ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 6, 2017 23:27:02 GMT -5
I see the photos just fine.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 5, 2017 13:08:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I originally started out keeping the obsidian all by itself, but found it does fairly well when mixed with everything else. As stated, maybe I've just been lucky. I still have a bunch of obsidian get some type of chip or crack when running thru the Lot-O. I just toss those back into course grind until they're smooth again and start the polish over. I figure when the rock is ready to be finished, it will come out looking nice. Not worth stressing over anymore! Garage Rocker, I wonder if you'll see the same issue with your batch. What types are you tumbling? Are they in their own barrel?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 4, 2017 15:53:36 GMT -5
I have 2 QT66 and one QT12. I think the QT66 are great tumblers to start with.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 3, 2017 12:41:30 GMT -5
When I’m done with 60/90 there ain’t no nooks and crannies, ipso facto, no need to keep ‘em wet. This is my answer also. I used to keep them wet, but got tired of draining the water when it started to smell. I like to roll my rocks until they are very smooth. If you like a more natural look, keeping them wet might help stop things from drying.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on May 2, 2017 6:54:33 GMT -5
WOW! Those eye agates are great. Really nice batch.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 30, 2017 20:14:29 GMT -5
Well, here is my next batch of rocks. These include my rocks for the tumbling contest. I'm not sure if it's taboo to post your finished competition rocks, but I doubt this give away some competitive advantage. I didn't do anything to my contest rocks other than throw them into the tumbler. I didn't break anything up or do any hand grinding. There are about 10 not shown that had big flaws or were very rough and didn't look like they would take a shine Standard "recipe" 46/70 SiC in my QT-66. Weekly clean outs. Pulled rocks when ready. 2 tablespoons 120/220 SiC for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon 500 AO + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon 1000 AO + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 1/2 teaspoon Polish + 1 tablespoon Borax for 2 days in Lot-O 2 tablespoons Borax as a final burnish for 5 hours in Lot-O Group shot Apache Tears Mahogany obsidian Competition group shot I think these are the 5 I'm sending in
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 29, 2017 9:54:29 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this information!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 19:58:07 GMT -5
Ok thanks, I will wait patiently for the ceramic to arrive and do more studying on the lot-o process. I currently have grit and polish for the standard 4 step rotary proccess(AO 500 -step 3). Can I work with that in the loto for a few batches or do I need to get something different? I follow the steps in this thread, so if that's what you have, use it. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/76542/lot-recipe-card
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 15:41:28 GMT -5
I tried using some aquarium rocks in my Lot-O as a test and was not really happy with the outcome. The finished rocks just weren't as shiny.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 11:04:59 GMT -5
And a cat just to balance things out...
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 10:39:29 GMT -5
HA! Tommy, my fun police beef was directed to the captain. I didn't even see the title of the new thread. But since you pointed it out - I'm now very "internet angry" at you also. I'M EVEN GOING TO TURN ON ALL CAPS TO LET YOU KNOW HOW SERIOUS I AM. Sorry, carry on. This amount of power scares me. I really need to cool down before I melt (since I'm a snowflake).
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 10:20:34 GMT -5
I thought yesterday was bring your child to work day? Maybe she didn't get the memo.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 10:13:33 GMT -5
My biggest complaint about the thread is this - someone asked a question and got the following reply "Has ANYONE noticed how boring the posts and replies have been lately". If someone wants to post pictures of themselves, there are plenty of other places on this board to do it. Yes, threads drift off topic all the time here, but it somehow always kind of pertains to the original thread. Not sure I deserve the overused/tired "fun police" tag, but I'll take it if the above comment is how we want to respond to people who post here.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 10:07:43 GMT -5
Thanks Dave. I'm currently working on batch 2, things are taking forever in the coarse stage. But! pnce that happens I have a new (to me) double barrel lot-o to start playing with. It's a slow process, but worth taking the time to get everything rounded to the level you like. I run 3 tumblers (36 pounds total) and never seem to produce enough to keep my Lot-O fully fed. So I just set everything aside and wait. And wait some more...
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 9:59:43 GMT -5
Well, I wanted to update this thread with some results. I bought some Fossil Rock and Puddingstone from The Rock Shed. I ran one 6lb Lortone barrel with just these in there - no other filler. I used 4 tablespoons of 120/220 SiC and did a weekly clean out. I added more water than I would normally use since this created quite a thick slurry. These took about 4-5 weeks to smooth out. Once I had a bunch finished, I switched to using the Lot-O with the following steps: 1 tablespoon 120/220 SiC ran for 12 hours 1/2 teaspoon 500 AO + 1 tablespoon of Borax ran for 12 hours 1/2 teaspoon 1000 AO + 1 tablespoon of Borax ran for 12 hours I then filled the barrel with 3 pounds of 2mm ceramics and water to cover (according to the Rock Shed directions) I divided the rocks up into 2 batches I used 5 tablespoons of AO Polish and ran this for 3 days (this was a very messy part) At this point the rocks didn't look shiny at all so I decided to run them thru the polish stage again using my tried and true recipe 1/2 teaspoon AO Polish + 1 tablespoon of Borax ran for 48 hours (filled rest of Lot-O with pre-polished large ceramics) The results were the same. Not much of a shine. I see the Rock Shed also has directions for a dry polish using corn cob media. I might purchase a bag of this with my next order and give it a try. But for now, here are the results.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 28, 2017 9:26:39 GMT -5
Not sure how I missed this the first time it was posted. Great batch!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 27, 2017 17:42:54 GMT -5
Oh boy, look at me!!! Isn't there an off topic section you can disrupt threads?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 26, 2017 13:34:42 GMT -5
I use 2 tablespoons of 120/220 for 2 days in my Lot-O, but I don't use any sugar or Borax. I also add a couple tablespoons of water. After that stage, I only use 1/2 teaspoon of 500, 1000 and polish (and these also get 1 tablespoon of Borax).
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 25, 2017 16:46:52 GMT -5
You need to buy a Lot-O. While you're producing all that ash you could stare into that thing and get lost for hours. Just sayin'...
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Apr 25, 2017 15:24:22 GMT -5
What exactly are you out to reinvent? A 5lb bag of polish from the Rock Shed costs $20 and will most likely last as long as you stay interested in this hobby.
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