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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 9, 2011 12:21:44 GMT -5
You left one important detail out. Thumler tublers are a classic "candy apple" red colour. Lorotone tumblers are a depressing shade of "old man" blue usually resolved for golfer's clothing and really bad liesure suits.
All kidding aside (not that I was), if there is grit left over, for some reason you are not getting enough tumbling action. This could be the result of:
- an unbalanced load - too much grit - too much water - not enough RPM due to low voltage or brown-out - not enough RPM due to belt slippage or problems with the motor
Given that you are successfulr with a Thumler and have problems with a Lorotone, perhaps it is an idication of an inferior tumbler. It will be interesting to hear what others have to say, especially those RTHers thay run both machines.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 9, 2011 7:45:48 GMT -5
Good luck on your learning adventure. The more you learn about geology (how and where rocks are formed) the better rockhound you will beocme. Who would think that those Chemistry classes that most of us slept through would come in handy one day.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 9, 2011 7:30:18 GMT -5
Photo #3 - I love how rock hounds push the envelope of structural integrity. A few more slabs on thayt shelf and you could find yourself working in a rock fall zone.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 8, 2011 12:06:58 GMT -5
Ditto on The Rock Shed. I use 1000F AO for pre-polish and their AO polish. Both work well in rotary or vibratory tumblers for most rocks.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 7, 2011 7:36:41 GMT -5
I aslo use an 8" Ameritool and ran into the same problem.
Your sanding disks are flexible. This is ideal for ploishing domed cabs, but a problem for polishing flats. If you try to polish a flat on a flexible disk, the edges tend to polish, but the centre tends to ride above the disk. The more pressure you apply, the more pronouced the problem.
You need to invest in a set of faceting disks. ie - the rigid metal bonded diamond disks. It's expensive, but will also allow you to finish slabs and end cuts.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 4, 2011 15:11:27 GMT -5
Definately do not recycle the water. You will contaminate your disks.
I have a similar syle unit by Ameritool. Get some plastic tubing from the local aquarium shop, or wine supply store. I run a few feet of tubing from my workbench to a 5 gallon bucket on the floor. It takes a few hours to fill the 5 gallon bucket. This saves on the number of trips to empty.
If you are in a cold area, run lukewarm water through your reservoir. The cabs won't mind a bit and your fingers will appreciate the love.
Like any other rock contaminated water, do not pour the water down a drain. It will settle to the bottom of the drain and turn into concrete over time.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 4, 2011 7:52:20 GMT -5
I could definately increase sales if I had a model like that! I know if I ever came across a pair of agates like that, I would never be able to part with them. They woiuld simply be placed on the specimen shelf and admired for what they are.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 4, 2011 7:47:28 GMT -5
Not sure if you are refering to vertically, or horizontally mounted disks. If you are using a flat lap (horizintally mounted disks), use lots of water. I don't use a drip, drip, drip. I use a steady stream. This keeps things cool, prevents glogging of the disks, and preserves the life of the disks. Water is cheap. Disks are expensive. Use lots of water. Use fewer disks.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 2, 2011 12:34:48 GMT -5
Don't complain about Flat Rate boxes, or the USPS. At least this is an option for you. We have no such option here in Canada. It costs us Canucks about $3/lb to $4/lb to ship rocks to and frokm the USA.
Imagine paying $50 to $60 to ship a 20 lb FRB. The postage typically exceeds the value of the contents. Now that is something to complain about.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 24, 2011 17:48:12 GMT -5
I like Photo #3. At first galnce, my mind saw a pan of bacon! Then again, Photo #1 reminded me of Tiger-Tiger ice cream. I think I better go get something to eat. Nice slices.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 23, 2011 7:45:02 GMT -5
Gidday, eh? Remebmber not to confuse a prairie agate with a prairie oyster and everything should be OK.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 23, 2011 7:40:22 GMT -5
At $45 a pound, I hope things work out! Looks like it will have a jade like appearance when polished. Nice intense green.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 23, 2011 7:37:07 GMT -5
Looks like pink and green plume agate from India. I bought something similar from Stone Age Industries that looks like that.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 23, 2011 7:33:05 GMT -5
Ah yes ... addiction takes many forms. Randy left out the part about family vacations being centred around rock hounding and geologic discovery.
Back to the original question ... you definately need a small roatary to prepare rocks for finishing in your vibe. Either match the barrel capacities (3 lb rotary for 3 lb vibe), or have the roatry capacity exceed the vibe capacity. I have a 15lb rotary to feed my 10 lb vibe. The rotary barely keeps up because the rotary takes much longer, especially in the 60/90 stage. Also, not everything oin the rotary is suitable for moving on to the vibe.
Be careful ... addiction takes many forms.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 21, 2011 7:33:58 GMT -5
It should hold together and even polish, but it will be fiull of voids, likie a sponge.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 20, 2011 11:04:16 GMT -5
It sounds like too much water was your problem along with too few fines. I use a Model B to prepare stones for my vibe. This is what works for me.
3/4 barrel full of rock (half the load should be 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch) 1/2 barrel full of water 12 tbsp to 15 tbsp of 46/70 SC grit 7 day cycle
After 7 days, you should have 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of mud in the bottom of the barrel with no sign of grit in the mix. If you see signs of grit, you should reduce the grit quantity (15 tbsp to 12 tbsp), or increase the cycle time by a few more days.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 18, 2011 11:05:52 GMT -5
What do I think about that material, you ask. I think you should send me a piece. That's what I think. LOL!
Really interesting stuff. I like the combo of translucent moss/plume with the speckles.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 18, 2011 11:01:40 GMT -5
If you can afford one, Dremel makes a really nice drill press that you lock your hand tool into. It will function as a drill press, or rotate the tool 90-degrees so you can use it a a grinder. A $60 invstment may save your fingers. That's only $6/digit, if you include your thumbs.
Darryl.
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OJ Slab
Feb 18, 2011 10:47:15 GMT -5
Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 18, 2011 10:47:15 GMT -5
And they say, "Size doesn't matter". Ya, right! That's an amazing piece. There must be 10 or 12 decent sized cabs hiding in that slice.
Darryl.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 18, 2011 10:42:07 GMT -5
For supples, The Rock Shed will have what you need at reasonable prices. Service is top notch!
Expect to pay about $3/lb for grit and polish and between $3-$4/lb for tumbling rough. Learninbg to collect your own rock will both lower costs and increase personal satisfaction.
Welcome aboard.
Darryl.
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