Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2012 1:12:12 GMT -5
For those just now tuning in, I am running my first "large" (2x6#) batch and am following Don's tutorial for those barrels here:
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22055&page=4
I have completed the 3 steps of adding grit to stage 1 and run the remaining 4 days, which I have to say seems to have worked great. When I popped the 2 barrels open tonight, one slurry was only slightly thinner than sour cream, and the other was like runny gravy. Both held nicely to the rocks and both were grit-free when I felt the slurry. I was amazed.
I emptied both barrels completely, one barrel at a time, into a collander atop a 5-gallon bucket, and thoroughly rinsed the stones, and added them right back into their barrel with about 1/4 bar of grated ivory soap. I am adding my own step of using soap and 3/4 cup of water to run an additional day just to help free any grit that may be hanging around.
It grinds easier than mozzarella:
I can't wait to take photos tomorrow night to show the progress of everything. There were some hickoryite wonder stones that were done with stage 1 along with a few really cool jaspers that I will share.
Thanks for checking in.
UPDATE
************************************************
I looked at the invoice from a couple weeks ago and in total here is what is in the barrels:
From the Gem Shop:
1# Mooka Jasper
1# Ocean Jasper tumbling
1# Black Lace Agate
1# Agua Nueva Agate
1# Kambaba Jasper"
2# of bahia agate from the Rock shed
I tossed in some hickoryite from ebay, along with a little I ordered from nmonyx here on the boards, some of my own Mexican "Crazy Lace" that I've had for a long time, some quartz that my daughter had started but never finished and maybe a piece or 2 of local chert. I know the kambaba and ocean were in the right barrel, not sure beyond that yet.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=22055&page=4
I have completed the 3 steps of adding grit to stage 1 and run the remaining 4 days, which I have to say seems to have worked great. When I popped the 2 barrels open tonight, one slurry was only slightly thinner than sour cream, and the other was like runny gravy. Both held nicely to the rocks and both were grit-free when I felt the slurry. I was amazed.
I emptied both barrels completely, one barrel at a time, into a collander atop a 5-gallon bucket, and thoroughly rinsed the stones, and added them right back into their barrel with about 1/4 bar of grated ivory soap. I am adding my own step of using soap and 3/4 cup of water to run an additional day just to help free any grit that may be hanging around.
It grinds easier than mozzarella:
I can't wait to take photos tomorrow night to show the progress of everything. There were some hickoryite wonder stones that were done with stage 1 along with a few really cool jaspers that I will share.
Thanks for checking in.
UPDATE
************************************************
I looked at the invoice from a couple weeks ago and in total here is what is in the barrels:
From the Gem Shop:
1# Mooka Jasper
1# Ocean Jasper tumbling
1# Black Lace Agate
1# Agua Nueva Agate
1# Kambaba Jasper"
2# of bahia agate from the Rock shed
I tossed in some hickoryite from ebay, along with a little I ordered from nmonyx here on the boards, some of my own Mexican "Crazy Lace" that I've had for a long time, some quartz that my daughter had started but never finished and maybe a piece or 2 of local chert. I know the kambaba and ocean were in the right barrel, not sure beyond that yet.