rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Oct 16, 2008 23:40:50 GMT -5
I have a vibratory tumbler (Thumler UV-18 industrial) which I use for pre-polish and polish cycles.
I'm wondering if anyone can share strategies for doing the rough grind on these?
I'm looking to shorten the time the rough grind cycle takes on my lortone rotary tumbler.
Some of you old timers...Please help us newbies.
Ozzy
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 18, 2008 1:52:58 GMT -5
Hi Ozzy
I have tried but as Vibes are so aggresive,
1 they need attention ever few hours
2 they tend to produce flatter shapes.
3 need more grit changes and washing and gum up if not cked
4 a rotary rolls the stones so you get a better all round shape
hope others will add their experiances
BUT for pre cuts they are great you can juggle a lot better how sharp (or rounded ) the finished edge is by what stageyou put them in
hope this helps
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Post by Gem'n I on Oct 19, 2008 12:37:42 GMT -5
Rough grinds in a vibe are tricky and Jack has indicated why...most folks here use the rotaries for the rough grinds and the vibes for the smoothing/polish. One caution is the rough grinds can chew up a barrel in a vibe before its time so the old saying of "haste makes waste" could apply here. They do work faster by a bunch.
Larry
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 21, 2008 8:32:55 GMT -5
Well, I use a rotary for the coarse grind to get a more rounded stone, then use my UV-18 for 150/220 (which is also supposed to be coarse on a vibe, but I find it preps the later stages well) and all subsequent steps. I can usually run a week of coarse in the rotary while I'm finishing a previous batch in the vibe. Since some rough takes more than a week in coarse, it would help to have two or more rotaries going simultaneously.
I check my vibe every 12 hours and typically add a little water when I do.
Probably not much help to you, but that's what I do and maybe it will help others...
Chuck
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Nov 2, 2008 11:56:01 GMT -5
I'd think the best thing you could do if you were in a hurry...preform everything on your WF. At least that way you won't tear up your barrel with sharp edges on the rock. But, that's one day of full time labor for an 18 lb batch and wearing out a $35 blade every few weeks. I run 2 15lb lortone rotaries and once the cycle gets right, I'll have a 10-12 lb batch for my vibe every week.
Lee
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