Post by coasthunterjay on Jun 12, 2009 1:20:03 GMT -5
OK im learning but i had to read about a dozen posts to figure everything out and get downloads from yorkshire and others and this is what i came up with. It might have already been posted, but this is basically a dummies guide to starting a vibed tumble....so hopefully it helps someone....because i could have used this info weeks ago.....lol.....so from one learning newbie to others.
This is very easy and of course every load of rock is a little different..... But this is very general info to get you started.
STEPS TO GETTING GOOD RESULTS OFF YOUR FIRST VIBED TUMBLE FROM A GUY WHO NEEDS IT PAINTED BLACK AND WHITE. ;D
1. DONT USE SAND UNTILL YOU HAVE TUMBLED ALOT (ITS A WASTE OF TIME )
2. Use alot of mixed shaped rocks in your tumble. (prevents rocks from sticking to eachother)
3. Try to fill bowl regardless of style atleast 2/3 to 3/4 full. (if you do not have that much tumbling material use some kind of media filler. if no rubber filler, use tile spacers or plastic airsoft bb's, anything to take up space but wont damage or scrape rocks.)
4. Start with a medium grit...the mixed 150/220grit is preffered. Vibratory tumblers are very aggressive and work quicker than rotary so course is not needed.
(cheepest place is the rockshed .com, even cheeper than ebay)
5. ONLY use 2 Tablespoons of grit per load of rocks, 3 tablespoons max for large loads(this is for a 3lbs bowl or whatever my lot-o-tumbler is)
6. Now it is time to go.....To start off....YAY....
Rinse your rocks in water and do not damp off with a rag. Take your lightly moist rocks and set in tumbler and turn tumbler on. ROCKS SHOULD IMMEDIATLY START TURNING. Add grit to rocks. This is where bikerRandy was saying the grit should just barely cover the rocks....Not completely caked (SHOULD NEVER BE A COMPLETELY MUDDY MESS) THEN SPRAY ONCE OR TWICE WITH A SPRAY BOTTLE. THE ROCKS WILL CONTINUE TO SPIN AND TUMBLE AT A MODERATE SPEED. REMEMBER THIS SPEED BECAUSE THEY SHOULD ALWAYS TUMBLE AT A MODERATE SPEED. IF NOT YOU NEED TO MOIST THE ROCKS OR YOU ADDED TO MUCH GRIT(I figured if i found a certain sized rock it would return around atleast every 5-8 seconds or so....). COVER AND LET TUMBLE FOR HALF A DAY OR OVER NIGHT. Check in 6-8 hours later and regardless of whether it needs it or not, spray it again 2-3 times. cover and let tumble. (You repeat watering because the rocks and bowl create alot of heat and the media/grit mix will dry out and loose its effectiveness.)
7. Now this is my last step for the first part of the tumble, but it was advised to me that in this first step that you will need to
change the media almost every 2-3 days(its just not working effectively after that much time)....some change it everyday depending on the amount of slurry you are producing...or mud....you only continue to change your medium grit as long as you want to round out or smooth out your rocks.
Once you get the smoothness you are looking for then move to the next level of grit.
MISTAKES ARE EASY FIXES....Cleaning messy, muddy caked rocks is easy. put rocks in plastic spaggetti strainer under your outside faucet and rinse (there hard rocks so dont be afraid to get in there and stir them around).....ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER NOT TO RINSE DOWN A DRAIN...MUDDY GRIT TURNS INTO DRIED CAKED CEMENT WHICH WILL CLOG DRAINS...KEEP THE MESS OUTSIDE.
Once you get the most of the slurry(mud) gone take the rocks and put them in the tumbler with no grit and add water just up to the level of the rocks. With tumbler on, let rinse for a couple hours and the vibration will shake the grit and mud out of every crevice...repeat rinsing procedures and then start the next step whether it be the next grit level or more medium.
CONTINUE THE MEDIUM OR FIRST TUMBLING STAGE FOR ANYWHERE FROM A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK OR HOW EVER LONG IT TAKES TO TUMBLE THAT ONE PERSISTANT STONE. (I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE GOING SEVERAL WEEKS ON THE FIRST STAGE TO GET THAT PERFECT POLISH ON LARGER STONES, BUT ISNT RECOMMENDED)
And remember watch your rocks, they will tell you when they are done.......and it doesnt hurt to stop them, rinse them off and look at them............look at them atleast twice a day in the first stage.....pop the lid open and make sure there moving like they should, spray real quick and close the lid........once in the morning, and once after work or before you go to bed. this is what i do and it gives you enough time between the tumbling action thats happens in the bowl to catch mistakes.
Most importantly.....be patient....VERY, VERY, VERY PATIENT... ;D
And well the next grit level is very similar but easier from what i hear. Rinse rocks making sure every bit of medium grit is off the rocks(you do not want to cross contaminate your rocks with other grit levels while going to a finer level)
Basically continue steps with new media filler and 500grit (alot less grit is needed), but that is a different stage......Remember the longer you tumble the more grit changes you have to do. But the longer you tumble rocks in a grit level the better the shine will get.
HAVE FUN AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE IN THERE FIRST STAGES OF TUMBLING.....
THANKS FOR READING EVERYONE.....JAY
OH AND IF I MISSED ANYTHING LET ME KNOW, AND REMEMBER THIS IS A VERY GENERAL BEGINNERS GUIDE. JUST SOMETHING TO GET YOU STARTED AND TO LET YOU READ. AND MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE FOR FOLLOWING STEPS....
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=29369
[glow=red,2,300].....Changes are being made to this post as suggestions are added and wordings need be changed.....[/glow]
This is very easy and of course every load of rock is a little different..... But this is very general info to get you started.
STEPS TO GETTING GOOD RESULTS OFF YOUR FIRST VIBED TUMBLE FROM A GUY WHO NEEDS IT PAINTED BLACK AND WHITE. ;D
1. DONT USE SAND UNTILL YOU HAVE TUMBLED ALOT (ITS A WASTE OF TIME )
2. Use alot of mixed shaped rocks in your tumble. (prevents rocks from sticking to eachother)
3. Try to fill bowl regardless of style atleast 2/3 to 3/4 full. (if you do not have that much tumbling material use some kind of media filler. if no rubber filler, use tile spacers or plastic airsoft bb's, anything to take up space but wont damage or scrape rocks.)
4. Start with a medium grit...the mixed 150/220grit is preffered. Vibratory tumblers are very aggressive and work quicker than rotary so course is not needed.
(cheepest place is the rockshed .com, even cheeper than ebay)
5. ONLY use 2 Tablespoons of grit per load of rocks, 3 tablespoons max for large loads(this is for a 3lbs bowl or whatever my lot-o-tumbler is)
6. Now it is time to go.....To start off....YAY....
Rinse your rocks in water and do not damp off with a rag. Take your lightly moist rocks and set in tumbler and turn tumbler on. ROCKS SHOULD IMMEDIATLY START TURNING. Add grit to rocks. This is where bikerRandy was saying the grit should just barely cover the rocks....Not completely caked (SHOULD NEVER BE A COMPLETELY MUDDY MESS) THEN SPRAY ONCE OR TWICE WITH A SPRAY BOTTLE. THE ROCKS WILL CONTINUE TO SPIN AND TUMBLE AT A MODERATE SPEED. REMEMBER THIS SPEED BECAUSE THEY SHOULD ALWAYS TUMBLE AT A MODERATE SPEED. IF NOT YOU NEED TO MOIST THE ROCKS OR YOU ADDED TO MUCH GRIT(I figured if i found a certain sized rock it would return around atleast every 5-8 seconds or so....). COVER AND LET TUMBLE FOR HALF A DAY OR OVER NIGHT. Check in 6-8 hours later and regardless of whether it needs it or not, spray it again 2-3 times. cover and let tumble. (You repeat watering because the rocks and bowl create alot of heat and the media/grit mix will dry out and loose its effectiveness.)
7. Now this is my last step for the first part of the tumble, but it was advised to me that in this first step that you will need to
change the media almost every 2-3 days(its just not working effectively after that much time)....some change it everyday depending on the amount of slurry you are producing...or mud....you only continue to change your medium grit as long as you want to round out or smooth out your rocks.
Once you get the smoothness you are looking for then move to the next level of grit.
MISTAKES ARE EASY FIXES....Cleaning messy, muddy caked rocks is easy. put rocks in plastic spaggetti strainer under your outside faucet and rinse (there hard rocks so dont be afraid to get in there and stir them around).....ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER NOT TO RINSE DOWN A DRAIN...MUDDY GRIT TURNS INTO DRIED CAKED CEMENT WHICH WILL CLOG DRAINS...KEEP THE MESS OUTSIDE.
Once you get the most of the slurry(mud) gone take the rocks and put them in the tumbler with no grit and add water just up to the level of the rocks. With tumbler on, let rinse for a couple hours and the vibration will shake the grit and mud out of every crevice...repeat rinsing procedures and then start the next step whether it be the next grit level or more medium.
CONTINUE THE MEDIUM OR FIRST TUMBLING STAGE FOR ANYWHERE FROM A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK OR HOW EVER LONG IT TAKES TO TUMBLE THAT ONE PERSISTANT STONE. (I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE GOING SEVERAL WEEKS ON THE FIRST STAGE TO GET THAT PERFECT POLISH ON LARGER STONES, BUT ISNT RECOMMENDED)
And remember watch your rocks, they will tell you when they are done.......and it doesnt hurt to stop them, rinse them off and look at them............look at them atleast twice a day in the first stage.....pop the lid open and make sure there moving like they should, spray real quick and close the lid........once in the morning, and once after work or before you go to bed. this is what i do and it gives you enough time between the tumbling action thats happens in the bowl to catch mistakes.
Most importantly.....be patient....VERY, VERY, VERY PATIENT... ;D
And well the next grit level is very similar but easier from what i hear. Rinse rocks making sure every bit of medium grit is off the rocks(you do not want to cross contaminate your rocks with other grit levels while going to a finer level)
Basically continue steps with new media filler and 500grit (alot less grit is needed), but that is a different stage......Remember the longer you tumble the more grit changes you have to do. But the longer you tumble rocks in a grit level the better the shine will get.
HAVE FUN AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE IN THERE FIRST STAGES OF TUMBLING.....
THANKS FOR READING EVERYONE.....JAY
OH AND IF I MISSED ANYTHING LET ME KNOW, AND REMEMBER THIS IS A VERY GENERAL BEGINNERS GUIDE. JUST SOMETHING TO GET YOU STARTED AND TO LET YOU READ. AND MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE FOR FOLLOWING STEPS....
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=29369
[glow=red,2,300].....Changes are being made to this post as suggestions are added and wordings need be changed.....[/glow]
Jo
I haven't started any rough stock in the vibe, I just used rocks that were ready to go to polish in the rotary and instead put them in the vibe. However, I used four tablespoons of polish as I thought that's what Randy's post read (did he mean teaspoons rather than TBSP?) whoops .. is it really just 1/2 teaspoon you should be using? I'm also confused by the Tripoli, is Tripoli a polishing compound different from the 1000 The Rock Shed sells? I apologize for asking all these questions, but now I'm more confused. ;D
