Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Apr 21, 2020 1:30:30 GMT -5
Brace yourselves for a level of stupid like you've never seen before. I'm going to put a 9 lb Brazilian Agate into a 12 lb barrel. Because it technically fits. And I have lost all sense of reason. When I joined this forum I said I wanted to push the limits of what's possible. Here we are, pushing beyond even what I have been attempting to pull off. The plan, especially for this first week, is to run this thing exclusively with pea gravel. I'm literally going through my entire stash of quartz with a 3/8" screen. I'm going to run it with a lower fill level of rock to encourage motion of this large stone. It's going to be Monday night through Friday night of this week since I ended up working all weekend and didn't have time to do all of this on my normal Friday night cleanout. But given what we've seen with large stones, it'll probably have eaten up all the SiC in 2-3 days, which is fine. If I can manage to get a few millimetres off this it'll start to roll better and better, which might allow for slightly larger material, like grape sized, to be added. So, care to join me? Week 0: 4086g (9.01 lbs) - Going into 36 SiC. So as always, next week, the big reveal!
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Post by HankRocks on Apr 21, 2020 4:31:29 GMT -5
It seems like this may not work as you hope as the biggest issue may be imbalance caused by that big a rock. Also your grinding rate will be very reduced with movement being so restricted. I would like to see a picture of the rock just sitting in the barrel.
Henry
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Apr 21, 2020 7:11:55 GMT -5
I agree with Henry. Tumbling something this size is a real stretch and I don't think your pea rock will generate enough cutting force. Do you know anyone with a diamond saw that can cut and trim this beast down to about 2-3" pieces that will give your some fabulous tumbles?
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Apr 21, 2020 12:43:54 GMT -5
So this photo is the closest to what you're asking that I took before buttoning everything up. You both might be right, right? But we'll see, of course. I can say that I test fit it by itself in the barrel, put the lid on, and it does flop around in the barrel. Did the same thing before putting it on the base with it loaded with the pea gravel, grit, and kitty litter. It goes kachunk-kachunk, kind of lopsidedly, but that's how some of the other big ones sounded as well, but this one that effect is more pronounced. But that's the point of all this. Maybe it's really dumb, maybe I'll blow everyone's mind. I want to see where the limit of what's possible exists in the realm of rock size compared to barrel dimensions. I'm going to take everyone on the journey and show the good, bad, and ugly of it, success or failure.
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,548
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Apr 21, 2020 14:26:32 GMT -5
Even if the size isnt an issue may still be slow going cuz the outer shell on those Brazilians seem to take forever to grind away. But interested to see how it plays out. Btw that crazy lace is looking mighty fine!
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whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 317
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Post by whyofquartz on Apr 21, 2020 15:10:06 GMT -5
my experiance with pea-gravel was that it just didn't weigh enough to do as much grinding as I expected. i got some very soft rounding but not much progress
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shardy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2019
Posts: 110
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Post by shardy on Apr 21, 2020 15:30:20 GMT -5
Great idea. Can't wait to watch it roll.
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Post by RocksInNJ on Apr 21, 2020 16:16:13 GMT -5
I commend you for this. At least for me a lot of the fun is in the experimenting and learning of it all. What grit are you using for this? You might be better with a coarser grit than 46/70. As stated above the outer rind on the rock will probably take forever to grind down. Especially with the pea gravel. Though like you said, I think that once it reduces some and you can get some larger pieces in there with it, it’ll go a bit more smoothly.
In any case. I really hope you stick with this to the end. I think it’ll take a very long time, but from the looks of that rock I bet it’ll be spectacular when finished. I’m really excited to follow this. No matter how long it takes. Best of luck my friend and thanks once again for sharing with us.
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Post by pauls on Apr 21, 2020 16:42:01 GMT -5
That is a nice Agate. There's a big flake of material at the top left on that first photo that I would be trying to remove before you start, otherwise it's likely to come off just when things are starting to look nice, then you will be back to square one.
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Apr 25, 2020 2:29:22 GMT -5
Week 1: 36 SiC. 4060g (8.95 lbs). Running total mass loss: 0.6% More like 4 days, and questionable loading. El Oh El. I recovered a lot of SiC. Neato Magneto. BUT it's verking! I didn't say it's working well! But! I see great promise, I promise. Herpity Derpity, off to Workity it goes! More Grinding, Moar ROCK, Moor bigger LITTLE ones. Squirrel!
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 472
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Post by rockstock on Apr 25, 2020 5:26:24 GMT -5
It took that brown crust layer off pretty quick, now to wait to see more agate nice
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Apr 25, 2020 6:36:11 GMT -5
I have been waiting for someone to do this. I say brilliant. Looks like 6:8 or 3:4 ratio, roundish rock:barrel. Maybe better a 5:8 ratio. Liking the rounded smalls for ball bearing effect. Wondering if flatter smalls would get er done quicker. Feel sorry for the smalls either way. Lots of grinding pressure either way, curious if SiC will circulate efficiently. Perhaps slurry starter would help if not using it. It did remove the skin efficiently, big victory there ! ETA Brazil makes wicked hard agates. Most agate hammer mill balls are ground out of Brazilian agate. as are agate hammer mill jars
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Post by RocksInNJ on Apr 25, 2020 23:22:01 GMT -5
Looking great minus that chip, but better now than later.
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Post by 1dave on Apr 26, 2020 13:39:57 GMT -5
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Apr 26, 2020 14:21:19 GMT -5
I'm going to see about getting a chisel in there this next cleanout. Hoping the grinding will make some of that thinner and weaker so it's easier to chip out.
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Prov
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2020
Posts: 116
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Post by Prov on Apr 26, 2020 17:37:17 GMT -5
This looks like a really fun tumble, I love these threads. Can't wait to see how it comes out next week!
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on May 2, 2020 18:10:55 GMT -5
Week 2: 36 SiC. 4034g (8.89 lbs). Running total mass loss: 1.3% Outdoor overcast pics this time. The smalls I've been adding to it are getting a little bigger. At this point they're more along the 1/2 inch or so range. I either need to go hounding for more smalls, hammer the big chunks I have, or find a place locally to buy a bag of quartz smalls in order to keep this thing fed. Borderline milkshake in the barrel this time. Also, I need to stare at this a bit today and figure out where I'm going to stick the chisel, and then tappy tap tap. Edit: Post chisel mass: 4011g
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whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 317
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Post by whyofquartz on May 4, 2020 12:10:55 GMT -5
Week 2: 36 SiC. 4034g (8.89 lbs). Running total mass loss: 1.3% Outdoor overcast pics this time. The smalls I've been adding to it are getting a little bigger. At this point they're more along the 1/2 inch or so range. I either need to go hounding for more smalls, hammer the big chunks I have, or find a place locally to buy a bag of quartz smalls in order to keep this thing fed. Borderline milkshake in the barrel this time. Also, I need to stare at this a bit today and figure out where I'm going to stick the chisel, and then tappy tap tap. Edit: Post chisel mass: 4011g PetCo had some nice adventurine(pale blue/green quartz, i think that is adventurine) and some other decent quartz tank filler but playground gravel is also cheap and full of Quartzes and amalgams there-of.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,684
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Post by Tommy on May 4, 2020 12:15:28 GMT -5
Following
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Post by RocksInNJ on May 4, 2020 23:39:43 GMT -5
That side with the banding is looking really nice.
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