shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Aug 26, 2011 15:32:39 GMT -5
Got it!!! Thanks everybody.
Scott
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 13, 2011 14:46:19 GMT -5
Hi Randy! I'm brand new here, and brand new to creating my own cab's. My hubby and I just got our first vibe tumblers (Raytech) and they are FAB! Got a question though, seems we're following the same steps you recommended almost to the tee: 120/220 24 hrs, 500 24 hrs, polish 36 hrs, burnish 4 hours... but not with the Borax In trying out our tumblers (we got 3) we tossed in several small pieces of petrified wood to see what would happen. They turned out with a great shine, very natural form... BUT, there is a film in the nooks & crannys that just wont come out  We also tossed in a small batch of obsidian that we cut... phenomenal shine! Turned out PERFECT!  Any suggestions on what to do about the film in the nooks? Would the Borax take care of this between the pre-polish & polish stages? Thanks! |
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 13, 2011 14:49:14 GMT -5
sorry for the huge pictures LOL
Judy
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 13, 2011 14:57:45 GMT -5
Jwood, whatever you do, don't let your rocks dry out between stages. After rinsing, let them sit in clean water until you're ready to move on to the next stage. If they dry out, any of the mud that is still in the cracks will dry like concrete.
I always give mine a tumble in borax between stages, and burnish in borax after final polish.
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 13, 2011 15:11:34 GMT -5
thanks! That's probably what happened... and I'll definitely start with the Borax between stages... thinking we'll up the polish to a couple days as well
Judy
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 13, 2011 20:08:47 GMT -5
Ditto on what Jake said. Also, some people use a tooth brush to get in the cracks. Another thing you might try is to tumble in 120/220 for 24 hrs, rinse rocks and do another 24 hrs in fresh 120/220 to get the rocks smoother (minimize the nooks and crannys). Repeating the first stage can be done as many times as it takes to get the desired results before moving to the next stage.
Oh, one more thing.... where are you from? Welcome to the boards!!
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 13, 2011 22:17:03 GMT -5
Thanks Randy! I'm from Tucson, Az .... and I blame my obsession on the Tucson Gem Show LOL
Like I said, we're newbies, playing a box of rocks we got off Ebay - it had lots and lots of petrified wood of all shapes and sizes, obsidian (gold sheen too), soldalite, variscite and some blue stuff - I have no idea what it is but it blue and has some really flashy opal in it?... so, we've been having fun seeing what does what in the vibe
We're just finishing up a batch with some gorgeous Gary Green, Red River and some Idunnowhat Jaspers...they're looking good!
You'll be seeing more of me here, I'm sure!
Judy
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 14, 2011 5:01:46 GMT -5
Awesome, post plenty of pics, even between stages. Once the rock hobby has you hooked, you'll be buying bigger tumblers, more rocks, saws, grinders....... lol
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 14, 2011 11:16:13 GMT -5
OH, 're hooked already! BTW... I wasnt as thrilled as I thought I would be with our last batch, so we threw it back in LOL... we DID get a couple nice pieces though - I'll post pictures later... one very nice pendant/earring set that I'll probably have wrapped and up on Etsy before the day is threw... but I'll take before/after pics to share  |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 14, 2011 18:00:12 GMT -5
I saw them, they're gonna look great wrapped  |
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 15, 2011 9:16:13 GMT -5
Randy - got a question for you... You commented that between the 500 and polish stage, you burnish with borax and a spoonful of polish... Do you rinse the 500 grit out first and then burnish? and for how long with the borax and polish? Thanks!  |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 15, 2011 15:52:14 GMT -5
Yes, rinse them really good (including the bowl, threaded rod and wingnut, washers, ect....) you don't want any cross-contamination at all. The burnish in Borax is to get any 500 grit residue off the rocks before going in to the polish. The "after polish" burnish is the remove any polish residue and get them the final finish. It really does make a difference that is noticeable.
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JUDY
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by JUDY on Sept 15, 2011 20:22:36 GMT -5
Thanks Randy! |
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cat
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 4
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Post by cat on Oct 16, 2011 17:25:27 GMT -5
Stay away from the vibes that are made for polishing brass for reloading. They aren't designed for the weight of the rocks and wear out quickly. ***** My husband has a Thumbler Utlra-vibe 10 that he bought for tumbling brass. Will I be able to use this for rocks, or is this one of those "Brass Only" tumblers? I live in North Idaho about 1/2 hr from garnet country (Emerald Cr. area). Needless to say I have many that I wish to play with. Some the size of my fist (3 to 4 inches) and some the size of a child's "pinky" nail. Any advice on the best way to approach this endeavor is appreciated. Thanks to any who comment and offer advice. Cat |
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Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 16, 2011 17:49:15 GMT -5
Depends on which one he got. Thumblers makes 2 different UV-10's, one is for polishing shell casings only. Did he get it from Cabellas or another hunting supplier? If so, the motor and bowl won't stay up to the time and abuse that it takes to tumbler a load of rocks.
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cat
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 4
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Post by cat on Oct 17, 2011 19:53:20 GMT -5
Is there a way to find out. He bought this about 15 to 20 years ago. Can I trace this via serial #? He can't remember where he bought it.
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 17, 2011 19:57:31 GMT -5
What color stripe is on the bowl?
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller 
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575 
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Post by grayfingers on Oct 17, 2011 21:57:01 GMT -5
Cat, I might be able to help with this, I just went through the same questions with a UV 10 I inherited. Shawn at the Rock Shed got me in touch with Al at Tru-square (they make Thumlers) He told me that mine from the early 80's was definitely the light duty model, as they did not come out with the industrial model until quite a few years later. The yellow striped bowl is the brass polishing bowl. the motor is enclosed on the industrial, and open on the light duty model. The motor will fry with the 10 lb. bowl but you can tumble rock with the light duty model, with the UV-3 bowl, Shawn sells them at the link below. Al at Tru-square said to remove the pad and silicone where the motor is bolted onto the frame, to better seal it up from moisture getting to the motor. I also sealed the screws for the feet as well as where the rod comes up through the pad before I put it back on with contact adhesive. www.therockshed.com/tumbler3.htmlBill |
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cat
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 4
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Post by cat on Oct 18, 2011 18:47:18 GMT -5
The band on the bowl is yellow. Thanks for all the information. Sounds like there is a little work to do if I want to use the one we have with a UV-3 bowl or invest in one for rock.
Along the same lines, any idea how long it will take to polish granite in the vibe? I understand that if I want to keep the shape of the stone I will need to use a vibe, anything else and I will get nice round stones. Additionally, due to the hardness of the granite what is the suggestion for polishing. I am thinking from some of the other info I have read that the stones themselves will also perform some of the grind. Am I wrong with this line of thinking?
Thanks for all the assistance. You guys are great!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 19, 2011 20:29:58 GMT -5
Granite is a hard stone, 7 on the Mohs. I'd tumble it in coarse for a day, rinse them off to see how smooth they are, and if needed run them through fresh coarse grit for another day. Repeat until you're satisfied that they are ready for the 500 grit. You won't need more than 3 days in the coarse grit, 2 days will most likely do it. Then go 2 days in the 500 grit (no grit change) and then 3-4 days in polish. When you remove them from the fine grit (500), run them in Borax for 3-4 hours before putting them in the bowl with polish. This will ensure that there is no grit in the bowl since this will produce undesirable results.
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