scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Feb 24, 2017 18:17:10 GMT -5
I see no problem with re-using slurry. Two points of caution, 1)if you are using the slurry during 220 and finer stages you really need to make sure/be confident that there are no larger grit particles left in the slurry and, 2) I would only really try to do this in larger tumbler barrels (just my personal opinion formed with experience with my own equipment. You can if you have patience, take rounded prepared agate and (that is ready to move to 220) and load up the barrel with slurry and 80 grit and then let it run for 2-3 weeks and then go straight to tin oxide and get a really good finish (competition grade). I have done this on a few occasions in 14-50lb barrels when I have run out of 220 grit and really want to shift a load.
Cheers Scott
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Feb 20, 2017 0:33:41 GMT -5
I am all for having a go at whatever contest is going. Just remember running one will be a lot of work. I know his as I am the president of our local club and any competition is a lot of work if it is going to be rigorously run. I like the idea of a forum contest run once a year with a single material. Just my thoughts. Will be in... but just remember I live a little bit of a distance away compared with most members so getting material to me and then getting it back takes a while.
Here's a thought maybe the previous year’s winner gets to choose the next years material....
Cheers Scott
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Feb 17, 2017 1:30:40 GMT -5
OK guys here's what I might be doing...... I may have put mine into a drum that has a 20 pound capacity and I may have filled it really full..... (80% at least). My filler is a local rock (Round Hill jasper (which is not really a jasper) and I probabley have not used 80 grit or anything coarser.
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Feb 16, 2017 0:46:03 GMT -5
Mine don't look too bad. I will give you a hint.... go really gentle........
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Feb 5, 2017 19:10:45 GMT -5
Hi Vera,
Good on you for the progress, My picture jasper rounded up very nicely within a couple of weeks. After that I have shifted to a much less agressive plan to try to get them just right before moving on to the 220 and 600 stages. Just a quick question why not try to tumble the larger pieces whole?...
Good luck
Cheers Scott
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 23, 2017 13:33:00 GMT -5
Good first try. I think that the main problem that you have is that some of the rocks in that batch will always cause you issues due to pits and fractures. In particular the big white one needs to be excluded from the batch if you want a quick result. That one could go through many many cycles of the first stage before being, if ever, ready for the subsequent stages. Despite what the written instructions state. One week at stage one is, in my experience, never long enough. Sometimes it will take literally years to get some pieces ready to move on.... sometimes they will never be ready to move on. Once you have a load ready to move on then the second, third and polish stages will be finished in 7-10 days (each stage). The secret here is cleanliness. Both the rocks and the barrel have to be surgically clean when shifting between grit sizes. Finally, it really does help to have one barrel that is dedicated to the polish stage and only the polish stage.
If you are very patient and you follow the above then you will get a great polish.
Cheers Scott
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 16, 2017 22:22:45 GMT -5
that should have read "too long before starting"
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 16, 2017 22:22:06 GMT -5
I received my rocks at the beginning of last week and dumped them out in a flat box on my worktable. I was surprised at the amount of rocks - enough for two 3 pound barrels. I want to take pics before I start them, but have not been to the store for batteries for my camera that has not been used for several years. I look at my rocks each time I pass the table and think I will be breaking some of the larger ones to smaller pieces just because I prefer smaller rocks. After seeing Jugglerguys's rocks after only 5 days we know we have plenty of time to get our work done. His are looking very nice! They don't look so great dry. I would think twice about leaving things two long. As Jugglerguy says they look bad when they are dry... This will be a very difficult tumble to get right and it may take a lot longer than one thinks to get a good result. I have institued a plan B with mine... and I think that the approach taken in my plan B will result in a very gentle grind but that it will be a very long grind (now there's a hint for you)
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 13, 2017 0:04:32 GMT -5
It's defintely soft just had a quick peak at mine afer 24 hrs rolling and they are about five days ahead of where I thought they would be.... so time for plan B
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 12, 2017 14:30:39 GMT -5
Oh lordy lordy.... just got mine and am thinking farmakusta.... wft am I going to do with these. Guess the only saving grace is that every one has the same.... in they go to roll........ Dry Wet Farmakusta? I see some re potential there. Clean breaks. Not hackly splintered or large grained. Farmakusta is just a more vocal way of saying WTF.... Plenty of very fine fractures in this material.... just difficult to see. Also is soft and fairly grainy
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 12, 2017 14:27:58 GMT -5
Mine are rolling with a soft filler and 80 grit as I type. However, given the picture above I think that I will be looking at changing the game plan. Will leave them for a week and see
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 12, 2017 1:30:45 GMT -5
Oh lordy lordy.... just got mine and am thinking farmakusta.... wft am I going to do with these. Guess the only saving grace is that every one has the same.... in they go to roll........ Dry Wet
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 11, 2017 3:47:49 GMT -5
Still time to enter... just have to work out postage to New Zealand.
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 10, 2017 18:39:36 GMT -5
Still waiting on mine but they have a bit further to travel to get to me. Looks like a difficult job ahead. But the good news is that it will be the same for everyone
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Jan 7, 2017 15:18:08 GMT -5
From what I can find out on the internet as well as looking at the material in the picture I would say that although the competition rough is described as a Jasper it is really a type of wonderstone or rhyolite. Looks like it's going to be a tricky one😊
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Dec 31, 2016 0:34:11 GMT -5
Great I need some competition
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Dec 30, 2016 23:52:23 GMT -5
So cute, My wife always had ridgebacks when she lived at home. So we have decided to get one in the middle of 2017. Have identified a good breeder and been working frantically to make the yard and house dog proof and get things organised so wecan make sure that we have a dog with at least one of us 24/7 as we don't want to leave it alone while we work.
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Dec 30, 2016 23:43:31 GMT -5
I use tin oxide... but if the Micro-Alumina works for you keep on trucking with it
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Dec 30, 2016 23:37:12 GMT -5
So who's in for the challange
Entries are now open for the 2017 Worldwide Rock Tumbling Contest (http://www.featherriverrocks.org/rockin-info/rock-tumbling-contest-drop-down2)got second last year and hoping to go one better this year. The rock selected for 2017 is picture jasper from Hayden Hill, California and it looks like a real challange. Already entered myself so hoping a few RTH members will come along for the ride as well.
Cheers Scott
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scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
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Post by scottyh on Dec 26, 2016 17:39:28 GMT -5
Man, I am glad that it's early summer and in the mid 20s, Centigrade that is, down here in where I live
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