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Post by stoner on Jun 9, 2005 1:17:40 GMT -5
Hi all. I know I'm probably gonna stir up a hornets nest here, but I wanted to share my experiment with you. I put a new motor on my homemade tumbler about a month ago and increased the speed of the barrels by about 1/3. They now spin at around 70 RPM. (I believe the thumlers runs at around 40 RPM) I only fill the barrel about 1/2 full and use a lot less water and within 2 days I've got a nice thick slurry and am ready to recharge in 4 days. The extra speed grinds the rock a lot faster. This works with my 4" homemade barrels as well as with my 3lb thumler barrels. I still have the dual thumler tumbler running at normal speed for the pre-polish and polish stages. After a month of watching the barrels on the faster machine, I look at the Thumlers machine and think there is something wrong with the motor, it seems so slow! I should have another batch ready in about a week.
Ed
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Jun 9, 2005 6:13:35 GMT -5
I agree, but I was using a c/e tumbler, bought a Thumbler, and you can notice a speed difference between the two. There is about a week or so difference in 60/90, but I am still going to do more testing. I also found 46/70 in Thumbler to be about 2 weeks faster than 60/90 in c/e. 46/70 in c/e was about 1 week faster than 60 /90. Terry
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Post by Cher on Jun 9, 2005 7:58:43 GMT -5
Ed, have you done anything like agates or quartz that fractures easily? Just wondering if there's a noticeable increase in the amount of fracturing.
Cher
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Post by connrock on Jun 9, 2005 9:27:06 GMT -5
Hi Ed,
Now your cookin' !!
I've been speeding up my roughing tumblers for a long time and have a VERY hard time convincing others that it works!
I think the toughest part is getting the grit/water ratio right.Once you get that right you're in clover!
I have one of my Thumler's Model B's running at double the normal speed and have never had a problem with chips or fractures.I think this has to do with building up a thick slurry very fast.
Of course this method won't work with the softer or more fragile materials like obsidian but it sure does a job on the hard stuff!
I used to buy #30 grit in 50 lb lots and have it shipped from Michigan (to CT) but it was costing me too much.I now buy #46/70 in 50 lb lots from Miles Supply which has a branch in Vermont so it doesn't cost me nearly as much now.Miles Supply doesn't carry the #30 grit so I went to the #46/70.I can hardly notice the difference between the two.
Good luck and keep us posted (pun intended)!LOL
Tom
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jun 9, 2005 9:30:42 GMT -5
My thumblers runs at 50 to 54 RPM I would think at some point the G forces created would spin the rock and grit tight to the wall of the barrel. At a point just before this should be optimal speed? Fractures will probably happen no matter what- and at a higher speed would the rock not fall off the wall as quickly (kinda a g-force braking system?)
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Post by gaetzchamp on Jun 9, 2005 11:48:18 GMT -5
Hey, can you guys tell me how I can speed up my vibe a little bit. I'd love to recharge about every 4 hours!!!!!! LOL,
gaeter
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Jun 9, 2005 11:55:24 GMT -5
My tumblers have been slowing noticeably.
My 12# Thumlers is maybe 25rpm and the lortone dual 3# about the same.
Looks like I have to kick it up a notch or two
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 9, 2005 12:01:04 GMT -5
BAM!
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Post by Alice on Jun 9, 2005 15:22:14 GMT -5
All this talk about speed, makes me want to bunjee my barrels to the center of my hub caps, and take the car for a ride along the highway (to reach higher speeds). Or have the paint section at the hardware store shake up my barrels.
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Jun 9, 2005 15:36:12 GMT -5
Hey, that could be a new fashion in cars.........LOL.....just think of how many rocks you could get polished that way............. ;D
Tonya
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 9, 2005 22:44:29 GMT -5
for me speed is not entirely the answer, if it fractures the rock go slower add more pellets something, there is no magic formula just what works best or you experiement then post the results and some photos so the rest of us can see what you are doing
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Post by stoner on Jun 10, 2005 1:09:02 GMT -5
Well, so far I definetly see a difference in the amount of time and haven't had any problems with fracturing. I've got 2 3lb barrels going into polish tonite, so I'll let you know what happens next week.
Ed
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 10, 2005 3:25:04 GMT -5
My take on things is that I suspect faster spinning in coarse grind does accelerate the process, but you have to be willing to accept more frequent tending of the barrels, plus more rapid use of grit.
I think the main thing with faster barrel rotation is that it creates a more vigorous action in the barrel. This can cause chipping, but you can take steps to avoid that. It also causes much more rapid grit breakdown, so unless you are willing to spend the time and expense of more frequent grit changes, then you don't gain any advantage by having the grit in the barrel become very finely pulverized in 3 or 4 days, yet you don't change the barrel out for 7 days. But if you are willing to do more frequent grit changes, then yes, faster barrel rotation will probably move things along more quickly.
Well, that's just my opinion.
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