin' shirt!
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Post by captbob on Oct 3, 2019 9:38:22 GMT -5
No kidding? Jean's Birthday? Happy Birthday to you young lady! How many you gonna have this year?  Where is jamesp to start the ribbin'? Haven't seen snowmom & chassroc around in forever. Hope they are doing well and also have wonderful birthdays. |
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Post by captbob on Oct 1, 2019 16:19:24 GMT -5
SO much looks similar that it may be hard to say for sure.
Dry, I would guess Cady Mts. material.
Wet/polished and I'm not so sure.
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Post by captbob on Sept 30, 2019 12:25:37 GMT -5
adding... from the one picture, your saw blade may be okay, just rusty.
A good new blade will cost ya more than 50 bucks. I'd probably run that old one and see how it works before buying new. May need to cut some obsidian or a piece of brick to freshen the blade.
Worth trying anyway, unless you just have to have shiny and new (which I would understand!).
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Post by captbob on Sept 30, 2019 12:12:35 GMT -5
Does anyone know what this piece is used for? It wasn’t attached when I bought the unit and I don’t know where it goes or what it does. Check out this eBay listing and you'll see where it goes. www.ebay.com/itm/202580023328Looks like you have the support bar in front of the wheels mounted incorrectly. Seems your mystery piece is a hand support. ETA: that support bar is optional to use when you run the machine. Many folks probably remove it. I wouldn't use it, but I just shape rocks, don't make cabs. Heck of a deal on that machine. You are fixing it up nicely. I'd use mineral oil in your saw. You can use baby oil for now. It is just scented mineral oil. Get a couple big bottles of whatever is cheapest and your shop and your rocks will smell nice! You can get more (like in gallon jugs) at better prices as you need it down the road, but the baby oil will getcha going. |
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Post by captbob on Sept 25, 2019 11:23:40 GMT -5
Hey Bob, I assume that you bought your Thumler's Model B tumblers new, so is the paint worn off on the rims where the barrel contacts the rollers already or did you put some sort of rubber strip around there? If the paint is worn off, do you know why/how that happened so quickly? I have the same running for years now (with overweight loads) with no paint loss. Just curious.
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Post by captbob on Sept 23, 2019 17:36:06 GMT -5
Happy Birthday Paul. Where ya been?
Hope all is well out your way and that you had a good B-day.
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Post by captbob on Sept 21, 2019 12:18:58 GMT -5
3am with the bar closing and beer goggles on can make for some interesting mornings.
As in "oh my God, what did I do?!" kinda interesting.
Have fun. And make sure to park the getaway/goaway car behind the house, not out front!
just sayin'
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2019 10:45:29 GMT -5
Wow, that's quite a deal for $350!
Does it have wheels and a saw blade on it now?
A rusty looking saw blade doesn't mean it is bad.
If it is good to go now, just get it set up and running.
New wheels and a good saw blade ain't cheap!
See how it works and replace what is necessary.
Refurbishing old machines is fun, and it's easy to pretty them up; but it is easy to get carried away and spend more than you really need to.
If it works, use it. And spend the money saved on rocks!
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Post by captbob on Sept 18, 2019 10:26:24 GMT -5
What are your plans for providing water to the wheels?
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