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Post by drocknut on Apr 7, 2009 22:10:53 GMT -5
I did look inside and the inside is different from the outside. It is bright blue so I'm thinking it is lined.
The weather here was nice so I decided to take it outside to see if I could run it there without it driving me nuts. There were some rocks in it when the guy gave it to me so figured I could give it a go with those. Unfortunately when I opened it up the rocks and grit were moldy. I took out a hose and dumped the whole thing. Got the rocks washed off and the hopper cleaned out but it was a big mess. I decided to toss the grit since I don't know how long it had been in there or if it was even any good. I put the rocks back in with some fine grit I got (not sure if it's 220 or what but it was like a fine powder rather than the course stuff I've seen). There were some small chips that seemed like wood mixed in with the material so I put those in with the new stuff since I don't have any pellets or any way to buy any right now. I filled the hopper with water (about 1/2 gallon) and the grit but I'm not sure the right proportions. I ran it for a couple hours then checked it. The wood pieces were floating on the water which was gray and all the rocks were stuck in the bottom with the grit. I used a stick then my hands to pry the rocks off the bottom of the hopper and stirred them around because I thought maybe I hadn't mixed the grit and water enough. I ran it overnight but the material is stuck to the bottom of the hopper again. I had to leave town for a few days so I brought the tumbler in the house, opened the lid of the hopper (to air it out trying to keep it from molding), and left it until I get back home.
I am so new to tumbling that I am at a loss about what happened.
I didn't get a chance to contact anyone about an instruction book for the tumbler but don't know if that would help anyway.
What would cause the material and grit to stick to the bottom of the hopper?
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Apr 10, 2009 20:43:50 GMT -5
Hey drocknut, I've never tumbled in a Vibe, but from what I've read here the problem you're describing is TOO MUCH WATER. I realize that you have a monster unit, but from what others have said regarding vibes is you use a spray bottle of water, add the stones, then grit, then just spray the rocks a little at a time til the damp rocks hold the grit & start moving. Wait a minute or two & spray just enough to keep things going. A vibe works the rocks fast but needs more attention, say 3x a day. Hope this helps & hope others can offer you more/better advice. Good luck,
Don
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Post by drocknut on Apr 12, 2009 10:39:54 GMT -5
Thank you Don. I'll have to try the spray bottle. Out of town right now. When I get back I'll have to figure out a way to dump out the water I have in the hopper hopefully without dumping all the grit I have in there that is if I can get it all unstuck from the bottom.
Thanks again
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 12, 2009 11:39:46 GMT -5
I agree with Don. Way too much water. He described the right amount. Generally, if you wash the rocks and put them in with the grit, that will get you off to a good start (no water added). Check them after a few minutes and see if you're getting a good churning action. If not, add just a little water. As he said, check it 3x a day.
I would guess that since everything is already stuck to the bottom, you should be able to tilt the barrel and pour out the bulk of the water. The grit should be so sludgy that it won't come out very fast. If that doesn't loosen things up, put some rags in with the rocks and draped over the side of the barrel to act as wicks. The water will be absorbed by the rags and evaporate out.
Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes.
Chuck
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Post by drocknut on Apr 12, 2009 12:45:18 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, I will let you know. I left the top off the hopper while I'm gone so maybe the water will evaporate off before I get back. If not I'll do what you said to do.
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Post by drocknut on Apr 21, 2009 10:08:06 GMT -5
I got home for our annual rock show so I had a chance to work with the tumbler. Fortunately the weather is better so I can put it outside to work.
I poured off some of the water and that seems to have helped although the material is still sticking to the bottom of the hopper when I stop it to take off the lid and check it. Seems to be moving material around slowly when running though. Is it supposed to be slow when running?
Also, any idea how long it will take polishing agate slices and pieces with pre-polish grit?
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 21, 2009 12:16:42 GMT -5
It sounds like you still have too much water. The grit should be sticking to the rocks.
This is what a Thumler's looks like when loaded correctly:
I would expect your unit to move at least as fast, but I could be wrong because I don't have any experience with that design. The Lot-O also moves quite fast, as do the smaller versions of your tumbler (the Mini-Sonics), at least as I understand it.
The rough grind can go anywhere from 1 to 7 days (depending on whether they've been through a rotary). Each stage after that takes 24 hrs, although some people run the polish longer.
Chuck
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Post by drocknut on Apr 26, 2009 14:08:22 GMT -5
Chuck, checked out the video, thanks. Mine is definitely not working as fast as that one so perhaps you are correct about too much water in mine. I had to unplug mine as it was outside and the weather turned cold so I didn't want to risk damage to the unit. I may have to wait a while to start it up again and may just even dump the whole lot, wash the rocks, then start over on tumbling. I am possibly going back to work out of town so may not be able to do that until later. This is frustrating but I'm hoping it will be worthwhile for me in the long run.
The rocks were mostly ones that had been in the hopper when I got it and in various stages of polish although most were still rough so I might just start them as if they were never worked with and use rough grit first. I know they have never been in a rotary. Do you happen to know if there is a formula to use with ratio of grit to water in a large hopper like mine?
Thanks for all the help.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 26, 2009 16:20:52 GMT -5
If it works like any other vibe, don't add any water. Just wash the rocks and put them in wet. My UV-18 uses 8 oz. of 120/20; that's for 18 lbs. of rock. After that, it's 4 oz. per stage.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Chuck
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Post by drocknut on Apr 27, 2009 23:15:12 GMT -5
Thanks again for the information Chuck. I'm not sure how many lbs of rock are in the hopper I have but I know it's not full. The ratios you give will help me and I might just try not adding water but putting the rocks in wet. I did find a page with instructions for using a vibratory tumbler but not sure about the directions given you have suggested not adding any water aside from that on the washed rocks. Here's the link: chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa011803b.htmWhat are your impressions of the directions given? |
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Apr 28, 2009 6:55:43 GMT -5
The instructions say they're for a 2.5 lb. vibe, which I'm guessing is a Mini-Sonic. It may have different requirements than a Lot-O or UltraVibe. Here are the corresponding instructions on those 2 tumblers: www.therockshed.com/instructions1.htmlYou'll notice that the instructions for both of those tumblers state to use very little water; just enough to get the grit to stick to the stones. You might contact Diamond Pacific to see if they can send you instructions. Here is their catalog so you can match up your tumbler. Look on pages 59 and 60. www.diamondpacific.com/Resources/2009%20Complete%20Catalog.pdfChuck |
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Post by drocknut on Apr 30, 2009 20:08:25 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck. I've looked at the catalog before but haven't had a chance to call to ask about instructions. I did look at the other instructions site you listed thanks for the link.
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Post by drocknut on May 18, 2009 15:32:46 GMT -5
I just now got a chance to work with the tumbler again. I washed all the rocks, washed the hopper, put the rocks back in wet, added grit, put it outside (less noise than if I had it inside), plugged it in and voila, rocks were tumbling. I had good movement and everything was going well.....UNTIL...one of the drive belts broke. Just when you think you've got things figured out, Murphy's Law takes over....lol.
I'm beginning to think I was not meant to use a vibratory tumbler at all....geez. Do you think the rocks are trying to tell me they don't want to look all glassy and pretty?
Now I have to order the belt and most likely better buy two in case the other one decides to break since it's probably just as old.
The tumbler will just have to sit until I can get the parts and somehow figure out how to replace the belts myself.
Well, at least I know now that I had too much water in the hopper. Maybe I'll have another update on the continuing saga of Diane's Adventures in Vibratory Tumbling soon (I hope).
Stay tuned.....
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Post by drocknut on Jul 13, 2009 19:04:11 GMT -5
Well, here's an update on my adventures in vibratory tumbling....
I got the new drive belt, ordered it from Diamond Pacific. I managed to install it so another hurdle overcome. I even got to do some tumbling but don't have the right grit for polish so have to order some. Also thought I'd better get some ceramic pellets to buffer the load. So for now the rocks sit, partly polished, washed and ready for the next stage. Geez, this load is taking forever to polish....LOL. Maybe one day I'll actually have polished rocks. Is The Rockshed the best place to buy grit and pellets? I read about it on the rock tumbling board via the vibratory tumbler instructions provided by Bikerrandy among others. I tried to get some locally but no luck so may have to go online and wanted to know the best place for good prices etc...
Thanks
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