Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 16, 2021 6:51:47 GMT -5
Depends...what are you running? What grit are you using? Do you work the rocks outside of the tumbler? In our Model B's we use 36 or 46/70 SiC at a minimum with harder stuff. We start off with 20Tbsp. in the initial charge. When loaded correctly (rocks and just as important water level) it can be ready for a recharge in 3-4 days. By "ready" I mean that the original grit is broken down much smaller than what we started with (most of the time it is undetectable) and not able to grind like we are trying to achieve in the coarse stage. When I was ill we did not do as many total cleanouts and some barrels were recharged many times over the course of months, usually using 10Tbsp. each time. When things start to get too thick it is time to dump some slurry and add some water. Softer materials may get 60/90 SiC and less of it as they break down faster and thicken the slurry more. Nothing wrong with being impatient either. Sometimes we only run one cycle so we can inspect and work on the rocks outside of the tumbler to do some cutting and grinding. Experience is your friend, develop an eye for your water level and everything becomes much easier. Also, when recharging get your hands in there and feel that slurry, it will tell you everything. With the Model B's you can also tilt the barrel towards the lid and when you unbolt the metal cover and peel the gasket off there will be slurry sticking to it. Is it gritty or smooth mud...this will help you determine if a recharge is needed. I just didn't want to recharge after a week if the "old grit" was going to block the new grit from working as well.
I use 30 Grit in my 6 pound barrels, but it is still used up in a weeks time. Then I use s settlement tank when cleaning out, so I am recovering all of my unused grit.
Old used grit will not Block the New grit from working as well.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 13, 2021 7:00:56 GMT -5
Plum Purdy
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 12, 2021 11:37:46 GMT -5
Buy/Find cheap small landscaping rocks to use with your large stones. One large stone in with smaller filler is guaranteed to grind the small rocks down fast.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 12, 2021 7:01:22 GMT -5
I would throw it all in the tumbler as-is and let it roll a week in Stage 1 to clean it off good. That will help you to decide if or where to chisel them.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 11, 2021 19:41:22 GMT -5
Easy tumbler made from a treadmill
For more suggestions search YouTube for "Treadmill Tumbler" .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 9, 2021 20:02:02 GMT -5
Who wants to roll Agates for weeks ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 9, 2021 19:30:11 GMT -5
Did a cleanout today. Was running a barrel of Glass and finished after polish and came out great. The Yuma rocks were normal after a week of stage 1. The Yuma rocks are going back in for another week of Stage 1, and the other barrel was loaded with new batch of Yuma rocks including the odd Black rock that looks like metal. I checked it with a magnet and it is not metal, so I am curious about it.
Looks like molten metal that cooled. Heavier than the other stones Black color Found about 150 feet from the closest tower of the bridge.
Here are some pics of this odd stone . . .
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 9, 2021 16:52:11 GMT -5
Quartz can be very uninteresting after being tumbled with little character or detail. I would not try to clean it out as it will just look more bland without any color.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 8, 2021 7:42:34 GMT -5
I thought woofers links were going to be rockrockrocks previous threads on this. There's probably been at least 5 by now Correct
This subject should be asked once and then discussed in the same thread. Asking the same question in 6 threads is a little excessive.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 7, 2021 21:47:45 GMT -5
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 6, 2021 17:33:57 GMT -5
That is the Mars Curiosity Rover Been there almost a decade now Takes a Lickun' and keeps on Tickin'
This thread is about the Mars Perseverance Rover that landed early this year
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 6, 2021 15:28:35 GMT -5
Black one at the bottom looks a lot like pet wood. If it sticks to a magnet, well then yup from the bridge lol. Rest of the goodies look great. Any chance we can get a picture of them when wet? Sorry this took awhile. It was rainy and I was waiting on some Sun to get good light. I haven't even seen these wet yet and they look much more exciting. Here are some wet rocks . . . - Quartz - - Cool Red Rocks - - Everything Else - - Tumbler Sized Assortment - That black rock that I thought was metal is not magnetic at all, zero. This rock is so interesting, it has flow marks on it like molten metal that has cooled. It is noticeably heaver than the other stones. It will get it's start tumbling in 4 days.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 5, 2021 21:06:16 GMT -5
With only a little bit of experience you will learn to recognize the stones that will take a polish. Porous rocks like Granite and Limestone are difficult to polish. Glassy hard stones like Quartz or Flint will polish fabulously. In my experience, less than 10% of the stones I see are not suitable for a shine Looking at your pictures you can see the unpolished rocks have a rough uneven surface that will never shine. Some of your rocks have parts shiny and parts dull. Examine your tumbled rocks with a magnifying glass to see what works and what doesn't. It helps to crack a newly discovered rock open to see what it really is.
Where are you located ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 5, 2021 20:06:45 GMT -5
Filler for the first stage should be More Rocks. Plastic will slow everything down and waste your time and plastic. Ceramic is not necessary unless you don't have enough smalls to get into the cracks.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 5, 2021 20:03:12 GMT -5
Some of the rocks in both batches will not polish well or at all. Those that won't polish will prevent the rest of them from polishing well. Put all the rocks that did take a reasonable shine back in polish for a week and wait for a surprise.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 3, 2021 15:08:57 GMT -5
Will you be showing some of your finds? Finally cut the boxes open and sorted out the contents Divided it into 4 piles Stuff that looks like Quartz There was more quartz than anything else, from about 70 miles South of Quartsite Some red rocks that look like quartz or Flint Lots of this stuff laying around, looking forward to seeing what it will polish like Everything else Am courious abouty the Greenish rocks at the bottom Stuff that will already fit into the tumbler I think the black piece at the bottom is metal from when the bridge was constructed The bigger stuff is about the size of a fist and most of it will need to be broken up before seeing the inside of a tumbler barrel. It all looks better than I remember when I packed it up. Looks better in-person too. Already have a 6 pound barrel rolling with a load of the smaller stuff.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 2, 2021 12:00:15 GMT -5
They took a picture of a rock that I want them to bring for me to tumble
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 2, 2021 11:17:46 GMT -5
One day I went to Roxaboxen Park in Yuma A unique park dedicated to rocks ----- From Website ----- Roxaboxen Park is where imaginations soar! This uniquely Yuman park was inspired by the internationally known children’s book, “Roxaboxen” by Alice McLerran. The book was written about the author’s mother, Marian Doan’s childhood memories of growing up in Yuma in the early 1900’s. The ½ acre site at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 8th Street is not a typical park. There is no grass or playground equipment. Instead, the park is left much as it was in the 1900’s. Children playing at the site are encouraged to use their imaginations and build a community utilizing rocks and boxes like the original “Roxaboxenites”. Attendees to the unique park are encouraged to leave a painted rock from your home state or home town. Can’t make it to the park, but want to leave your mark? Mail your painted rock(s) to the Yuma Art Center and Arts and Culture Division staff will ensure they are placed in the park. Mailing address: Yuma Art Center, Attn: Roxaboxen 254 S. Main Street Yuma, AZ 85364. ------------------------- I found this park by searching for "Yuma Parks" and thought it sounded interesting enough to give it a visit. I did have a lot of free time and a car. The first few days I was navigating around town by looking at Google maps on my 4 inch Cell Phone. I was finding my way around but the screen was so small. Bought a Laptop while there and things got much easier. After a week I could get around without assistance. There is not much to do in this park. Apparently, It seems to come to life after you have read the book. Wasn't there for very long but I'm glad to get to see the place and I did have a connection with the Rocks !? I am showing pictures of some of the larger arrangements but there were small rock projects all over the place.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 2, 2021 5:18:58 GMT -5
Where is Local ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on May 1, 2021 18:44:02 GMT -5
Just got the last of 3 boxes of rocks in the mail Will open them up and see if I remember what I got A little smashed up but they survived with 1/3 of a roll of packing tape on each one and rocks bagged inside
2 boxes weighed 20 pounds the other weighed 19 pounds so about 60 pounds in all
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