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Post by radio on Aug 13, 2014 19:01:59 GMT -5
I took some advice on adding syrup to the Apache Tear tumble and woke up this morning to a Mellava hess! It must have outgassed during the night and gummed up the barrel rims and rollers on my Thumlers A-R2 Both barrels were setting cockeyed on the rollers and really causing a strain on the poor motor. The grit was caked inside the barrel and had to scrape it loose and add water. No more syrup for me
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Post by snowmom on Aug 13, 2014 19:06:48 GMT -5
well I learned a lesson from this post. Sorry you had to pay for it, that pretty much stinks! (sticky, too, huh?)
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Post by radio on Aug 13, 2014 19:19:20 GMT -5
well I learned a lesson from this post. Sorry you had to pay for it, that pretty much stinks! (sticky, too, huh?) I might have added too much syrup. I had no clue on ratio, so added about three tablespoons to a half full 3 pound barrel along with a bit of water. I have some cut up plastic clothes hanger in there also as I can't find my plastic pellets anywhere
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Post by braders on Aug 13, 2014 19:36:32 GMT -5
Save the syrup for pancakes Sorry to hear about that ...id look the bright side tho the stones are ok !!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 14, 2014 0:24:18 GMT -5
Ouch! There's an old post here somewhere .... The top blew off their tumbler after adding syrup. If I remember correctly it hit the wall several feet away. Rice also is a bad thing to use in a tumbler.
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Post by snowmom on Aug 14, 2014 5:54:41 GMT -5
I suppose the high carbohydrate content and the agitating action causes rapid fermentation. interesting!
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Post by braders on Aug 14, 2014 6:12:53 GMT -5
I suppose the high carbohydrate content and the agitating action causes rapid fermentation. interesting! Overnight Apache tear beer ? Hmm you got your sugar starch whats the chances of picking up a stray yeast from the stone or anywhere ...my rotary gets mildly warm so yep ....there ya go bubbly boom !!
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Post by radio on Aug 14, 2014 7:37:37 GMT -5
It didn't blow it's top, but it appears that it built up some pressure and forced semi liquid gunk out around the seal causing the barrels to get crossways on the rollers. I checked it before going to bed and all was fine, but come morning it had a doozy of a hangover If I try it again maybe I'll use sugar free syrup
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Aug 14, 2014 11:53:35 GMT -5
I have had good luck in the past when I want extra cushioning by filling the barrel near 80 to 85%. Haven't polished obsidian in a rotary but it worked well with quartz and feldspars. Currently roughing some obsidian and glass in a 12# barrel and the 85% seems to work well. Very little spalling ,chipping or frosting for what it's worth. Good luck!
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Aug 14, 2014 12:05:38 GMT -5
Borax is working well for thickening up the slurry. I can't understand how only 3 tbs. of syrup could wreak so much havoc. That's terrible, well you can't learn without trying something new. I hope everything works out!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2014 21:22:24 GMT -5
If you wanna thicken ur slurry add a few Tums or a stick of chalk. It won't ferment and pop your barrel.
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Aug 14, 2014 21:41:28 GMT -5
What about a crap ton of plastic pellets? Like 50-50 or something like that. I have a 3 pounder sitting here I shall try it and post back
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Post by radio on Aug 15, 2014 8:03:50 GMT -5
If you wanna thicken ur slurry add a few Tums or a stick of chalk. It won't ferment and pop your barrel. Hmmm. Might try that trick. Thanks Scott
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Post by radio on Aug 15, 2014 8:08:08 GMT -5
What about a crap ton of plastic pellets? Like 50-50 or something like that. I have a 3 pounder sitting here I shall try it and post back I went that route yesterday when I got the last of the mess cleaned up. the barrel is now about 80-85% full and rolling with 600 grit
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Post by connrock on Aug 15, 2014 9:50:32 GMT -5
You can use pieces of broken glass or rocks that you KNOW are softer then obsidian as filler too. I went the syrup and sugar route many years ago ad didn't like clean-up much so I stay away from them. connrock
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Post by Starguy on Aug 17, 2014 23:04:34 GMT -5
It's the apache tears, obsidian or glass that causes the pressure buildup. They have tiny ( or not so tiny) pressurized bubbles in them. As the bubbles are ground down, the pressure is released. I have had barrel tops blown off by these materials more than once. Should have mentioned earlier to pre heat the rocks with hot water, then use hot water in the barrel. As the rocks and water cool, it causes a minor vacuum in the barrel, compensating for the release of gasses by the obsidian.
I now use hot water for all tumbles. It might lead to a little faster barrel wear in the areas that suck in as the pressure goes down. Never had problems with fermentation, but I clean out weekly.
Sorry if my advice caused you problems.
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