cgrashel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2013
Posts: 22
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Post by cgrashel on Mar 1, 2013 12:55:24 GMT -5
New to this board. I have been dabbling in rock tumbling for about 1 1/2 years. I have had a couple of good batches but mostly bad. I am trying to tumble broken granite pieces. I have 3 lb rotary tumblers and a dual lot o tumbler. I am hating the lot o tumbler. Everything seems to chip in it. I am hoping to find the help I need here to make great polished rocks!
Looking forward to learning!
Connie
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Post by Pat on Mar 1, 2013 20:50:22 GMT -5
Connie, welcome! There are a lot of expert tumblers here. Hope one of them sees your post. I don't tumble stones.
Good luck!
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 1, 2013 21:29:24 GMT -5
Welcome! I'd recommend you get some agates and jaspers to tumble. Granite isnt a good stone to tumble most of the time.The Lotos are a great machine for polishing.Have to give 'em a chance! Good luck,enjoy the hobby. snuffy
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 1, 2013 21:50:39 GMT -5
Welcome Connie! I have a Lot-O and I polish a fair amount of granite in it. I start it in a rotary tumbler like you do. I've never had any chip, but it does undercut some. Here's a thread with pictures of my first batch ever: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=trtphoto&action=display&thread=50458Are you using ceramic media in the Lot-O? I always use plenty. I also to a very thorough rough tumble in the rotary tumblers before moving anything to the Lot-O. Rob
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electricface
starting to spend too much on rocks
First fish of the day
Member since August 2012
Posts: 211
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Post by electricface on Mar 2, 2013 0:08:53 GMT -5
Welcome to the group
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cgrashel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2013
Posts: 22
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Post by cgrashel on Mar 2, 2013 13:47:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcomes! I am using granite because I have an unlimited supply. I owned a granite countertop company, recently sold it, but my husband is still working there. I have had some luck with breaking it into random pieces but sometimes slice it in 1/4" pieces and break those up. I know all commercial granite isn't really granite. I have had best luck with blue pearl and labradorite. Rob I haven't used ceramic media in the polish step. Will that scratch? How long do you usually run these on the polish step. I have been running them approximately a week and seeing nothing but scratches and chipping at that point. What type of polish do you suggest in the lot o? I have a ton of questions, and appreciate your input. What do you mean by undercut? Last batch I got a lot of groves. One of my barrels always tumbles nicely, the other barrel seems to tumble slowly. It doesn't matter which side of the tumbler I put it in. It is very frustrating. I somehow feel like the barrel is diffent, causing it not to tumble. Enough questions for now.... Is there another area of the board that I should post these questions in?
Thanks, Connie
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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 2, 2013 14:28:55 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum.
Roger
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 2, 2013 18:21:11 GMT -5
This question should probably be in the "Totally Rock Tumbling" section. Since you also introduced yourself, it makes it hard to decide.
I can't imagine that one barrel works differently than the other barrel on your Lortone. Maybe it's just the material that you have in it. The outside isn't slippery or something, making it turn more slowly?
I rough grind with 60/90 in the rotaries until every little flaw is gone. I'm really picky because I like my rocks to look as good as possible when they're done and because pits can carry grit to the next stage and mess it up.
Then I move to the Lot_O and do the following:
2 TBSP of 220 Silcon Carbide grit for about 2 days Wash 1/2 tsp of Aluminum Oxide 500 grit for about 2 days Wash 1/2 tsp 1000 grit A.O. for two days Don't wash, just add 1/2 tsp. tripoli Wash, switch to a polish barrel if you have one 1/2 tsp A.O. polish for two days.
In all the Lot-O stages, I also add 1 tsp of Dreft laundry soap.
This recipe was given to me by a very helpful member here named Connrock, and it has worked very well. You can run any stage longer if you'd like. I cat all my grit from therockshed.com
The little grooves that develop in granite is what is referred to as "undercutting". Undercutting is when parts of the rock are softer and wear away faster than other parts of the rock. It happens in the later stages of tumbling, usually around 500 grit for me.
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cgrashel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2013
Posts: 22
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Post by cgrashel on Mar 3, 2013 16:44:14 GMT -5
Thank you for the reply. I am anxious to try your recipe. I will move this to the other board when I get some results! Thank you so much!
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cgrashel
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2013
Posts: 22
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Post by cgrashel on Mar 3, 2013 17:27:41 GMT -5
Oh, and it is the lot o tumbler, not the lortone, that I believe one barrel tumbles differently. Just to clarify. Not sure exactly what the issue is...
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Mar 19, 2013 21:47:04 GMT -5
Welcome to the group
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 20, 2013 0:12:39 GMT -5
when using a vibe tumbler like the lot o or any other you always have to make sure you have enough water to keep the action going within the barrel, but if you add too much it will wash away the grit before it can do anything... I use about 4 shots with a spray bottle and watch it to make sure it is moving, then close it up. If it runs dry the edge of the rock and the grit can wear a hole into the side of the barrel, found this out the hard way!! Once you have the rocks moving properly, button it up and come back in about 3-4 hours and check it again... if the action is good, check again in 3-4 hours, if not spray 3-4 times or until action is restored. after this point you can leave it over night and then first thing in the am check it again, add a few more sprays and leave it till later then start over... vibe tumbling is more aggressive than rotary tumbling which is why it is faster. and also why you have to keep after it more often. but the results are definitely worth it!!!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Mar 20, 2013 0:13:02 GMT -5
oh, and btw.... Welcome to the asylum !!!
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