bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 23, 2009 9:19:19 GMT -5
I've been polishing NE beach stones in my UltraVibe 10 and while doing a prepolish recharge I noticed a lot black specks on all the stones. I checked to make sure there was no contaminant rock (i.e. coal) in the batch. The first stage of prepolish looks fine except for the specks. My suspicion is that it is coming from the barrel itself - - the finish flaking off. Has anyone had this problem? My plan is to continue on through polish (maybe an interim 1000 grit) and hope a borax cycle will remove the specks. Info and help much appreciated. Bob :help:
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Post by Toad on Nov 23, 2009 9:31:49 GMT -5
I would think anything off the barrel would just wash off, though I've never heard of this. If it won't stick on the barrel, why would it stick to your rocks? Does the barrel look damaged?
Are you sure the black isn't natural to the stone? Some type of granite maybe???
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bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 23, 2009 9:53:04 GMT -5
Toad... Good observations. When I wipe the barrel with a white cloth I find the black coming off, but that could be from a contaminating rock or the barrel itself... Just plain curious... My bet, given that it doesn't happen every time, is that some kind of dark stone I'm picking up is the culprit. My brother-and-law had the same problem, bought a new barrel, and still suffers from this. It's discouraging but I guess the answer is do just a load of light colored rock and see if it happens then. Many thanks, Pal.
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Post by Toad on Nov 23, 2009 10:04:02 GMT -5
Never used a UV-10 so i might not be appreciating something...
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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 Nov 23, 2009 10:21:26 GMT -5
It's from the barrel...got the same problem(?) You'll notice that the flecks float.
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bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 23, 2009 11:29:28 GMT -5
lparker...
I think that's what I most strongly suspected; but certainly not what I wanted to learn. How do you get rid of specks? My bro-in-law says he cleans each stone individually to remove specks but there has to be a better way. The ultimate way to stop this, then, is to get another brand of vibrating timbler. That's a painful thought. Many thanks... I hope to read some suggestions from you how to handle this.
Bob... Grateful
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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 Nov 23, 2009 12:55:54 GMT -5
I haven't had any problem with the plastic sticking to my rocks. I use a spray head on a short length of hose...use the "fan" setting to rinse off the rocks. I have a wire basket on a 5 gal pail. Generally spray the rocks in the barrel and dump out the water a couple times, then spray the rocks as I pour them into the basket. Everything except the rocks go into the bucket (except for what splashes all over my basement floor  - I let that dry, then sweep it up instead of washing it sown the drain.) Can't help you more than that without seeing your problem. Lee |
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Nov 23, 2009 13:08:31 GMT -5
I haven't experienced the black speck problem in my UV-10 nor my UV-18. They may have produced a bad bunch of bowls for the UVs.
I would try putting the stones back in the bowl and fill it with water up to the center cone then put some dish soap (the hand washing kind) in it and run it for 15 minutes. That's how I start to clean out all my bowels when I'm cleaning vibes.
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Post by NatureNut on Nov 23, 2009 14:07:57 GMT -5
Yep, it's the bowl. I had that speckled problem and have gone through 3 bowls in the last year and am on my 4th in my UV-10. Two cracked on the bottom and one had a hole wear through. Had some luck by burnishing longer, but not always. Seemed to stick into the softer spots/ softer rock and I had to back up a step to get rid of them.
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Post by Toad on Nov 23, 2009 14:14:20 GMT -5
I'll remember this when buying my next vibe - no ultra-vibes.
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Post by NatureNut on Nov 23, 2009 14:48:37 GMT -5
Oh no! It's really a fantastic vibe. It's just been the recent bowls that have been the problem. Must've switched to a new supplier, or their supplier cut back on the quality, when the economy went south.
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bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 24, 2009 8:08:18 GMT -5
Lee, Toad, naturenut... Your suggestions are much appreciated..
Lee your cleaning/disposal methods are great: Not necessarily rocket science but a great way to work in subfreezing conditions which I have been anticipating. Great image!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 24, 2009 17:46:24 GMT -5
I wore out the original bowl on my UV-10 after three years. The replacement bowl does in fact have the black specks that you are referring too, but they haven't really been too much of a problem. They float, so I just rinse them into the grass.
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bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 24, 2009 20:00:50 GMT -5
The specks really stick to some of the stones. Being beach stones they are pretty well shaped, so not too long in first stage and some tiny cracks/crevasses the black gets in and sticks despite lots of water spray. Followup question: How much 30 mule team borax and how long? Thanks, Randy... Love them rides... You were a great help when I started a year ago.
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bobmac
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by bobmac on Nov 24, 2009 20:02:56 GMT -5
make that 20 mule team... lo siento
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Post by NatureNut on Nov 24, 2009 20:24:02 GMT -5
A couple of teaspoons of borax. I'd run them 2-4 hrs. Check them by pulling a few and rinsing. If the specks aren't gone, try a little longer or overnight. If they aren't gone by then, it probably means you'll have to go back a step with 'em.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Nov 24, 2009 20:30:59 GMT -5
I agree that borax shound help. It also enhances the shine like a polish
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Post by johnjsgems on Nov 24, 2009 23:52:55 GMT -5
I would either call Thumler's or the distributor you purchased from and complain. About two years ago(?) their mould guy retired and they switched companies. There was a long delay getting vibes from them. If the bowls are defective I'm guessing they will replace at least once. When I was a dealer they had a bad run of 3 lb drums. The retaining ring groove was too near the top so wouldn't hold the retaining ring. I had rings flying off drums at my shows. I'd call and tell them what was happening and they would ship new drums right away. Thumler's non-toll free number is 253-833-2310. They have a toll free number too.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 25, 2009 7:40:26 GMT -5
I've had the same problem with my UV-10. Well, it's not really a problem ... it's what they do. Plastic will wear from the bowl and generally floats.
If your rock is pitted, plastic or grit may get stuck in the pits. The problem is not the UV-10, or the bowl. The problem is the rock is pitted!
Remove all the pits in your 60/90 (pre UV-10) stages. Go through all the UV-10 stages (120/220, 500, 1000F, polish). Every UV-10 stage will likely have plastic in the mix, bit it will always wash off. Plastic, grit or polish can't stick to the rocks becasue there are no pits.
If your material is going into the UV-10 without pits and pits are being created in the UV-10, try ceramic pellets to cushion the load.
Darryl.
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Post by snowdog on Nov 26, 2009 8:50:12 GMT -5
I was reading this and then did some thinking  (that's bad ;D) but was wondering what grit you start with ? --I have the vibra-sonic 50# and always started with 220 grit , except one time when I was out -- I had some 60-90 so used some of that and wore the inside off in a hurry ---- so I'm wondering if it is getting scratched in the early stages and then flaking off in the prepolish ( or just noticing it then since the slurry isn't as thick /rough ) |
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- I let that dry, then sweep it up instead of washing it sown the drain.) Can't help you more than that without seeing your problem.
(that's bad ;D) but was wondering what grit you start with ? --I have the vibra-sonic 50# and always started with 220 grit , except one time when I was out -- I had some 60-90 so used some of that and wore the inside off in a hurry ---- so I'm wondering if it is getting scratched in the early stages and then flaking off in the prepolish ( or just noticing it then since the slurry isn't as thick /rough )
