meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 19, 2011 16:55:16 GMT -5
Hello; I am having problems getting stones round enough in the first stage of tumbling. I am tumbling quartz and amethyst in a 15 lb tumbler and am using 12 oz of 46-70 grit, re-charging every 7 days and am getting little rounding action. The slurry is very watery and there is very little to none leftover grit at the bottom, some mud. I have been running these now for 6 weeks and they still have a lot of rough edges and areas that are not getting any grinding action. Any tips that could help a newcomer out? I would have thought they would be almost done by now.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Feb 19, 2011 20:01:07 GMT -5
Any before / after pix?
You are getting some progress,right?
Unless your expecting too much, it sounds like your doing it right.
Dr Joe
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 19, 2011 20:44:50 GMT -5
it sounds like you do not have enough of the smaller bits to maxamize the contact surface where the actual work is done.
BUT it does not all fit because if the grit is going away w/o making mud, then where is is going? used ground down girt is a large part of mud. the other part is the stone that was ground off.
I think that you may have way too much water. This can happen when you do not have small bits filling all the little gaps. Then the rule about how high to fill the water actually is too much water because of all the large gaps filled with water.
too much water could cause a normal amount of mud to be thin and watery.
jut my 1st gueses from your decription.
also, it can take 15 or more weeks to round the stones dpending on many circumstances
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Feb 19, 2011 21:59:54 GMT -5
Barrel filled to about 3/4 full. Water filled to the bottom of the top layer of rocks. Variety of sizes. If those requirements are all met then try adding a little borax to the mix and let it run for 10 days before checking it.
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 19, 2011 22:07:55 GMT -5
my point being that most people seriously understimate the "variety" in variety of sizes, and always put in too many larger stones.
thats why a pic could help because phrases like "variety" can be subject to so much interpretation
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 19, 2011 22:17:52 GMT -5
If you don't have small stuff to add, throw in a couple hands full of pea gravel. Don
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meskhov
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by meskhov on Feb 20, 2011 8:03:46 GMT -5
Guys: Thanks for all the great advice! I am tumbling quartz and amethyst which many have said will take longer than usual. i have a range of sizes going from say nothing over 2 inches to no smaller than 3/4 inch. I don't have any pea size stones in the barrel so i'll try adding those. As far as the mud on the bottom there is very little as it seems to be all in solution as that is why the slurry is very watery. As this is a Thumlers model B I filled it to about 3/4 full and added water to the bottom of the top layer. I think the previous posters have said this might be to much water and I know seem to agree. i will try adding some Borax also and see if that helps. Is my grit amount correct for this size drum? (14 oz) Thanks Again.
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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 deb193redux on Feb 20, 2011 11:53:06 GMT -5
yes. 2" TO 3/4" is a range, but not a "range of sizes" in the tumbling sense. You need down to 1/4, and the number of >1" should be <20%
it is all that surface on all those small rocks what actually does most of the work
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Feb 20, 2011 22:05:09 GMT -5
Go to your local dollar store and look at the decrotive stone. They sell little bags of the perfect small pea size. Gravel. Most of it quartz based and works great as a filler. And once in a while there is a few goodies in the mix.
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