cailee
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 67
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:30:15 GMT -5
Post by cailee on Feb 13, 2012 18:30:15 GMT -5
I definitely need some help! I took some pics so you can see how bad it is. When I opened up the barrel it was all watery and gritty. The stones have been worn down a bit but it definitely was no where near a gravy consistency. Not sure if it was to much water, not full enough with rock or what? Help! This is the stones before starting. This is the barrel after a week. This is in the sieve. And these are the rocks cleaned off a bit. And here is my lil rockhound giving me a hand Any advice would be appreciated, I haven't restarted the batch or anything yet. Not sure what changes to make. Thanks, Jen
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:38:36 GMT -5
Post by herchenx on Feb 13, 2012 18:38:36 GMT -5
It would be good to see the slurry on the stones in the barrel if possible, before dumping the barrel.
How big is this barrel? 4 pounds? How full was it? Would you say it was 3/4 full?
For a 6# barrel, 3/4 full of rock, I use 3/4 cup of water and 12 Tb of 60/90.
Please add in the details, even if you already have in another thread, so they are in one place. You will get it figured out, don't worry!
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:39:57 GMT -5
Post by herchenx on Feb 13, 2012 18:39:57 GMT -5
Also, this exact thing happened to me 2 years ago when I first tried. Partly why we didn't try again until the beginning of this year, but I didn't know about this forum then!
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:43:07 GMT -5
Post by johnjsgems on Feb 13, 2012 18:43:07 GMT -5
If you run 1 tbs /lb capacity (3 tbs in 3 lb drum, etc.) fill water so top layer of rock sticks up above the water you should have a slurry. If it is too thin pour out the water to bottom of top layer and add a teaspoon or so more grit. Check again in another 3 days.
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cailee
having dreams about rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 67
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:50:00 GMT -5
Post by cailee on Feb 13, 2012 18:50:00 GMT -5
It's a 3# barrel, I did have it full to 3/4 with rock and the rocks were peaking a little above the water. I added 3 tbls of grit to it. I did post one picture of the barrel with rocks and "slurry" or water in my case. I will try and try again, whatever I need to do.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:55:02 GMT -5
Post by herchenx on Feb 13, 2012 18:55:02 GMT -5
just sent you a PM.
Can you put all the rocks in the barrel and take a closer photo?
I mentioned in the PM, but I think there is a way to post larger images if you get the image code from the large view of the image rather than the thumbnail view. I couldn't tell in the images above that the rocks were still in the barrel because it was small and my eyes are not great.
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 18:55:22 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Feb 13, 2012 18:55:22 GMT -5
Toss in some borax, and tumble again. If it still is "loose", then toss in some sand. It will catch in time, then run and run and run it. It does look as if the grit has not "taken" yet. Have patience. That is what it is all about. One day, WOWSER! it will have been all worth while.
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Help!
Feb 13, 2012 21:00:48 GMT -5
Post by susand24224 on Feb 13, 2012 21:00:48 GMT -5
From your picture, it looks like you have too much water. I would pour some of the water out, add some more grit and close it back up.
Conventional wisdom is that you add water to the bottom of the top layer of stones, but I always add a little less--because the stones settle in when tumbling and take up some of the spaces between them. The larger the barrell, the more I reduce the water to account for this factor.
BTW, your stones are making good progress.
Susan
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