altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 13, 2023 18:14:16 GMT -5
Hello! I recently relocated to TX, the property has more rocks than I know what to do with, so I thought I'd try tumbling some of them. I got a 3lb rotary tumbler two months ago and I've been rolling ever since. Until today. Loaded the tumbler up Thurs morning, it seems to have stopped before Fri morning, working on getting a replacement. Is that rubber seal good enough for me to leave the rocks, or should I clean everything now?
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 13, 2023 18:45:25 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington. I’m not a tumbler, but some folks should be along soon to help.
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Post by Pat on Jan 13, 2023 18:49:59 GMT -5
Go to the HOME page. There is a section devoted to tumbling. Post your thread there.
I’m not a tumbler, but there are many tumbling experts here. Good luck.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,491
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 13, 2023 18:50:58 GMT -5
I would think it would be ok. I've left mine for several days sealed up. It probably depends some on how long a replacement takes. Tumblers are in stock a lot more than a few months ago, but some are still a bit difficult to get. Welcome to the forum from Central California!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 13, 2023 19:35:11 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! I'm more of a cabber and wrapper than tumbler...but I think it should be okay if the seal is good. If it were me, I'd probable give it a shake or two during the wait for the replacement to show up. Whether that's actually necessary or not, I'm not sure...but I think it would keep things from settling.
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 13, 2023 22:29:25 GMT -5
Welcome from north central New York! I'm still pretty much a noob but I would dump and save the slurry then wash off the rocks and wait until you obtain a new tumbler unless you don't mind tossing out a dollar or 2 of grit. You will need a putty knife to scoop the partially used grit out of the container. The slurry settles into a stiff clay like material. It will do that in your tumbler barrel if you leave it. Just my opinion
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 13, 2023 23:48:36 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 14, 2023 0:04:29 GMT -5
I don't know what I'm doing, so I decided to hedge my bets and clean the mess up. Transportation and delivery has been such a train wreck for so long, better to be safe than sorry. It was quite the mess.
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 14, 2023 1:53:45 GMT -5
I don't know what I'm doing, so I decided to hedge my bets and clean the mess up. Transportation and delivery has been such a train wreck for so long, better to be safe than sorry. It was quite the mess. This youtube video tutorial may help.
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Post by liveoak on Jan 14, 2023 7:43:05 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Florida.
I just thought I'd add that I had my tumbler die during pre-polish & polish & by the time I got a new one going the polish had dried like concrete in some of the pores. Good you washed them.
Patty
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 17, 2023 21:35:56 GMT -5
I left the barrel in a state, but I also left water in it so when I could get a minute to clean it up it wouldn't be disastrous, it worked out well. I was able to clean it up this evening. The National Geographic people were apparently cooperative and suggested the issue was the circuit board. Not too shocking as circuit boards have been victim to the supply chain issues since the pandemic started, so I wasn't too distressed about it. *Something* is arriving on Saturday as a replacement, but since this was a gift, hubby dealt with all of that, I'm hoping it's not JUST the circuit board. Lol. I'm going to need my engineering colleagues if that's the case! Meanwhile, I've been digging up more rocks and prepping them for the eventual arrival of the replacement 3 lbs. Nat Geo tumbler, but I also broke down and bought a Lortone QT12, because I've got a lot of rocks to tumble. So that's coming on Friday (Supposedly. It's coming UPS Ground so could be Sat, maybe Monday who bloody knows. Can you tell I work in an industry with supply chain & transportation issues?)
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
|
Post by altrocker on Jan 17, 2023 21:42:06 GMT -5
dirtsifter - Oooh, yes, the Michigan Rocks gentleman is very informative, I've been watching many of his videos!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 17, 2023 21:46:16 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona! The Michigan Rocks guy is Jugglerguy on here.
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 20, 2023 20:02:59 GMT -5
National Geographic replaced the whole thing, so now I have a back up barrel and extra pretty rocks. I also got my Lortone today, so all my rocks are having a little bath and I'll get to actually tumbling them later this evening. I'm very pleased. I can put MUCH bigger rocks in the Lortone, which was what I was hoping for.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 20, 2023 20:35:49 GMT -5
National Geographic replaced the whole thing, so now I have a back up barrel and extra pretty rocks. I also got my Lortone today, so all my rocks are having a little bath and I'll get to actually tumbling them later this evening. I'm very pleased. I can put MUCH bigger rocks in the Lortone, which was what I was hoping for. BIG Congratulations!! That's really awesome that they just replaced the entire unit...to include the now additional barrel! Ummm...the Lortone showed up today? Well...not bad getting an extra Christmas only 26 days after the last one! LOL (Another "congrats"! )
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 20, 2023 22:11:47 GMT -5
I'm very pleased for sure, got a big ole batch of rocks going...now to get a side gig so I can afford all of the grinding media I'm going to need.
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 402
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 21, 2023 4:23:43 GMT -5
I'm very pleased for sure, got a big ole batch of rocks going...now to get a side gig so I can afford all of the grinding media I'm going to need. When I order grit from the Rock Shed or Kingsley North, who both ship USPS Flat rate box, I fiddle with the amount ordered in the check out phase. I watch the shipping charges and add or subtract from my order until whatever Flat Rate box is going to be used is as full as possible without going up to the next rate. Saves a few dollars in shipping anyway. Hope this makes sense. You will need more coarse grit such as 60/90 than the other stages. When I first started tumbling I didn't know anything about how much grit I would need or where to get it. I bought a grit kit from Amazon which did not last long and was expensive. Thanks to the great information here on the forum I now purchase from the folks previously mentioned. Hope this helps. Happy Tumbling!
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altrocker
off to a rocking start
Lover of alternative music. Rolling rocks because they're dull & broken, but they have potential...
Member since January 2023
Posts: 9
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Post by altrocker on Jan 21, 2023 12:05:54 GMT -5
Thank you very much, I'll look into it for sure! I'm now 12+ hours in, everything is working properly and rolling right along.
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