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Post by Tonyterner on May 7, 2009 8:28:40 GMT -5
After having seen Randy's vibe cabs in person I decided to try some with a bunch of slabs I knew I would never cab by hand. I cut a bunch of different shapes on the saw, way slower than Randy can do it, and put them in the vibe along with a few pounds of ceramic pellets to get a variety of sizes. I have the vibe filled up just over halfway, which is the how full I usually fill it. I have 120/220 grit in there and some liquid detergent and a bit of borax. When I turned the vibe on the rocks did start to do their typical roll. The next time I checked them they had stopped moving, they looked a little dry which is normal. I added a bit of water, stirred and turned it back on but now the rocks are not rolling. They just sit there and vibrate in place. I've tried several different things from more water to less water and such but no luck. Anybody have any ideas why the rocks aren't moving around? Thanks.
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fisherman510
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by fisherman510 on May 7, 2009 9:06:12 GMT -5
Sounds like to much water. I have a batch in my UV10 right now. I start with a bucket of rocks covered with water. I drain the water then load the vibe level with the retainer nut. I turn it on and then add 4 level tablespoons of 120-220 grit. I find that I have to check it more often with this grit, I guess because it thickens faster than polish. I generally add 3 or 4 squirts 3 or 4 times a day. Must have screwed up yesterday, cause when I checked this morning I had the same problem as you. I could see water and the stones weren't moving. I dumped it out and started over again.
Bob
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Post by Tonyterner on May 7, 2009 9:45:07 GMT -5
Thanks Bob. I though that at first too but found the thing glued into a giant mass this morning. I'll try redoing it with almost no water and see what happens. I've been thinking more on this and I'm wondering if the rocks are just too big and flat for a vibe.
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on May 7, 2009 13:34:48 GMT -5
I wonder if there are too many flat rocks, and if you took some of them out and added some small round fill if it would keep the slabs moving? I would like to try this as well. I wonder what the ratio of slabs to fill should be?
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Post by stonesthatrock on May 7, 2009 14:00:34 GMT -5
i have had the same problem, but i added some water, took a spoon and moved them a bit and they started rolling again. i found that i have to check them every 4 hrs of so. One time they were glued together, i just added lots of water until the got going and went from there. I'm so glad its just not me.
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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 May 7, 2009 16:55:29 GMT -5
I don't have any luck at all when I fill 1/2 full. I pretty much fill the little bugger up to the nut or above...works good and is quieter. I don't put more than 1/4 slabs in with a good mix of round sizes.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 7, 2009 21:20:59 GMT -5
Thanks all. It certainly wasn't too wet because I just checked it and the rocks were cemented together. I did add some smaller stones and it started to move a bit. After reading your comments I'll add more. Its just past half full now, which seems to work well for round rocks but these flat ones seem to have more trouble turning over.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 8, 2009 2:18:36 GMT -5
Hi Tony
Ive had this problem
Take them out and start again Mud settles on the tumbler bottom and acts as a "brake"
Also add a few different shaped rocks to the batch and not as many slabs Cermics fillers are ok but they are all the same size !
You will find the ratio of slabs to other rocks + fillers (I dont use Fillers with slabs just other rocks)
In 220 they stick like glue due to the amount of Stone (Mud) removed if allowed to get a bit dry
I have often run 24 hours in 220 then wash and then do a compleat 48 hrs run
After you get away from the 220 G stage you will find it easier,
I have a Lot"O" and run it full (which is recomended)
Jack
Yorkshire UK
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 8, 2009 8:53:23 GMT -5
All good advice. It happens to me in my UV-18 from time to time, too. I haven't tried slabs yet, but they're on the list.
I found on this batch that I didn't have it full enough in the pre-polish stage. I was getting rolling, but I was also getting a lot of vibration of the rocks on each other. Ended up with a glossy/matte surface.
Chuck
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Post by Tonyterner on May 8, 2009 9:34:54 GMT -5
Thanks all. I think Jack has nailed it on the head. The 220 does turn to cement very quickly and I think I have too many slabs in there. The vibe is full at this point from adding more small rocks and I've had it in the 220 for 4 days, way to long. I'm going to clean it all out, remove some of the slabs and give it another go. This is still the best source of tumbling info on the planet.
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on May 8, 2009 13:46:54 GMT -5
I use a combination of ceramic cylinders, glass marbles, tempered glass shards, and other glass as my vibe tumble media and fill it up at least to the nut. Works like a charm for me.
Rick
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Post by Bikerrandy on May 8, 2009 21:23:05 GMT -5
Tony, it honestly sounds like too much grit. You may want to try rinsing the stones, and try again with less grit. All you need is enough grit to make the rocks turn gray.
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rockhead2u
off to a rocking start
Enjoying God's blessings today while living with Jesus in hope of tomorrow.
Member since May 2009
Posts: 10
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Post by rockhead2u on May 9, 2009 0:10:48 GMT -5
You may find as I did that the small rocks that you add should be really small - like 1/4 inch or less. These small size rocks get in between the slabs easier and this is what does the grinding and polishing. Slabs just sticking together aren't really grinding or polishing each other.
When you make half the load real small rock chips you will also find that the edges of the slabs are sanded and polished more perfectly.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 9, 2009 7:57:13 GMT -5
Thanks Randy and Rick. I plan on washing them today and starting again. I will follow your suggestions and am hoping this fixes it. I wanted them done by next weekend as I'm doing a rock show and I wanted them to give them away to kids. Hopefully I can get them done.
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