rockchipkip14
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by rockchipkip14 on Jun 23, 2022 10:43:08 GMT -5
A better explanation of my "they will fight" comment. Take a two pound rock from a height of a few inches, drop it on another 2 pound rock. Now do that over and over. eventually one, or both, of them has a good chance of being damaged. Now take the same 2 pound rock and drop it onto a container of small rocks(pebbles). The big rock will not be damaged as the little ones will shift and move under the force of the larger rock absorbing the force of the impact. Also think about what is happening with the smaller rocks, they are being pushed and moved against each other by the force of the larger rock, increasing their grinding rate. That's my "Big rock is the hammer" theory. It does seem to work for me when grinding my larger rocks, the smalls shaped a lot quicker. I have not scientifically analyzed this and really have no intention of doing so, just following my casual observations. Good luck Henry Henry, that was a genius explanation of what happens! That totally makes sense! Heck, even I could follow that one!
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rockchipkip14
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by rockchipkip14 on Jun 23, 2022 10:43:51 GMT -5
HankRocks-makes perfect sense! Thanks!
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rockchipkip14
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by rockchipkip14 on Jun 23, 2022 10:45:40 GMT -5
"Just starting out" ... "Lortone Model C300" Haha! Starting with the big guns! I have a 12 pound barrel and I have tumbled some pretty large rocks. If the rock is around half the diameter of the barrel or larger, I would only do one. The other rocks need to be smaller than the rest of the diameter, otherwise they may get jammed in the barrel and not tumble. The bigger the rocks, the harder they tumble; so, I generally keep the barrels on the fuller (75%) side.
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rockchipkip14
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2020
Posts: 23
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Post by rockchipkip14 on Jun 23, 2022 10:46:58 GMT -5
"Starting out with the big guns"...great observation! Go big or not at all! Thanks for your insight.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Jun 23, 2022 13:48:47 GMT -5
I got frustrated with rolling the big ones rockchip and made five small barrels like 5 pounds each out of PVC pipe. My tumbler machine would roll all five at a time so I would stick a 1 to 3 pounder in each barrel with all smaller rocks and roll five at a time. It kept the operator busy though but those tumbles ended up being top shelf items.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 907
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Post by dshanpnw on Jun 24, 2022 8:28:49 GMT -5
This 12 pound barrel is labeled "my finds" since some of them I collected myself and the others were purchased or given to me. They have been tumbling for two weeks so far and have lost some mass. Average size about 2-3 inches each, no small ones for the ideal mix, so I included some ceramic media. I think they are shaping up okay. I'm just going to keep them going this way. 12 pound barrel and ceramic media brecciated and poppy jaspers found in Washington miscellaneous jasper, agate, and others tape measure for reference agate, jaspagate, and others barrel about 2/3 full minus the media Thanks for your interest
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Jun 24, 2022 10:52:22 GMT -5
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 952
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Post by nursetumbler on Jun 24, 2022 12:32:28 GMT -5
dshanpnw Is that white with colors the poppy? That is beautiful.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 907
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Post by dshanpnw on Jun 24, 2022 18:19:37 GMT -5
dshanpnw Is that white with colors the poppy? That is beautiful. That is a mixed rock of jasper, not poppy. The red ones with the orbs are the poppy's. The white with colors one might be one of the best rocks I've ever found on the river I think. It seriously did not look like much when I picked up, but I thought I better take it anyway. Unfortunately I didn't take a before photo. I'm glad you like it.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 907
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Post by dshanpnw on Jun 24, 2022 18:22:43 GMT -5
Thanks jamesp, we'll see how well they tumble. They can be difficult with the hematite, but these are pretty good ones.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 952
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Post by nursetumbler on Jun 25, 2022 2:52:38 GMT -5
dshanpnw That looks nice. Going to be very pretty when you get it done. Might be back out west in October. Maybe ban come up and go hunting with you
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Post by Bob on Jul 3, 2022 5:24:44 GMT -5
Rio pebbles that were naturally rounded). Gosh those are gorgeous. Which rio? That green one especially!
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