jobafunky
starting to shine!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 30
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Post by jobafunky on Jan 24, 2015 13:49:06 GMT -5
I'm polishing a 15# batch right now and I'm trying to get chips and cracks ground out. In the barrel, a third each, is zebra jasper, tortella agate, and broken agate slabs. There is also a # of ceramic media and 1# 45/70 grit. Been rolling for 2 weeks and I'm not seeing the progress I'd like. Advice? I'm trying attach some pics from my phone.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 24, 2015 14:05:19 GMT -5
I run my rough stage for months. I think you just have to hang in there and be patient, it takes a really long time. I'm not sure how a pound translates to tablespoons, but I use about a tablespoon per pound (or a little more). So I'd use about 12-20 tablespoons of grit in your tumbler. Then I do a weekly clean out where I inspect all the rocks. If I find any that are done, I take them out and replace them with more rough rocks. Then I'd add 15 TBSP grit again and let it go for another week.
How much water are you using? I use about 8 oz. in my 6 lb. barrels, so I'd go with about 20 oz. in a 15 lb. barrel.
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jobafunky
starting to shine!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 30
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Post by jobafunky on Jan 24, 2015 14:05:58 GMT -5
Link to rock pics:http://m.imgur.com/U3O1jVN,qHWBe61,6wCACVj
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jobafunky
starting to shine!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 30
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Post by jobafunky on Jan 24, 2015 14:16:02 GMT -5
I use just enough water to cover the rocks. What do you think about the rock in the pictures that seems to have a bunch of deep cracks worn into it? that is puzzling me.also should I keep the same water or change it for fresh?
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Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2015 14:23:09 GMT -5
As Rob said, 2 weeks ain't nuttin'. Get back to us in 2 months!
Not many stones in your pictures to judge an entire batch, but my suggestion would be to continually cull the batch during the coarse stage. Pull out rocks that have achieved the shape/smoothness you are after, each week or two and set them aside while adding fresh rough pieces. If you don't pull the pieces that are ready to move on, they will be pea sized by the time the really rough stuff is good to go to the next step. Not everything tumbles at the same rate or some pieces may be SO rough that they need to run longer than others even of the same type rock.
ETA: the pulled rocks will rejoin the batch as you move to finer grits.
Every 15 pound load you do will end up with pieces that need to be held back to run again. Get used to it - if you want really nice tumbled stones. I usually figure twice the poundage needs to be run to go on. But... I'm kinda picky. To be more clear, I almost always tumble TWO barrels of rough to to get one barrel of material ready to move on to the next step. Once your rocks make it through the coarse grind, the rocks you are left with should be good to go to the end.
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Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2015 14:30:19 GMT -5
Regarding water, there are as many different thoughts on how much to use as there are folks tumbling rocks.
Covering the rocks is kinda much in MY opinion. I also use less in the initial rough step than in future steps. Water is a good cushion for later stages where you don't need material ground away, but at the get go where you do want to shape the rocks, you really don't need the cushioning as it slows the process.
I would maybe go half way up the barrel for your coarse step, and then go progressively higher (more water) during the following stages. I'm usually close to the top of the rocks by the time I get to the finer grits and polish. But, everyone likes different recipes. See what works well for you.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 15:50:49 GMT -5
Greetings [jobafunky] firstly I have sent you a Private Message in order to get access to the PDF tutorials, Tortella Agate and Zebra Jasper are problem stones usually with mixed hardness in the same stone, the softer part of stone will create pits (holes). You can either fill the pits with super glue or a two-part-glue and let the glue set for at least 24 hours before putting it back to the tumbler, or cut or break the stone through the pits, so the pits are on the outside of the stone, if you leave the pits on the stones the pits collect grit and if you are not good at cleaning them the coarse can ruin the the next stage or entire polish batch. 45/70 is too coarse a grit for tumbling even in a 15 pound barrel, 60/90 or Fixed 80 Silicon Carbide grit is a better choice. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) virbrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
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Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2015 16:05:11 GMT -5
Fill the pits with Super Glue? seriously? 45/70 is pretty coarse and will probably end up wearing the barrel liner faster than 60/90 or 80 grit, but it's just fine if it's what he has. Joba, you may want to order an extra rubber lid gasket. I assume you have a Thumler's 15 Lb barrel - you can order the gasket here: www.therockshed.com/tumbler2.htmlMay as well pick up an extra drive belt while you're there. They wear out (stretch) and for 4 bucks each it's worth it to have a spare or two on hand.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 24, 2015 16:55:22 GMT -5
I've never heard of super glue working either. As for 45/70, I've never used it, but one of the best tumblers on this site uses it. Your rocks look fine for two weeks of tumbling. It's just going to take a while. That's normal. As for the rock that's severely cracked, it may never look good. Some rocks are just not suitable for tumbling. I'd let it go a while longer and make a judgement later. If it looks hopeless, take it out and replace it with a better rock. If there's just one big crack, I usually put a chisel in the crack and smack it with a hammer (Wear safety glasses). it's better to have two nice small rocks than one big cracked rock in my opinion. As for water, there are different opinions, but I've always used fresh water. There was a recent experiment done by tkvancil if you want to look at his results.
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Post by braders on Jan 24, 2015 21:07:16 GMT -5
I like to start with 30 feel I get more grind for my buck !!! Yet I tumble alot of stuff that has a build up on it . Ether way a coarse grind is a coarse grind it takes time Happy tumbling cheers
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,339
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Post by quartz on Jan 25, 2015 0:16:49 GMT -5
I did some zebra jasper once, the mtl. I had was WAY too soft to run with quartz, ran it alone, did fine. I've seen turretela [sp?] both hard and soft, some will run with quartz, some best alone. Might be some of your trouble. Getting a good tumble with most any rough rock is best timed with the calendar, patience is most important. Stick with it, you will get there.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 11:23:58 GMT -5
Greetings Super glue works just as well as a two-part-glue, if using a two-part-glue get one that dries clear, the glue is only a temporary patch and you may have to top it up again so check the stones at the end of each cycle. Please check out my Sticky's below. -- Please click images to open larger images in a new Tab, same with everything that is Underlined! I currently have a 3lb Beach (UK), Lortone QT 12/66 (USA) rotaries & 2x Viking Vibrasonic (Diamond Pacific) (USA) virbrating tumblers, with Silicon Carbide grit F80, F220, F600, F1200, with Tin Oxide (1.0 micron) & Aluminum Oxide (1.0 micron & 0.3 micron) polishes. I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens (15mb) sometimes come for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity! Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1#: Vendors worldwide (2mb), 2#: How to use the forum, 3#: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4#: Save money on expensive grits & polishes, 5#: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rock Tumbling Guide!
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Post by captbob on Jan 26, 2015 12:06:54 GMT -5
Hi Andrew, I'd love to understand this better.
I have had rocks that would have been cool to tumble with crystal vugs in them. Polishing the stone and retaining the interesting vug (without grit carry over from being in the vug) would be a trick I would very much like to learn. If it's even possible...
How do you remove the glue after the tumbling is complete?
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Post by broseph82 on Jan 26, 2015 12:15:41 GMT -5
Hi Andrew, I'd love to understand this better. I have had rocks that would have been cool to tumble with crystal vugs in them. Polishing the stone and retaining the interesting vug (without grit carry over from being in the vug) would be a trick I would very much like to learn. If it's even possible... How do you remove the glue after the tumbling is complete? Acetone eats glue. When people use glue to fill in cracks and whatnot they take it to the wheels to remove the excess and what's in the crack stays there. Rock club here always tell me to soak anything with superglue in acetone and within a few hours the glue will be gone.
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Post by captbob on Jan 26, 2015 12:38:22 GMT -5
Acetone eats glue. When people use glue to fill in cracks and whatnot they take it to the wheels to remove the excess and what's in the crack stays there. Rock club here always tell me to soak anything with superglue in acetone and within a few hours the glue will be gone. With no damage to the polish or what is inside the vug? Very cool.
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Post by broseph82 on Jan 26, 2015 13:22:40 GMT -5
Acetone eats glue. When people use glue to fill in cracks and whatnot they take it to the wheels to remove the excess and what's in the crack stays there. Rock club here always tell me to soak anything with superglue in acetone and within a few hours the glue will be gone. With no damage to the polish or what is inside the vug? Very cool. I cannot answer that. I wouldn't think so, but you know as well as I do it's all indicative to the material. Quartz, I'd probably say it wouldn't hurt any crystals.
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