pamiam
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2023
Posts: 22
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Post by pamiam on Jan 18, 2023 16:30:27 GMT -5
Hi, all. So I have just taken my first batch of rocks out of the pre-polish.
I should have looked at my rocks with a more critical eye in the earlier stages, but was rushing the process.
Now, I have several rocks that I want to send back to an earlier stage to see if I can get rid of the tiny imperfections that could be holding grit.
This will mean that I don't really have a full load for the final polish on this batch. I am considering holding them until I get some more that are ready for final polish.
If I do this, should I keep them in water or is it fine to dry them as long as I am 100% they are clean and free of grit and residue?
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electrocutus
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 331
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Post by electrocutus on Jan 18, 2023 17:06:13 GMT -5
I would play it safe. Even if you are 100% sure they are clean, it will not hurt to keep them in water until you have a full load.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 434
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Post by hypodactylus on Jan 18, 2023 17:40:52 GMT -5
If you are 100% sure they are clean, there is not much point in keeping them wet.
I personally don't keep any in water; I just make sure they are rinsed and let them dry.
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afterburnt
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2021
Posts: 152
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Post by afterburnt on Jan 19, 2023 20:38:04 GMT -5
I always leave them in a bucket of water until I have enough. I never let them dry out just to be safe.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 19, 2023 21:06:14 GMT -5
This is exactly what filler media is for. If using a rotary then plastic beads or ceramic can be added to fill the voids left in the later stages and keep the proper fill level. The filler media will actually help you achieve a higher polish as well. In other words add filler media continue that batch into polish then add those rejected rocks into your next stage one batch.
Chuck
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,978
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Post by victor1941 on Jan 20, 2023 11:15:46 GMT -5
I agree with Drummond Island Rocks that filler is an excellent way to maintain and stabilize proper fill no matter what you are processing. A number of tumblers also use quartz aquarium gravel, but I use ceramic media for all steps even though it costs more.
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 20, 2023 17:21:37 GMT -5
Two thoughts. When I was tumbling I considered myself lucky if 1/3rd of the rocks in a 60/90 run were ready for the next stage. Some it took months of repetitive runs. I washed the finished ones off (not that carefully) and stuck them in a drawer--dry. The rest went back into 60/90 with enough new ones to make a full load. I don't know why it would be a crisis if the rocks weren't entirely clean, unless you had a few that it was acceptable for them to be less than blemish-free (i.e., cracks you don't mind, pits that you don't mind, etc.) After all, you are sending them through a grind again. I love ceramic shapes, but only use them when tumbling a batch of the same rocks and don't have enough to proceed without them and lack more to fill in after another 60/90 (or 500) run. Correction: I also use them when fairly soft or brittle rocks need extra cushion. (Macrocrystalline quartz, fluorite, Apache tears, etc.) I have never had a problem with them because they weren't kept wet, although for rocks I wanted "perfect" (competitions, etc.) I stuck them in a sonic jewelry cleaner when done.
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Post by parfive on Jan 20, 2023 20:52:36 GMT -5
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pamiam
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2023
Posts: 22
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Post by pamiam on Jan 21, 2023 19:02:33 GMT -5
This is exactly what filler media is for. If using a rotary then plastic beads or ceramic can be added to fill the voids left in the later stages and keep the proper fill level. The filler media will actually help you achieve a higher polish as well. In other words add filler media continue that batch into polish then add those rejected rocks into your next stage one batch. Chuck
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pamiam
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2023
Posts: 22
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Post by pamiam on Jan 21, 2023 19:04:29 GMT -5
Sorry, I should have said that I have some new ceramic media that needs to be run for a bit before chucking it into a final polish. But yes, that's what I will do.
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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 22, 2023 9:23:30 GMT -5
There is volumes of encyclopedic knowledge here on the forum. I love hearing all the advice, opinions, suggestions. I am learning so much though it takes some time to put it all to use in our own "experiments" to find what works for us. I myself am really blessed by this forum. Love to see pics of tumbles in any stage.
I myself keep most partially completed tumbles in water with a label of what has been done and what needs to be done next. I work an unusual schedule in that when I work, I'm gone from home 3 or 4 days. That makes some interesting tumble schedules especially with the vibrating tumbler which requires tending to frequently.
Happy tumbling.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Jan 23, 2023 0:48:17 GMT -5
Great idea! Guess I'll have to give up tequila and start drinking wine bottled with non-cork corks!
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