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Post by captbob on Jan 22, 2015 23:49:06 GMT -5
The only bad news is he survived.
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rockit
starting to shine!
Member since January 2015
Posts: 44
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Post by rockit on Jan 23, 2015 2:17:11 GMT -5
When I read that your are doing them in your basement. REMEMBER NEVER PUT YOUR WASTE WATER DOWN YOUR DRAIN. We all end up putting a little bit down the drain. Don't lie and say you've never dumped just a little grit down there. :-) No worries, basement has outside access only, so everything gets dumped in the side yard, the borax, the slurry...I like to confuse the weeds that insist on growing there.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 23, 2015 11:19:24 GMT -5
rockit I have had similar issues in the past. Used to do a burnish/wash between all stages but found a good rinse was all that was needed. Exception being the step before polish. I have lost more rocks in the burnish than any where else due to chipping and cracking. Here was my "cure". Load the barrel normally with my rocks, water, and soap/borax. Then top the load off with plastic pellets to 90 perhaps even 95 percent full. Only leaves about 1/2 inch head space in a 3# barrel. Seemed to work for me.
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Post by captbob on Jan 23, 2015 11:26:49 GMT -5
I have lost more rocks in the burnish than any where else due to chipping and cracking. Here was my "cure". Load the barrel normally with my rocks, water, and soap/borax. Then top the load off with plastic pellets to 90 perhaps even 95 percent full. Ken, this is without a doubt the most important (to me) thing that I will read here today - maybe this week! Thank you - will explain later. Gotta go dig in the yard. *poof*
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 23, 2015 13:37:48 GMT -5
I think the reason I haven't had problems with washing/burnishing is because I'm doing it in a vibe. It sounds like it's a lot trickier in a rotary. I haven't had good luck with plastic pellets in my rotary during the first stage, but I've heard that they're not so bad in later stages. I've found them a hassle to use though. I don't enjoy straining them out of the water an using different pellets for different stages. tkvancil, have you tried using ceramic pellets with the rotary tumbler instead of plastic?
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Jan 23, 2015 14:08:49 GMT -5
I wash everything outside . I built a shed for my tumblers . I was told when I was very young its ok to lie but only for financial gain.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 23, 2015 14:40:00 GMT -5
Riverrock, I think you may need a 12 step program to deal with your problem. Oh, and I'm jealous too.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 23, 2015 15:20:43 GMT -5
riverrock, why do you prefer Thumler's tumblers over Lortones? I've heard the motors are better but the barrels are more prone to leak.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jan 23, 2015 15:33:07 GMT -5
riverrock has a processing plant. Serious out fit man.
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Jan 23, 2015 17:05:36 GMT -5
I prefer the thumblers over the lortones . One of the lortones did leak on me. But I was told that it was because the lids can warp, I was told that i can try to just roll it back into shape.. Now I had issues with the thumblers pulley and bearings, did not know they had to be oiled or they burn out fast. And the bearing grove where the drive belts sit wear down , but I just let them ride on the outside when they worn out. And after a while the drive shafts rubber wears out too. But I have been running them for years now. I have only had to replace one motor so far . And the vib screw had broken twice and blew that motor once that was very costly. The reason it looks like it does because I let it run with the lid off to watch it. The wife yells when I come in the house because it's all over my me as well. Now I do have room for a cabbing machine on the other side , but still waiting for to find the funds .
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Post by MrP on Jan 23, 2015 21:15:33 GMT -5
Nice setup..............MrP
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Post by roy on Jan 24, 2015 8:34:13 GMT -5
that mix is not a problem, and even the hardest rocks had gouges. I think your burnish w/o pellets may have been too harsh. without slurry or pellets it would have been pretty clinky in there. I was afraid of that, thought about it a few hours later *d'oh* broseph82 don't have a wheel-but I do have a dremel (with a flex-shaft). hmmm...not all the rocks have chunks missing, I'll assess them better next week, gotta take care of other stuff this weekend. thank-you all for your help! keep all the ones that look ok out and the ones with the chips throw back in with some new rough in the 60/90 this way when you get enough that look good you can then run those in the polish stage ! you also might want to get a vibe for the polishing stages that is how i do it use the tumbler for grinding and the vibe for polish
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 24, 2015 9:44:09 GMT -5
I think the reason I haven't had problems with washing/burnishing is because I'm doing it in a vibe. It sounds like it's a lot trickier in a rotary. I haven't had good luck with plastic pellets in my rotary during the first stage, but I've heard that they're not so bad in later stages. I've found them a hassle to use though. I don't enjoy straining them out of the water an using different pellets for different stages. tkvancil, have you tried using ceramic pellets with the rotary tumbler instead of plastic? Why, yes, yes I have. I would do a 3# barrel in 240 at about 80% volume. Then use the ceramic to make up volume in the 600. Then a few more after that to make up volume for the polish. I actually preferred the ceramic over plastic pellets. The 80% volume gave all the cushion needed. The plastic pellets became burnish only.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jan 24, 2015 10:00:25 GMT -5
rockit- i built a giant tire tumbler. it bruised rocks terribly. But they were 'half moon' fractures. The pocking in your rocks can occur in a vibe built for polishing metals, never seen that in a rotary though. Except-heat treated agates-much imported stone is heated to enhance color. If they do not get the moisture out of the stones before heating it pock fractures like that will develop at heating and pop off in the tumbler. Not likely in your case, since a variety of rocks had the pocks. This tire tumbler was a rock destroyer : Damage it caused: inside of same rock:
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rockit
starting to shine!
Member since January 2015
Posts: 44
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Post by rockit on Jan 27, 2015 9:04:19 GMT -5
Sorry for not replying for the last few days, I was at the beach and there was no cell service (which I love). Yes, I did go look for rocks, even at high tide. I will post my haul later. tkvancil okay, more pellets! When I did remember to put them in, I tossed in 3 handfulls of pellets wondering if it was too much. Though, I think they may be the end of me, they act like glitter...stick to everything, and I keep finding stray pellets here and there. Ugh. Since you are able to use ceramic in a 3# rotary, it gives me an excuse to place an order from the Rock Shed... roy I promised the Mr. I would not buy a vibe. At least not now, I want to see if I have the 'gift' of making some cool stuff. I'm interested in wire wrapping, crabbing, etc. I will be separating the rocks for the different runs. jamesp that is quite the tire tumbler! For some reason, I happen to be 'one of those people', all the weird/odd stuff happens to me that never happens to anybody else. :/ riverrock I'm impressed with your setup!
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