jessiegumdrop
having dreams about rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 63
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Post by jessiegumdrop on Sept 26, 2015 18:36:08 GMT -5
What process do you use to check rocks to move to the next stage? There has to be a better way than doing a complete clean out.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 26, 2015 18:43:54 GMT -5
no magic trick for that one. I inspect every rock every week. impossible to tell if some are ready without rinsing and inspecting. With 36 pounds rolling in rotaries I average three pounds per week ready for stage two and that keeps the loto going 24-7
Chuck
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Sept 26, 2015 18:49:25 GMT -5
I should add that the only exception would be if I have a barrel full of nothing but hard rocks like Lake Superior agates. In that scenario might just rinse and add new grit the first few weeks knowing nothing could possibly be ready.
Chuck
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Post by Jugglerguy on Sept 26, 2015 19:14:51 GMT -5
I do what Chuck does. I rinse the whole barrel and dry any rocks that might be done. Every rock gets inspected individually. I think that's the fun part of the hobby. After all, aren't we doing this because we like to look at rocks?
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Sept 26, 2015 21:08:40 GMT -5
Nope, not me. I do it because I know no better! If ya can't look at your rocks one at a time, over and over, you are probably not as sick as the rest of us, and maybe should look into jigsaw puzzles? Yup, this rock stuff is not for the impatient!
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Post by nowyo on Sept 26, 2015 21:28:34 GMT -5
Yeah, dump 'em, rinse 'em, check 'em. Part of the fun is watching individual stones change with time. That said, I haven't been running the big tumbler the past couple of months because I just didn't have time to mess with it.
Russ
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Post by captbob on Sept 26, 2015 23:39:56 GMT -5
Checking rocks
Thanks for the reminder.
I have a 15 lb barrel of Stone Canyon jasper running in 80 grit. Started in May (I think) and last time I check them -cleanout&recharge- was the end of June. I do check that the barrel is still turning every day.
Note to self: check rocks
someday
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Oct 1, 2015 12:48:33 GMT -5
LOL at checking every rock every week. Too much work. I rinse and inspect a few when I reload grit. It's generally pretty obvious when they're ready to go from coarse grind in the roller to medium in the vibe.
There's enough work already when you're running 50 pounds or more. Like sorting the final product, and sawing/ hammering/ nipping the rough down to size, and doing quality control on stuff out of coarse. That alone is many an afternoon's delight.
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Post by orrum on Oct 1, 2015 15:08:45 GMT -5
I check mine like every 6 weeks and pull out the ones that r ready for the Loto. What you should ask is what do we consider resdy? For me rounded, no pits, vugs or fractures. Unless I am tumbling some slabs mixed in or slabbets and of course no pits, vugs etc but they r flat when I pull them with rounded edges. Been tumbling pet wood slabs from Kap all summer and cranking out huge tumble pendsnts, sun catchers and chimes. Thanks Kap!!!!
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lhr
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2015
Posts: 15
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Post by lhr on Oct 2, 2015 8:45:00 GMT -5
Probably a dumb question from a newbie, but how can you inspect rocks without a complete cleanout? My barrels get sludge over the edges while I'm opening them. (Lortone 3 lb tumbler barrels.) I wouldn't want to put the top back on without cleaning both the barrel edge and the top edge. Am I doing something wrong?
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Post by captbob on Oct 2, 2015 9:07:44 GMT -5
Using a spray bottle will help you clean up the top rim of your barrel when just checking so that you can put the lid back on without all that grit/slurry messing up the seal. Just spray towards the inside of the barrel while rotating it and you can easily clean up the mess. The spray won't be adding enough water to the mix to make a difference.
Same way (spray bottle) you can pull out a few rocks, spray them off to check their progress. Maybe add more grit when checking if needed without doing a full cleanout.
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lhr
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2015
Posts: 15
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Post by lhr on Oct 4, 2015 10:17:17 GMT -5
Thanks. I'll try that if this rain ever stops long enough to get outside. I live in South Carolina, and it's raining hard enough right now, that I could just put the rocks out in the rain, instead of using a hose to wash them.
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Post by captbob on Oct 4, 2015 10:36:58 GMT -5
Saw the weather you are having on the news. Hope you aren't in the flooding zones. Stay safe!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 4, 2015 13:43:45 GMT -5
Yuppers,rinse and inspect...
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lhr
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2015
Posts: 15
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Post by lhr on Oct 4, 2015 18:38:37 GMT -5
Thanks, captbob. We've been safe & dry at home, but I work in a hospital, so I have to go out to work tomorrow. There are a lot of roads washed out, so this might be a challenge. We'll see.
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