monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 15:33:54 GMT -5
5 years ago I bought a big bag(25 kg) of what looks like a rough Grit ( no id or any indications on the bag) my guess is a Grit 20 or 25. So i did start my tumbler and wanted to start using the Grit but after 1 week it looked like nothing happend at all besides getting some nasty foam in the barrel and all the gritt intact in the bottom. Ran 1 week of Grit 80 and it showed a clear difference Normally I use 3 tablespoons of grit and water 1-2 cm below the toplayer of the rocks so I used the same recepie so I'm a bit Surpriced. Any suggestions to the missing action?
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 13, 2016 18:18:43 GMT -5
The action in a 3 pound barrel may not be aggressive enough to break down 25 grit. Too much water and or too many rocks are the other possibilities. If you were too try it again cut back on the amount of rocks so there is more room in the barrel to create extra action.
Chuck
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 22:11:38 GMT -5
What is the RPM of your barrel?
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Jun 14, 2016 7:02:45 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck. A 6 inch barrel or bigger is a great size to grind harder and break down coarser grit. 3 pounders great for 80-220-500-1000-polish.
You could try a half cup of clay or kitty litter to thicken the slurry. That might pick up that heavy 25 grit and get it circulating. I have had trouble with heavy grit like that in my 6 inch barrels; use clay to thicken the slurry to a milk shake consistency.
Dirty water is heavier than clean water. So such particles tend to be lighter in weight in dirty water than in clean water and begin to circulate.
Worth a try if you have so much 25 grit.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 8:30:28 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck. A 6 inch barrel or bigger is a great size to grind harder and break down coarser grit. 3 pounders great for 80-220-500-1000-polish. You could try a half cup of clay or kitty litter to thicken the slurry. That might pick up that heavy 25 grit and get it circulating. I have had trouble with heavy grit like that in my 6 inch barrels; use clay to thicken the slurry to a milk shake consistency. Dirty water is heavier than clean water. So such particles tend to be lighter in weight in dirty water than in clean water and begin to circulate. Worth a try if you have so much 25 grit. Kitty litter from walmart seems to work for me. www.walmart.com/ip/Jonny-Cat-Original-Maximum-Odor-Control-Cat-Litter-20-Lb-Cats-Cats/10804942Mine cost less. You dont need bells and scents and whistles. Just the cheapest clay kitty litter. Jonny cat is the 900# gorilla of kitty litter.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Jun 14, 2016 10:35:53 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck. A 6 inch barrel or bigger is a great size to grind harder and break down coarser grit. 3 pounders great for 80-220-500-1000-polish. You could try a half cup of clay or kitty litter to thicken the slurry. That might pick up that heavy 25 grit and get it circulating. I have had trouble with heavy grit like that in my 6 inch barrels; use clay to thicken the slurry to a milk shake consistency. Dirty water is heavier than clean water. So such particles tend to be lighter in weight in dirty water than in clean water and begin to circulate. Worth a try if you have so much 25 grit. Kitty litter from walmart seems to work for me. www.walmart.com/ip/Jonny-Cat-Original-Maximum-Odor-Control-Cat-Litter-20-Lb-Cats-Cats/10804942Mine cost less. You dont need bells and scents and whistles. Just the cheapest clay kitty litter. Jonny cat is the 900# gorilla of kitty litter. I like it. When using raw clay repeatability is a bit of an issue. Kitty litter likely consistent. Just cheap raw kitty litter sounds best. Like you say, scent useless.
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 14:15:31 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck. A 6 inch barrel or bigger is a great size to grind harder and break down coarser grit. 3 pounders great for 80-220-500-1000-polish. You could try a half cup of clay or kitty litter to thicken the slurry. That might pick up that heavy 25 grit and get it circulating. I have had trouble with heavy grit like that in my 6 inch barrels; use clay to thicken the slurry to a milk shake consistency. Dirty water is heavier than clean water. So such particles tend to be lighter in weight in dirty water than in clean water and begin to circulate. Worth a try if you have so much 25 grit. Aha finally I understand kitty litter!! And it makes totally sense, I Think you are spot on with the Grit beeing to heavy. Been moving that bag around for the past 5 years - so it has to work now. Started a new batch Yesterday but Will add some Kitty litter tomorrow. Thanks for the advice
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 14:17:50 GMT -5
What is the RPM of your barrel? 35 RPM It's the small 2x1 kg from Lortone Need a bigger tumbler;0)
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 14:20:39 GMT -5
The action in a 3 pound barrel may not be aggressive enough to break down 25 grit. Too much water and or too many rocks are the other possibilities. If you were too try it again cut back on the amount of rocks so there is more room in the barrel to create extra action. Chuck Thanks, Started a batch Yesterday with less water. I noticed that there was just a bit more than normal in my last batch that i gave up on.
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 14:24:30 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck. A 6 inch barrel or bigger is a great size to grind harder and break down coarser grit. 3 pounders great for 80-220-500-1000-polish. You could try a half cup of clay or kitty litter to thicken the slurry. That might pick up that heavy 25 grit and get it circulating. I have had trouble with heavy grit like that in my 6 inch barrels; use clay to thicken the slurry to a milk shake consistency. Dirty water is heavier than clean water. So such particles tend to be lighter in weight in dirty water than in clean water and begin to circulate. Worth a try if you have so much 25 grit. Kitty litter from walmart seems to work for me. www.walmart.com/ip/Jonny-Cat-Original-Maximum-Odor-Control-Cat-Litter-20-Lb-Cats-Cats/10804942Mine cost less. You dont need bells and scents and whistles. Just the cheapest clay kitty litter. Jonny cat is the 900# gorilla of kitty litter. Funny that kitty litter is x2 the Price compared to the Price in Denmark. Everything else is Way cheaper over-there.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Jun 14, 2016 15:34:05 GMT -5
Not to sure that Denmark has much clay to make Kitty Litter. Love those thick roofs over there. Marsh roots-thatch or something like that. Those canals in Copenhagen, beautiful. Took that giant hovercraft across the North Sea to Sweden.
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 17:00:15 GMT -5
Not to sure that Denmark has much clay to make Kitty Litter. Love those thick roofs over there. Marsh roots-thatch or something like that. Those canals in Copenhagen, beautiful. Took that giant hovercraft across the North Sea to Sweden. Yeah those roofs are made from the clay we dig out of the ground and burned and made to bricks. I Think it originates from germany, we have a long history of german workers coming to Denmark to make those roofs. Sweden is verry nice, so much great Nature and pretty rocks
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 17:01:01 GMT -5
Funny that kitty litter is x2 the Price compared to the Price in Denmark. Everything else is Way cheaper over-there. That is ~9kg bag. Prices all over the place. I paid US$4 for my bag.
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 14, 2016 17:10:25 GMT -5
If the kitty litter helps to my problem, hoping that beeing the only issue, Will the rough Grit break Down as fast as Grit 80 or does it require longer tumbling?
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Jun 14, 2016 20:02:15 GMT -5
I use 30 grit with clay. No doubt the 30 grit grinds faster than the 80 grit. Again, the clay helps circulate the grit. Best is to give it a go. After 3-6 days open the barrel and look for those big grit particles. If they are not obviously broken down then you may have an issue. If they are broken down and you can't find them then you are getting a great grinding action. success
Run barrel 65-75% full with clay/litter slurry right at rock level. For 3 pound barrel I would try a half cup of clay/litter. Open barrel after a day and make sure slurry is not to thick/thin. Target a milk shake consistency. If too thick, pour some slurry off and add water. If too thin, add clay/litter. you have to find the amount needed for your barrel and additive by a bit of trail and error.
would be nice to use that 25 grit. I hope it is SiC 25(black, sharp and glistens).
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 15, 2016 3:39:02 GMT -5
I use 30 grit with clay. No doubt the 30 grit grinds faster than the 80 grit. Again, the clay helps circulate the grit. Best is to give it a go. After 3-6 days open the barrel and look for those big grit particles. If they are not obviously broken down then you may have an issue. If they are broken down and you can't find them then you are getting a great grinding action. success Run barrel 65-75% full with clay/litter slurry right at rock level. For 3 pound barrel I would try a half cup of clay/litter. Open barrel after a day and make sure slurry is not to thick/thin. Target a milk shake consistency. If too thick, pour some slurry off and add water. If too thin, add clay/litter. you have to find the amount needed for your barrel and additive by a bit of trail and error. would be nice to use that 25 grit. I hope it is SiC 25(black, sharp and glistens). Added some kitty litter today and just waiting to check tomorrow. The grit has gotten some water during the years (so some particles a bit rusty) but I guess it still works - still not ready to quit the bag 80 grit vs 20 or 25 or ?
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
|
Post by jamesp on Jun 15, 2016 5:26:05 GMT -5
The rust is normal for damp SiC. No problem. SiC is bulletproof, no chance of degrading-no way. Actually telling that it is likely SiC.
So photo above is 80 grit on right ? If so left looks like 16 on left. I have used 8 and 16, only with clay thickener though.
I tell you, since using clay in a 6 inch barrel at 30 RPM my 30 grit is broke down to nothing in 2-3 days. Have learned to add grit every 2-3 days. No more 7 day runs. Will be curious if the little 3 pounder breaks down your coarse grit.
I have another tumbler that rotates very slow at 12 RPM with a 6 inch barrel. It takes 10 days to break down 30 grit, way slower. 30 RPM much more quicker than 12 RPM. The 12 RPM is for very delicate or large rocks
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 9:30:52 GMT -5
Sweden is verry nice, so much great Nature and pretty rocks And Steig Larsen. Sad for his passing. But now I can watch Swedish actors (with subtitles) on American television. I love the cadence of your language. Cheers to Steig and all of Sweden! jamesp how does SiC 'rust'?
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 26, 2016 16:56:21 GMT -5
Sweden is verry nice, so much great Nature and pretty rocks And Steig Larsen. Sad for his passing. But now I can watch Swedish actors (with subtitles) on American television. I love the cadence of your language. Cheers to Steig and all of Sweden! jamesp how does SiC 'rust'? Not really sure who steig Larsen was, but if He was a sports person i for sure won't know who He was. But yes sweden has a lot more to offer than Denmark when it comes to Nature. So I feel lucky that I get to visit sweden a lot in my work.
|
|
monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
|
Post by monna0000 on Jun 26, 2016 17:07:23 GMT -5
A Quick status on the grit situation: i've been trying to add cat litter and getting the right slurry. That went fine, but still not much action(ran a batch of grit 80 to compare) so I have to conclude that the tumbler/barrel are to small( good excuse to invest in a new tumbler ;0) So I'm back to grit 80 Leaving for vacation tomorrow so for the next 6 weeks the tumbler Will run only with grit 80 and the rocks. Filled it with flint and looking forward to seeing the results.
|
|