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I have a Lot-O, but the action looks good to me! It looks a bit dryer than mine would be, and you have more grit than I normally do in the polish stage, but the motion looks great! So, I'd say it looks good.
I always over-dose the polish. As long as it is not contaminated, I save it and reuse it. Assuming that I remember to label it as to what it is, that is.
As a former vibe user, a little more water would increase action. Get it to where the the rocks shine through a thin coat of polish. A paste inhibits action. I kept a spray bottle of water nearby to keep em rolling right.
Post by rockpickerforever on May 9, 2023 22:02:39 GMT -5
I saw this post earlier today. My thought was it needed more water, also. I add water with a squirt bottle. I haven't used it recently, but I, too, have a vibe. After using it for a while, you'll be able to judge if it is too wet or too dry, by it's movement. Most often, you will find yourself adding water, as all that rotational motion tends to dry things out. Give it a squirt or two of water to get it wetter. Still dry, give it another spritz.
Spraying with a spritz of water better than just pouring in an amount.
Post by rocknewb101 on May 10, 2023 7:15:28 GMT -5
I think there's great movement there - I'm not sure about this specific vibe to speak on the need of water - I don't think the lot-o needs much, but others need more, I've heard. The polish slurry looks delicious Look forward to your finished product!
Post by velodromed on May 10, 2023 17:47:25 GMT -5
The raytech 5 (I think that’s what you have?) tends to push rocks to one side a bit more than the other. It’s OK, that’s normal. I have one and have talked to others with one. I run ceramic media and/or other small and medium sized rocks with the load. I fill it up about 3/4” from the top. You’ll get much better action if you do that and it’ll also be much easier on the rocks. Like everybody said, keep a squirt bottle next to it and give it a few squirts when it starts drying up like that. I see you’re not using the rubber nut? When you use the rubber nut and put the lid on (I put a regular nut on top of the rubber nut that secures the lid to keep it from loosening), the action is even better and it doesn’t dry up. I’ve been experimenting with mine for over 2 months now, running it 24/7. It’s a really good machine, just takes a while to get used to it.
The raytech 5 (I think that’s what you have?) tends to push rocks to one side a bit more than the other. It’s OK, that’s normal. I have one and have talked to others with one. I run ceramic media and/or other small and medium sized rocks with the load. I fill it up about 3/4” from the top. You’ll get much better action if you do that and it’ll also be much easier on the rocks. Like everybody said, keep a squirt bottle next to it and give it a few squirts when it starts drying up like that. I see you’re not using the rubber nut? When you use the rubber nut and put the lid on (I put a regular nut on top of the rubber nut that secures the lid to keep it from loosening), the action is even better and it doesn’t dry up. I’ve been experimenting with mine for over 2 months now, running it 24/7. It’s a really good machine, just takes a while to get used to it.
velodromed It is marked gemstone. I cant find ANYTHING on it. I don't know if raytec bought out gemstone but they look almost identical. I bought it used from a gent going out of business because he's 92. Base, 5 bowls and 2 lids. No rubber nuts (I probably could buy some from raytec). Strange thing is it works great with the top off, put the top on and all action stops, literally a grinding hault. Thought maybe the little motor was tired so I bought press and seal to cover it so it wouldn't dry out and the action didn't stop. There actually isn't that much grit in there. Another forum member invited me over to his place to give me a tutorial on it's use. He puts a squirt of dish soap in, lets it coat the rocks then puts a scientific 2 plastic spoons of grit in (rocks are damp when he puts dish soap in). What you are seeing is soap bubbles. Any hints? Kelly
The raytech 5 (I think that’s what you have?) tends to push rocks to one side a bit more than the other. It’s OK, that’s normal. I have one and have talked to others with one. I run ceramic media and/or other small and medium sized rocks with the load. I fill it up about 3/4” from the top. You’ll get much better action if you do that and it’ll also be much easier on the rocks. Like everybody said, keep a squirt bottle next to it and give it a few squirts when it starts drying up like that. I see you’re not using the rubber nut? When you use the rubber nut and put the lid on (I put a regular nut on top of the rubber nut that secures the lid to keep it from loosening), the action is even better and it doesn’t dry up. I’ve been experimenting with mine for over 2 months now, running it 24/7. It’s a really good machine, just takes a while to get used to it.
velodromed It is marked gemstone. I cant find ANYTHING on it. I don't know if raytec bought out gemstone but they look almost identical. I bought it used from a gent going out of business because he's 92. Base, 5 bowls and 2 lids. No rubber nuts (I probably could buy some from raytec). Strange thing is it works great with the top off, put the top on and all action stops, literally a grinding hault. Thought maybe the little motor was tired so I bought press and seal to cover it so it wouldn't dry out and the action didn't stop. There actually isn't that much grit in there. Another forum member invited me over to his place to give me a tutorial on its use. He puts a squirt of dish soap in, lets it coat the rocks then puts a scientific 2 plastic spoons of grit in (rocks are damp when he puts dish soap in). What you are seeing is soap bubbles. Any hints? Kelly
Interesting! I’ve also noticed that it tumbles really well without the lid…but the way I load it, it starts overflowing. I tried everything in the first few weeks and what I mentioned previously is working very well. But mine was brand new when I got it and may have a much more powerful vibration action than your older one. That also may explain why yours shuts down when you put the lid on. Have you looked thru the bottom, into the middle part of the machine and noticed how it works yet? Just a motor with a fan. A small weight is mounted on one side of the fan and this is what causes the vibration. I’m running mine so much that I’m going to be servicing it every three months. I’m excited to take it apart and see exactly how it functions. I’ll probably do a video on it or at least pictures. Yours may need a new motor or the motor may just need to be cleaned. They are simple, brushed motors (I think, can’t find a picture of it online) and should be relatively easy to clean and maintain. I’ll post about it when I start servicing it. Oh, they do sell all the parts online. I think it was the Raytech website. Ok I searched and found this place, Granger. They have all the parts for it. www.grainger.com/product/RAYTECH-Rubber-Well-Nut-5UJJ8 Heres the raytech website. Looks like they call it a rubber well nut. Ahttps://www.grainger.com/product/RAYTECH-Rubber-Well-Nut-5UJJ8 So, try using some ceramic media or smaller rocks along with the load. See how the action is with that…
Post by velodromed on May 10, 2023 20:57:43 GMT -5
nursetumbler Oh, forgot a couple things. I use a tablespoon of borax to help get the slurry going when I’m in the AO polish stage. When doing the courser SiC stages I use a 2-3 table spoons of old slurry that I’ve saved up. It works really well. I don’t get bubbles like you are, but I don’t use dish soap unless I’m cleaning rocks post tumbling. Since there’s no grit or polish used when doing that, it only bubbles a little bit. For the courser SiC stages I use about 1-1.5 teaspoons of grit. With AO polish I only use 1/2-3/4 teaspoon of polish. Also, please remember I’m still learning as well. What works for me may not work for you. It’s part of the fun I’ve found, experimenting and trying different methods. I tend to go by ‘feel’ rather than exact instructions.
I have the tumble 5 vibe , same machine, I dont like the lid because it seems to be warped , but once I get the action that I like I will cover with plastic wrap and rubber band, keeps the action going longer
WOW! That rutilated quartz is killer. I agree with most that you need just a little more water to get that light milky coating, just enough that you can see the surface of the rocks, but the action looks great. Not sure why it seizes up with the lid on. Maybe the center post nuts are too tight and pushing everything down onto the motor, or a washer or bushing is missing causing things to bind too tightly? Or, some of the parts are just old? I found one add for a Gemstone, www.ebay.com/itm/185411256630. I'd try giving all the parts a little oil and see what happens. You got to have a lid or things will dry out. Your finished tumbles look great though.
I have the tumble 5 vibe , same machine, I dont like the lid because it seems to be warped , but once I get the action that I like I will cover with plastic wrap and rubber band, keeps the action going longer
I’ve noticed if the bottom rubber nut is so tight that it mushrooms, it keeps the lid from going on right. Makes it feel ‘warped’. So I tighten that bottom nut and stop before it deforms, then I put the lid on and the other rubber nut. I put this second rubber nut on tight. Then I put a regular nut on top of the rubber nut and tighten enough so that it doesn’t come loose. Seems to be working so far…
WOW! That rutilated quartz is killer. I agree with most that you need just a little more water to get that light milky coating, just enough that you can see the surface of the rocks, but the action looks great. Not sure why it seizes up with the lid on. Maybe the center post nuts are too tight and pushing everything down onto the motor, or a washer or bushing is missing causing things to bind too tightly? Or, some of the parts are just old? I found one add for a Gemstone, www.ebay.com/itm/185411256630. I'd try giving all the parts a little oil and see what happens. You got to have a lid or things will dry out. Your finished tumbles look great though.
dshanpnw Thanks Doug. Nice to hear from you. I am going to look on raytech site and see if I can get rubber nuts. Kelly
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jone: It’s still 4/20 on this side of the line…
Apr 20, 2024 20:46:29 GMT -5
Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum where we share a love of rocks and a sense of community as enduring as the stones we polish.
The RTH Forum of www.RockTumbling.com is an Amazon Associate site and we earn money from
qualifying purchases you make after clicking on our links such as this
Rock Tumbling Supplies on Amazon
link for instance, or any of our various product ads and banners. By clicking our links every time you begin your Amazon shopping
experience, you are generating a bit of revenue for the forum which helps us cover our expenses. Thank you for your support!