stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
|
Post by stretch316 on Dec 13, 2018 5:32:20 GMT -5
In school , my strengths were math's and science. My dad worked for a flour company as a Lab technician. I went in with him on Saturdays and learned to help do experiments. In the military, I ended up being a lab Computer tech. The way I develop my Tumbling routine, will reflect my lab environment mind set. Having said that, this is what I'm looking at for an initial Rock tumbling schedule for Vibe and Drum. As I learn how my tumblers work, times will change accordingly. Advice and comments welcome. Tumbler 1)Coarse Grit #1 : 18 days minimum, high speed (60/90 grit, 1 lvl Tbsp per lb ) : tumble until you are satisfied with the shape of the rocks. 2)1 Tbls soap – 24 hours low speed Vibe#1bucket 3)Medium Grit #2 : 9 days medium speed (120/240) 1 lvl Tbsp per lb. , Borax, pellets 4)1 Tbls soap – 24 hours low speed- plastic pieces for cushioning Tumbler 5)Fine Grit #3 : 9 days low speed (600 grit) 1 lvl Tbsp per lb. , Borax, pellets 6)1 Tbls soap – 24 hours low speed- plastic pieces for cushioning Vibe#1Bucket 7)pre-polish #4 : 9 days low speed + 1000 grit - 1 lvl Tbsp per lb. , (pellets - plastic pieces for cushioning) 8)1 Tbls soap – 24 hours low speed- plastic pieces for cushioning Vibe#2bucket 8)Polish Grit #5 : 9 days low speed - (13,000 grit to 14,000 grit - 1 lvl Tbsp per lb.) Cerium Oxide, Alumina Oxide or Tin Oxide + plastic pieces for cushioning 9)Burnish - 24 hours Walnut shells or pellets and soap only
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 13, 2018 6:10:56 GMT -5
Here’s my recipe. It works for me, so I stick with it. It is very consistent. I have Lortone rotaries and a Lot-O vibe.
Rotary tumbler: run the rocks in 46/70 or 60/90 or 80 one week at a time until there are no flaws in the rocks. Each week, I remove any rocks that are done and throw the rest back in. There is no set time, rocks can be done in a week (rare) or several months. These tumblers run indefinitely. They only run coarse grit. I use about one tablespoon of grit per pound. I don’t weigh the rocks, I go by the barrel rating. For example, a six pound barrel gets 6 tablespoons of grit.
Vibe: Two tablespoons of 120/220 or straight 220 silicon carbide grit. Fill the barrel with water and then dump out all the water leaving wet rocks. Run for two days.
Vibe: 1/2 TEAspoon of 500 grit aluminum oxide. 1 Tablespoon of borax. Run for two days.
Vibe: 1/2 TEAspoon of 1000 grit aluminum oxide. 1 Tablespoon of borax. Run for two days.
Vibe: 1/2 TEAspoon of aluminum oxide polish. 1 Tablespoon of borax. Run for two days.
After each stage except the first, I run for about an hour in a tablespoon of borax for a better cleaning. All stages excep the first have mixed sizes of ceramic media (about 30%}.
Others will give you other recipes. Those will work too. You can skip the 1000 grit stage in my recipe, but then you should run the 500 stage for an extra day.
I’m not sure why you talk about different speeds. Most tumblers only have one speed. The National Geographic tumblers have multiple speeds, but I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve read about them here.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 13, 2018 9:01:39 GMT -5
At first glance I am a little baffled by some of the steps. I suppose there is nothing inherently wrong with any of it and I do not think any of it will harm anything. Without going into too much detail there are 2 things I question. The first is the fact that you list the first step as rotary, second step as vibe and then third step back to rotary. I have never seen a recipe that goes back into rotary once the rocks have moved to the vibe. The second thing is the vibe run times. Two days in the vibe per stage is a pretty common run time for the steps you have listed so 9 days seems excessive. As already mentioned adding a third or fourth day at the 500/600 step can allow skipping the 1000 (pre-polish) step for some loads.
Edit: just found one more thing. Plastic pellets are normally not used in vibe tumbling. They do not have enough weight to work properly. Ceramics or pea gravel are preferred.
Edit #2: Where did you read that vibe tumblers use 1 tablespoon of grit or polish per pound? That is really excessive and will likely bring the rock motion to a halt. Post what vibe tumbler you are using and someone will chime in with proper amounts of grit for it.
Chuck
|
|
pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
|
Post by pizzano on Dec 13, 2018 11:46:35 GMT -5
stretch..........I understand your intent and desire to develop a systematic routine........However, I think you will find the vibe steps in between the rotary steps to be a "chasing one's tail" routine........rotaries will accomplish the initial rough grinding and shaping very well, vibes don't accomplish that aspect as well (unless it's a Lot-O)......that's why many of us use the rotaries for the "heavy lifting" and the vibes for the intermediate a polishing stages. That said, it also depends a lot on the stone types your working with (mohs hardness and stone matrix).
Also, you may not save much processing time (if that's the intent with vibe applications), since you may loose what you've gained in the vibe, by returning the stones to rotary.......the applications are mechanically quite different, even though the end results "said and done" may arrive similar........just a thought.
When you mention vibe, what type are you referring to......?........The Lot-O application is different from the bowl vibe applications......! Like stated previously, plastic beads do not work well in vibes, be it bowl or Lot-O, unless reserved for polishing only. Even then, the slurry development has to be just right in order to keep the beads from floating or settling in one location over time......thus, reducing their effectiveness.......another thought.
Anyway, I'm sure over time you'll develop a method that fits your needs........we've all got our own methods of success and failures......and there will be a few failures you'll learn from.........patience, attention to detail and keeping things as simple as possible have been the most successful ingredients most of us have found to work, while enjoying our experiences without to much frustration during the process....!
Note:
With bowl vibe applications, I have found that a + 6lb load of mohs 6 or higher, agate/jasper and ceramics, requires btw 1 and 1.5 tablespoons of media for 120/220 through 600 sic/AO cycles to develop an active sustainable slurry........once you get into the higher media applications, it really depends on how the stone type and ceramics are responding (rotating action) as you start adding the media.......I've found with pre and polish media a tablespoon or little less will develop a good slurry for a +24hr vibe cycle...........this has been my bowl vibe experiences over the past year or so......other's most certainly have had good results under different circumstances........!
|
|
stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
|
Post by stretch316 on Dec 14, 2018 6:15:50 GMT -5
stretch..........I understand your intent and desire to develop a systematic routine........However, I think you will find the vibe steps in between the rotary steps to be a "chasing one's tail" routine........rotaries will accomplish the initial rough grinding and shaping very well, vibes don't accomplish that aspect as well (unless it's a Lot-O)......that's why many of us use the rotaries for the "heavy lifting" and the vibes for the intermediate a polishing stages. That said, it also depends a lot on the stone types your working with (mohs hardness and stone matrix).
Also, you may not save much processing time (if that's the intent with vibe applications), since you may loose what you've gained in the vibe, by returning the stones to rotary.......the applications are mechanically quite different, even though the end results "said and done" may arrive similar........just a thought.
When you mention vibe, what type are you referring to......?........The Lot-O application is different from the bowl vibe applications......! Like stated previously, plastic beads do not work well in vibes, be it bowl or Lot-O, unless reserved for polishing only. Even then, the slurry development has to be just right in order to keep the beads from floating or settling in one location over time......thus, reducing their effectiveness.......another thought.
Anyway, I'm sure over time you'll develop a method that fits your needs........we've all got our own methods of success and failures......and there will be a few failures you'll learn from.........patience, attention to detail and keeping things as simple as possible have been the most successful ingredients most of us have found to work, while enjoying our experiences without to much frustration during the process....!
Note:
With bowl vibe applications, I have found that a + 6lb load of mohs 6 or higher, agate/jasper and ceramics, requires btw 1 and 1.5 tablespoons of media for 120/220 through 600 sic/AO cycles to develop an active sustainable slurry........once you get into the higher media applications, it really depends on how the stone type and ceramics are responding (rotating action) as you start adding the media.......I've found with pre and polish media a tablespoon or little less will develop a good slurry for a +24hr vibe cycle...........this has been my bowl vibe experiences over the past year or so......other's most certainly have had good results under different circumstances........!
I'm in the trial and error stage. 20 lbs of gems stones & beach stone to experiment with. Plans are subject to change. thanks for the advice.
|
|
stretch316
noticing nice landscape pebbles
The only dumb question, is the one NOT asked ; I don't use credit cards
Member since December 2018
Posts: 77
|
Post by stretch316 on Dec 15, 2018 14:57:24 GMT -5
Got my Vibe today, read the instructions. Here is what I'm looking at for processing my gem stones. Tumbler 1) Coarse Grit #1 : 18 days minimum, high speed (60/90 grit, 1 lvl Tbsp per lb ) : tumble until you are satisfied with the shape of the rocks. 2) 1 Tbls soap – 24 hours low speed Vibe#1bucket – (4 lbs – 1lb 14 oz) 3) Rough Grit #2 : 5 - 10 days (100/120) 2 lvl Teaspoons, Borax 4) 1 Tbls soap – 6 hours Vibe#1bucket 5) Fine Grit #3 : 2 days (700 grit) 2 lvl Teaspoons , Borax 6) 1 Tbls soap – 6 hours Vibe#1Bucket 7) pre-polish #4 : 1 days 1000 grit (Iolox 50) - 2 lvl Teaspoons 8) 1 Tbls soap – 6 hours Vibe#2bucket 9) Polish Grit #5 : 2 days - 13,000 grit to 14,000 grit ( Hard Stones Polish TL) - 2 lvl Teaspoons - Cerium Oxide, Alumina Oxide or Tin Oxide Barrel/ Vibe#2 : Burnish – 0.5 hours - Ivory Soap Flakes
So I'm looking at 34 days instead of 44
|
|