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Post by Peruano on Apr 8, 2013 18:38:16 GMT -5
I always wondered how big I could go with slabs in my 5lb Raytech vibrating tumbler and now i know. It was a thin slab about the size of a half of slice of bread, but clearly heavy enough that it stayed on the bottom and eroded a hole about 2" long 1/2" above the bottom. Lesson learned. I"m in the market for a new tub. I know they are available for about 25 dollars. Just trying to warn others of the trap. Tom
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Apr 8, 2013 20:52:45 GMT -5
That's good to know Tom. I have started tumbling some small slabs (mostly broken pieces) and have found the results exciting. I have been worried about the possibility of the sharp corners on the broken slabs ruining my drum on my Lot-O, but so far I have been lucky. I watch carefully that they keep moving and do not stay in one spot. When I get a tile/trim saw, I can eliminate the sharp corners on my slab tumbling.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Apr 8, 2013 22:13:15 GMT -5
I polish slabs up to about 4" in my 5 lb. vibe with great results. I once had a larger one get wedged between center cone and outside of the bowl. Luckily I heard the sound difference when I walked in garage for something else.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Apr 9, 2013 5:40:45 GMT -5
i tumble some baseball size stuff in an 8 inch and 6 inch diameter rotary.Slabs about as big as a wallet.Never a problem.There must be a ratio of bowl size to rock size in a vibratory.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 9, 2013 8:05:28 GMT -5
Probably not the case here but when someone tells me they wore a hole in a vibe bowl I always ask if it is 1/2" off the bottom. That is where you get a hole if you use too much water. I did have slabs get stuck in a Mini Sonic at the top and found blue hopper shavings in the mix. as long as the slabs will move freely they are not too big. You need a lot of ceramic or other grit carrier media in the mix (about 70% at least).
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Apr 9, 2013 15:17:23 GMT -5
Vibratory tumblers are amazing.
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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 Apr 9, 2013 16:25:09 GMT -5
I've got a eastwood vibe and have already burned thru 1 of the drums as the material started to dry before I got back out to add water and by the time I got there, there was a pile of gray dust on the floor and you could hear the difference in the way it ran... I guess I put a little too much in there too as it was definitely on the heavy side!!
Live & Learn!!
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True Grit
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since January 2013
Posts: 76
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Post by True Grit on Apr 10, 2013 9:53:47 GMT -5
I think the sound that a tumbler makes whether its vibe or R&R is important. I new to this fun and I've woke up in the middle of the night cause My R&R was making a noise I'd not heard before, (Its under my kitchen sink), That sound may have saved me a lot of chipped rocks, sounded like two coins hitting each other.
Tim
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