monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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?
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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)
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 17:57:47 GMT -5
Most if not all State Parks and National Parks rock collecting is a no-no. Petrified Forest and Painted Desert real big no-no. In fact Rockhound advertises as being the only park that allows rock collecting. You are allowed 25 lb. for personal use. Thanks for the info, that might have saved me from getting into troubles.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 16:50:32 GMT -5
Something must have gone wrong in my brain but I can't stop looking at all those nice rough rocks!
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 16:03:39 GMT -5
I clearly live on the wrong continent! Amazing that you have rocks like that, i would be out digging and rock hunting every Day. Nice stuff!
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 15:56:37 GMT -5
Rocks and shine like that is precisely the reason I wanted to go into the tumbling hobby! Really nice.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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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?
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 13, 2016 15:10:24 GMT -5
If you are camping while traveling and you are on I-10 in New Mexico might want to check Rockhound State Park in Deming. You are allowed to legally pick up rocks there. Found a piece of petrified wood 5 feet behind my camper last fall, nothing fancy but I'm sure it had been overlooked many times. Love the suggestions from both of you. "Legally Pick up rocks" Must meen that there are places where it's not legal?
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 12, 2016 16:28:41 GMT -5
We are going on a 6 wheels roadtrip in the States in 14 days. Staying in Orlando for 1 week and then driving from Orlando through new Orleans, Dallas and Arizona to LA (5weeks). Could someone recommend a place to go to find some pretty rocks. I love your agats and the jasper and pretty much every other rock i have Seen on this forum. But the thing is that I'm the only one in my family that have a strong interest in rocks, so it must not be to difficult to reach ( travelling with a toddler and a teenager) and it must not require any tools. If the location could be close to a sightseeing area so i could camouflage the rock trip it would be great ;0) Any suggestions?
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 12, 2016 3:21:40 GMT -5
This must be the Best forum ever! Never meet so many that were so helpfull and willing to share their knowledge. Thanks chuck I have a tiele saw, so I have to handheld the stone so never thought about the end cuts before.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 11, 2016 15:54:21 GMT -5
Newbie question; Why glue the ends together?
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 6, 2016 16:21:43 GMT -5
Yeah, thanks for the advice. The rock is more secure and I think it gathers the "design" much better. I already prefer that one more than the others I made.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 6, 2016 13:44:54 GMT -5
Tried adding some "grippers" sorry, don't know the correct terms. It makes it much more stable and I think hope it will hold up great. I'll still be adding glue to the back, but it the glue falls apart, the stone will not be lost. Will have to test for a while (There is just no way to take great photos with the Iphone)
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 6, 2016 12:15:13 GMT -5
Glue doesn't tend to hold stone well. You are better off adding a wire. I like the simple wrap, I like simple styles. I'm only concerned about how long it will hold. You can wrap a single wire around your back bundle criss cross it on the front and bring the wires to the back again where you can fasten them to the middle wires. Did that make sense? I think you are right, had one where I wanted make some changes so I tried to break it of the glue today and to my surprice it came of easy. Will try adding some ekstra wire, I think I get your suggestion. Thanks
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 6, 2016 11:08:30 GMT -5
It looks to me like you have good control over the wire. I do see how each one got better. I am just wondering how secure the stones are. How are they (the ones without a hole) secured at the top? I created them so there are tension on the top and on the bottom so it would hold the stone without glue, but did glue them on the wire in the back. But maybe I should think of adding some in the top to make it more secure, since the drilling is a tuff one.
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monna0000
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 243
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Post by monna0000 on Jun 6, 2016 10:14:09 GMT -5
So these are my first cabs in my first wire wrap. I chose a simpel design that match my taste and most importen my skills Did 6 pieces last night (holy .... it hurts today) and 3 more today, happy to see that the ones I did today looks better than the ones I did last night, so I guess there is hope. The bail is a really tough one for me and did look 1000 times at the guides in this forum, but they still are a nightmare. Hopefully I'll some day look at these pictures and enjoy the progress I made. So here we go: Granite ( the one in the middel has some nice colors "Old" red and green) Augen Gneiss (The one to the right has a soft pink tone) Unknown: some RhombePhorphyr: The back: Any advice other then in the sticky posts are welcome.
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