Instructions for vibe tumblers....
Mar 24, 2009 6:49:41 GMT -5
bouldergal, meviva, and 15 more like this
Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 24, 2009 6:49:41 GMT -5
I tried to find this, but it looks like I never actually posted it. This is my formula for vibe tumbling. Every batch will turn out perfect depending on the rocks that you start out with. The agates (chalcedonies) and the "hard" jaspers" work best. Also, tigereye, unakite, and even sodalite and obsidian as long as you monitor them. Vibes are aggressive, so they will eat up the soft rocks.
You may already know this, but just in case- Never use 60/90 in a vibe. Vibes are too agressive for 60/90. There are only three stages, 120/220, 500, and polish. The Aluminum oxide polish that the Rockshed sells is the absolute best there is for vibe tumbling. If you've never dealt with the Rockshed, it's owned by a guy named Shawn, who is one of the best to deal with.
Before we get started I gotta say this- if you don't have a second bowl for your vibe, get one!! This will be your polish bowl, and will be used for polish only. Grit gets embedded in the walls of your bowl, and you will not get the desired shine, trust me on this!!
I used plastic pellets for a good while, but recently noticed that I get the same results without them. I used to used 6-8 tablespoons of grit, but I've perfected my methods a bit. Now I simply pour the grit into the vibe (while running) a little bit at a time until rocks are completely gray. This probably takes about 3 tablespoons. If that doesn't turn them gray, add one more. If they get dry during this process, spray/spritz with a squirt bottle a couple times and continue. The rocks should be just wet enough for the grit to stick to them. If done correctly, the rocks will turn gray quickly, and should be gray enough that you won't see any color other than gray.
With the 500 and the polish, you'll only need 3 or 4 tablespoons (heaping, but not like a mountain...more like a foothill). The polish should be milky. You will barely be able to still see the patterns of the rocks through it if you used the proper amount.
Another trick that I like to do is between the 500 and the polish stage, do a burnish stage (borax) to ensure that all grit is removed from the rocks and barrel. A lot of people do this, but I do one thing different. I add a teaspoon of polish to the Borax. This will act kinda like a pre-polish stage as well.
Here are the steps that I use with the best results:
120/220- 2 days, wash and re-charge with fresh 120/220 and go two more days.
This is important, too, especially in the 120/220 stage, take the lid off of the tumbler (while running) three times a day. The rocks should always be moving, coming up from the sides and going back down into the center of the bowl. It's ok for them to slow down a little, but they should have a fair amount of movement. Make it a habit to spray two or three times with water each time you remove the lid, even if they're still moving. If they're moving slow, spray them until they start to move fast again. You should never see water in the bottom of the bowl. If you do, there's too much water. In a few hours of tumbling with too much water, you'll have a gray milk shake and the rocks will stop the tumbling action.
500- two days, then do a burnish stage with Borax and a teaspoon of polish. One thing that you'll notice in the 500 grit stage is that the rocks will stay moving better. You won't need as much water to keep them going.
Polish- 5-6 days... Yes, 5-6 days!! lol, I found that the rocks will get more shine the longer you leave them in the polish. 5-6 days will give them the optimum shine. You can remove a couple of rocks from the bowl each day and rinse to determine if they are ready for the final burnish. Once you're satisfied with the results of the polish stage, remove rocks, rinse and tumble in Borax (2-3 tablespoons) and water (sprayed as before), then turn the vibe on for about 3-4 hours. With the polish stage, I only check in on them once or twice a day.
After you get experienced with a few batches, you'll be able to listen to the vibe and tell what's going on inside, so take note of what you're hearing before each time you remove the lid. This will be your learning experience.
You'll pick up a few tricks of your own, I know that I have. Hopefully this isn't confusing.
Randy
You may already know this, but just in case- Never use 60/90 in a vibe. Vibes are too agressive for 60/90. There are only three stages, 120/220, 500, and polish. The Aluminum oxide polish that the Rockshed sells is the absolute best there is for vibe tumbling. If you've never dealt with the Rockshed, it's owned by a guy named Shawn, who is one of the best to deal with.
Before we get started I gotta say this- if you don't have a second bowl for your vibe, get one!! This will be your polish bowl, and will be used for polish only. Grit gets embedded in the walls of your bowl, and you will not get the desired shine, trust me on this!!
I used plastic pellets for a good while, but recently noticed that I get the same results without them. I used to used 6-8 tablespoons of grit, but I've perfected my methods a bit. Now I simply pour the grit into the vibe (while running) a little bit at a time until rocks are completely gray. This probably takes about 3 tablespoons. If that doesn't turn them gray, add one more. If they get dry during this process, spray/spritz with a squirt bottle a couple times and continue. The rocks should be just wet enough for the grit to stick to them. If done correctly, the rocks will turn gray quickly, and should be gray enough that you won't see any color other than gray.
With the 500 and the polish, you'll only need 3 or 4 tablespoons (heaping, but not like a mountain...more like a foothill). The polish should be milky. You will barely be able to still see the patterns of the rocks through it if you used the proper amount.
Another trick that I like to do is between the 500 and the polish stage, do a burnish stage (borax) to ensure that all grit is removed from the rocks and barrel. A lot of people do this, but I do one thing different. I add a teaspoon of polish to the Borax. This will act kinda like a pre-polish stage as well.
Here are the steps that I use with the best results:
120/220- 2 days, wash and re-charge with fresh 120/220 and go two more days.
This is important, too, especially in the 120/220 stage, take the lid off of the tumbler (while running) three times a day. The rocks should always be moving, coming up from the sides and going back down into the center of the bowl. It's ok for them to slow down a little, but they should have a fair amount of movement. Make it a habit to spray two or three times with water each time you remove the lid, even if they're still moving. If they're moving slow, spray them until they start to move fast again. You should never see water in the bottom of the bowl. If you do, there's too much water. In a few hours of tumbling with too much water, you'll have a gray milk shake and the rocks will stop the tumbling action.
500- two days, then do a burnish stage with Borax and a teaspoon of polish. One thing that you'll notice in the 500 grit stage is that the rocks will stay moving better. You won't need as much water to keep them going.
Polish- 5-6 days... Yes, 5-6 days!! lol, I found that the rocks will get more shine the longer you leave them in the polish. 5-6 days will give them the optimum shine. You can remove a couple of rocks from the bowl each day and rinse to determine if they are ready for the final burnish. Once you're satisfied with the results of the polish stage, remove rocks, rinse and tumble in Borax (2-3 tablespoons) and water (sprayed as before), then turn the vibe on for about 3-4 hours. With the polish stage, I only check in on them once or twice a day.
After you get experienced with a few batches, you'll be able to listen to the vibe and tell what's going on inside, so take note of what you're hearing before each time you remove the lid. This will be your learning experience.
You'll pick up a few tricks of your own, I know that I have. Hopefully this isn't confusing.
Randy
;D lol 
