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Post by Toad on Mar 7, 2006 19:55:35 GMT -5
I am now officially a rock tumbler. It's finally warming up enough out here in Chicago to run a tumbler in the garage. So I've started up my first batch in years and years.
Lortone QT-12 with 5 varieties of agate and jasper, some garnet, and some corundum.
What does everyone think - 2weeks?
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wades
starting to spend too much on rocks
Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734)
Member since February 2006
Posts: 202
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Post by wades on Mar 7, 2006 20:25:37 GMT -5
{ snip } Lortone QT-12 with 5 varieties of agate and jasper, some garnet, and some corundum. What does everyone think - 2weeks? You're kidding, right?
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Post by Toad on Mar 7, 2006 20:40:21 GMT -5
Nope, not kidding. Everything around the same hardness except the corundum - agates and jaspers will move on, corundum will have many cycles in rough.
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Post by joe on Mar 7, 2006 22:45:23 GMT -5
Two weeks in coarse grind for rough rock? That doesn't sound right Toad. Two months would be more my guess for really nice shaped stones. Or did you preshape them with a saw or grinder?
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Mar 7, 2006 23:01:54 GMT -5
Don't you have a basement Toad?
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inflight22
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 710
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Post by inflight22 on Mar 8, 2006 3:50:08 GMT -5
I have no idea how long it takes some of my stuff in the coarse grind. I check every few days and pick out the ones that I like the shape of. When I have enough for the next phase, I go on. Some stuff seems to grind down quite quickly if it's smaller to begin with, etc.
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Post by Toad on Mar 8, 2006 6:32:39 GMT -5
2 months in rough? Ugh. Nope, nothing pre-shaped. It is all hammer broken except for the garnet and corundum. Is it really 2 mos?
Nope, e-dog. No basement. Otherwise I would have been tumbling for 2 mos. now. Gotta get a basement.
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Post by rockds on Mar 8, 2006 9:06:57 GMT -5
Toad, yup your looking at 6-12 weeks before moving on with true rough, although with a 12lber it may cut some of the time. My 6lbers usually take less time than my 3lbers but others will say the oposite. If looking for faster results use 46/76 grit and a little less water.
robert
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wades
starting to spend too much on rocks
Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734)
Member since February 2006
Posts: 202
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Post by wades on Mar 8, 2006 9:15:48 GMT -5
Where did you get the corundum and garnet?
Can you post pics of the rough?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 8, 2006 11:43:02 GMT -5
Congrates Toad!!!!! I'm thinking hammer broken stuff will probably take 4 weeks Min. most of my hammer broken stuff runs 6 to 8 weeks on average.
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Post by Cher on Mar 8, 2006 16:59:55 GMT -5
WTG Toad, about time you got something going. You really are joking about 2 weeks right? Try maybe 6-8 minimum. Just think of the fun you'll have each week picking out the few that are ready to move on until you get them all there. Hmmmmmm might even be longer than that unless you have a little tumbler for the next stage.
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greenmann
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2005
Posts: 325
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Post by greenmann on Mar 8, 2006 17:04:58 GMT -5
lol, it usually takes me at least two weeks for most of my pre-tumbled beach rock in coarse but then, I'm picky most of the time. The one batch I wasn't picky on (some mahogany obsidian) was the one batch I practically threw out as soon as it got out of polish. Very dissappointing.
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Post by Toad on Mar 8, 2006 23:12:19 GMT -5
Where did you get the corundum and garnet? Can you post pics of the rough? Got the corundum and garnet from MSI (Multistone Intl.). But beware - check out my thread on the Vendor board.
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Post by Toad on Mar 8, 2006 23:13:39 GMT -5
Okay, 6-8 weeks total. Recharging weekly? Do you add more rough as you recharge. Sorry, I know these are noob questions, but I haven't been paying attention...
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 9, 2006 10:19:32 GMT -5
Bad toad! The recommend 60/90 procedure (yea I do it a bit different) is to check and recharge everyweek- pull those that are ready- and replace with new stuff- then when you have enough to move on- you go out a buy another tumbler- cause there is no way you want to stop tumbling course grind- just to put stuff in 120/220 (trust me- I have 5 barrels running all the time- And I should have at least on more machine by the end of the year!)
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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2006 12:29:47 GMT -5
I gotta agree with everyone here 6 - 12 weeks (if not longer)
But it also depends on the look you're going for. If you want some roughness to your rocks (with vugs, and crevaces) then yeah, probably 2 - 3 weeks would do. But if you want them smooth all the way around and for them to be rounded, then 6 - 12 weeks (or longer)
Just be sure to pull out any rocks you're happy with shape wise anytime during the coarse stage and keep that barrel full with more rough rocks.
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