md121212
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2020
Posts: 2
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Post by md121212 on Mar 30, 2020 9:09:38 GMT -5
I'm new to tumbling. Im currently using the Lortone rotary tumblers. I have the 3A and the 33B. I didn't notice this on my first batches but the course grit is now accumulating at the bottom of the barrel which is weird since they run sideways. I'm using Carnelian in one and Clear Quartz in one of the others and both are having the bottom of the barrle grit problem. I think it's possible I may have put too many rocks in the drums but just wanted to check. I was rather disappointed that the Carnelian didn't seem to have shaped well at all after 7 days.
Any advice?
Mike
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JBe
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 103
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Post by JBe on Mar 30, 2020 10:56:37 GMT -5
If you can see whole grit particles and don't have a smooth gray slurry after a week there is probably something wrong with the composition of the batch. The unconsumed grit particles will sink to the bottom of the barrel when you stand it up to open it so it just appears they are stuck there.
The problem could be too little/too much water, over/under filled barrel, or just the wrong composition of material sizes in the barrel. Any of these issues or some combination of them will keep the needed tumbling motion from happening inside the barrel and will keep the grit from doing it's job.
If you overfill it the mass of rocks will not have room to slide and tumble against each other and will tend to just rotate with the barrel as a single mass.
Also carnelian is hard. Depending on how much you expect it to be shaped it could take a few weeks of recharging the barrels to get them to the condition you want them. The instructions that come with most name brand tumblers are a good starting place for how to fill the barrel with rocks and grit but most instructions are overly optimistic in estimating the time the rock needs to spend in each stage. Especially the initial rough stage.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,978
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Post by victor1941 on Mar 30, 2020 11:39:17 GMT -5
I totally agree with JBe and would also add that some tumblers add clay(kaolin), borax, or sugar to the mix.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 30, 2020 12:53:43 GMT -5
The grit is settling after you lay it down, there is not a way for the grit to settle on One Side while it is spinning. You can test this by removing the barrel but set it down on the Round Side for a coupla minutes, then lay it flat and open it, look, there is the grit on the round side. You are not experiencing a problem, when you put the barrel back on the tumbler it will all mix together properly within a minute. As mentioned above, if you can thicken up the slurry a little bit then the grit will stick to the rocks better.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Mar 30, 2020 14:28:53 GMT -5
7 days is not enough time for shaping. How much and grit what are you using? I use 3 Tablespoons of 60/90 grit and 1 to 2 Tablespoons of cat litter in my 33b barrels and let it roll for 10 to 14 days before I even think about checking progress.
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md121212
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2020
Posts: 2
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Post by md121212 on Mar 30, 2020 17:02:50 GMT -5
Ok thanks everybody. I generally look at the rocks every 7 days. I think you are right I don't have the right mix. I must have lucked out with my first batch which was Amethyst and tigers eye because they came out beautiful. I do believe I over filled with rocks and they weren't tumbling correctly. I've taken some out.
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