Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 6, 2009 19:20:27 GMT -5
I probably should spend the big bucks and get another plunger. I can pull them out when empty so it would not be hard to swap them. A toilet brush probably would work well to clean it between grits though.
How long am I supposed to run it with each grit/polish anyhow?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 6, 2009 20:19:20 GMT -5
Awesome Scott! Looks to be running fine. (I've never seen a vibe working, so that's just my opinion lol) Now here's a dumb n00b question - what kind of motor is that?
Nate
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 6, 2009 20:36:03 GMT -5
I'm interested in what kind of motor and how the shaft was weighted to produce the vibration.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 7, 2009 0:21:23 GMT -5
Its a motor I got at a garage sale, no markings on it but here it is I used a shaft stop as a weight because it was the only thing I could find in my garage that would work. Otherwise I would have had to wait until the next day to make a weight at work.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 7, 2009 0:46:06 GMT -5
I was doing some looking on ebay for another motor. I think it might be a microwave exhaust fan motor. The garage sale I got it at had a bunch of appliance parts too so that fits.
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 7, 2009 7:01:57 GMT -5
Sask, both Randy and Connrock have good recipes in the tumbling section. Randy's is for the UV-10 and Connrock's is for the Lott, but you can probably get an idea on timing from both.
My best suggestion to you on timing, off the cuff, is to run in 220 grit (fine- which is coarsest grit to use for a vibe- 60/90 is too rough, although you may not care about your bowl wearing out too fast so maybe you can do the 60/90 in yours) for a couple of days. After a slurry develops, you'll check a few times a day and add squirts of water. There will come a point when the slurry is just too thick to get proper action and that is when you rinse and do another round of 220.
Preshapes are usually ready to move on after two 2day rounds in 220. If I'm starting with rough rock, I'll just keep doing 220 rounds (pulling when I see one ready to move on) until I have pulled out enough rocks ready to move on to the next stage.
500 grit can be one round of two days. Here, some of us add a round of 1000 grit for a day or so before 5-6 days in polish.
Everybody has adjusted basic recipes for what works for them, so I'm sure you will do accordingly.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 7, 2009 19:49:15 GMT -5
Nice work! But, it looks too slow to me. You might want to use a larger motor or gear it to run faster.
The problem you'll run into at that speed is that the rocks will just beat on each other and create micro fractures that result in a matte finish.
FWIW: I have a UV-18.
Chuck
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 7, 2009 21:25:29 GMT -5
That seems to be a common opinion. I'll probably finish this batch just to see, but if it doesn't turn out i think I can speed it up by putting on a bigger weight for more vibration. Or at least thats the plan for now.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 10, 2009 19:32:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the info on the motor Scott.
Nate
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 12, 2009 21:44:26 GMT -5
Just got home tonight, I thought it was going to be froze solid in our unheated garage. -5C right now but it was still kind of a liquid but a very thick one (from grinding not cold). I put in a little water so it would move more. I'm planning on changing it out for 600 grit tommorrow night so I'll post some so far pictures.
I also picked up a motor at princess auto for $10 that is pretty well identical to the first one so I can build another if this works.
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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 Oct 13, 2009 9:25:43 GMT -5
How about a mix of 50/50 anti-freeze and water or just anti-freeze? Other than not letting your favorite cat lick the rocks, I can't think of it causing a problem. Or you could move here (Florida)... it was 92*F yesterday Dr Joe .
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 14, 2009 1:26:13 GMT -5
Changed the grit, but no pics of so far. My fingers said it was too cold to take pictures. I will post some when its done the polish. Then I think it will be time to move to the basement.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
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Post by drjo on Oct 14, 2009 11:43:43 GMT -5
Think you'll need help carrying that monster? ;D
Dr Joe
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 14, 2009 13:12:08 GMT -5
If I take out the 3lbs of rock it holds first I should be ok, but if you want to come help I'll buy the beer.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
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Post by drjo on Oct 14, 2009 16:05:10 GMT -5
Could you reimburse for mileage? ;D I promise to pack as much hot air in the trunk as I can.
Dr Joe
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
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Post by MikeS on Oct 14, 2009 22:19:34 GMT -5
just an idea, you may want to try some sort of solid mount instead of the spring base, that way all the energy from the motor is trasmitted to the barrel, that should speed up the action...
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 14, 2009 23:16:21 GMT -5
Mileage !! Heck I said I was buying the beer. I don't know what you drive but I don't think the trunk holds enough air to solve the problem. I already sped it up by putting on a bigger weight. I think getting rid of the springs would pretty much stop it though. I know if I hold on above the springs it just about stops it.
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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 Oct 15, 2009 6:46:21 GMT -5
You may be right, it's only a T-bird . Real Canadian beer? (not our dishwater) Hhmmm. Yep, you have to have the suspension. Did more offset weight really give more action? I sure hope this works out, this could have some cool ramifications! I'm still looking for heavy "barrels", so far everything is to light. Keep the updates coming, they are much appreciated. Dr Joe .
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Oct 15, 2009 10:28:08 GMT -5
The bigger weight really speeds it up. The first bigger one I tried was too big. I'm pretty sure the rocks are not supposed to go that fast, and I didn't like the whole workbench shaking either.
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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 Oct 15, 2009 16:35:42 GMT -5
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